Senior Cost Accountant

Department: Finance | Status: Salaried, Exempt | Classification: Regular, Full Time | Reports to: Plant Controller

About the Role

The Senior Cost Accountant acts as a reliable partner to plant management, assists in the identification and reduction of all types of waste, and reports on product profitability for all products at the plant. The Senior Cost Accountant provides guidance regarding product costing, margin analysis, and inventory valuation and offers key insights to management surrounding changes to the cost structure.

Responsibilities

• Maintain monthly and quarterly updates that drive pricing to contract manufacturing customers, and provide analysis to assist in communication of price changes to customers.
• Provide analytical, quantitative, and financial modeling assistance in support of Company objectives in the areas of decision support and analysis of historical results.
• Analyze variances between standard and actual costs and determine the root cause.
• Understand the basis for raw material write-offs and identify gaps to help reduce the frequency.
• Provide regular profitability analysis by product type.
• Assist plant management in identifying cost-saving initiatives.
• Provide inventory support and monitor cycle counts and physical inventories.
• Assist with test counting for annual physicals or cycle counts with Company personnel and auditors.
• Monitor for excess, obsolete, and expiring inventory and work cross-functionally to minimize exposure to losses.
• Own inventory-related activities related to month-end close of the general ledger, including inventory valuation analysis, cutoff review, journal entries, and reconciliations.
• Collect and analyze financial data to prepare monthly financial reports, particularly actual versus forecast and budget.
• Assist external auditors as needed.
• Manage and maintain ERP system components related to inventory and manufactured product costs.
• Maintain inventory cost system and propose updates as necessary.
• Ensure cost data such as material, labor, and other conversion and support costs are allocated correctly.
• Analyze and report inventory and cost of goods sold as part of month-end close.
• Provide analysis to highlight opportunities to improve cash flow, particularly related to inventory and manufacturing efforts.
• Provide guidance on plant inventory control issues.
• Manage and coordinate labor reporting and analysis.
• Work with management to develop forecasts and provide leadership with daily production, scrap, and inventory flashes.
• Develop and maintain budgeting tools for creating product cost.
• Work cross-functionally with departments on new project costing.
• Provide input on new product pricing.
• Communicate results clearly in both verbal and written formats to peer and leadership audiences and provide guidance on product costing issues to manufacturing management.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance.
• 3-5 years of cost accounting and manufacturing analysis experience.
• Experience in a food manufacturing facility preferred.
• ERP experience preferred.
• Strong Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word skills required.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail while maintaining an ability to adapt to a fast-paced business environment.
• Ability to act as a problem solver and offer informed solutions to improve process or reporting.

Working Conditions

• This job operates in a clerical, office setting and routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets.
• From time to time, this position requires the individual to be on his/her feet and safely maneuver through a warehouse and manufacturing environment.
• Able to work in an environment containing nuts, peanuts, dairy, grains, and other allergens.
• This is a full-time, on-site position. Typical days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with occasional off-hours work requirements.

Benefits

• Privately owned, mission-driven B Corp with Inc. 500 recognition and a 30%+ revenue CAGR over 15 years.
• Technical leadership role with real organizational influence and a mandate to build team capability.
• Complex dual-site manufacturing environment with deep operational finance exposure.
• Collaborative, direct leadership team that values humility and problem-solving.
• $85,000 base salary with 5% annual bonus potential.
• 4% 401(k) match — above market for manufacturing.
• Relocation assistance available.