Senior Manufacturing/Cost Accountant

Position Summary

We are seeking a highly experienced Senior Cost Accountant with 15+ years of hands-on manufacturing cost accounting experience to support our engineered manufacturing operations. This role reports to the Corporate Controller and is responsible for ensuring accurate product costing, inventory integrity, and effective partnership with Operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain and oversee standard product costing, including cost rolls, bills of material, labor, overhead, and routings.
• Analyze and interpret manufacturing variances (material, labor, overhead) and provide actionable insights to Operations.
• Review and validate cost changes, new products, and process improvements.
• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close activities, including reconciliation of inventory and cost of goods sold.
• Ensure accurate inventory valuation in compliance with GAAP and internal control policies.
• Partner closely with Operations and Supply Chain to plan and execute annual physical inventories.
• Lead cycle counts, investigate discrepancies, and recommend resolutions.
• Monitor excess and obsolete inventory and drive continuous improvement in inventory accuracy.
• Act as a subject matter expert in ERP systems (JD Edwards preferred; other major ERPs acceptable) for costing and inventory processes.
• Develop, maintain, and deliver advanced Excel analyses, reports, and dashboards for decision-making.
• Support ERP system enhancements, process improvements, and potential global system integrations.
• Serve as a trusted finance partner to plant leadership, Operations, Supply Chain, and Corporate Finance.
• Communicate complex financial and operational information clearly and concisely to stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrate credibility by providing actionable solutions and following through on commitments.
• Support internal and external audits related to cost and inventory matters.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 12 to 15 years of hands-on cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment (engineered or complex manufacturing preferred).
• Deep knowledge of standard costing, cost roll processes, inventory accounting, and variance analysis.
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, advanced formulas, lookups; Power Query/Power BI a plus).
• ERP experience required; JD Edwards strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to partner with Operations and influence cross-functional teams.
• Strong communication skills with credibility to engage at plant and corporate levels.

Preferred Experience

• Supporting multi-site or global manufacturing operations.
• Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, or operational excellence initiatives.
• Experience managing annual physical inventories and related controls.