Sr. Cost Accountant

About the Role

The Senior Cost Accountant plays a key role in ensuring accurate product costing, financial analysis, and operational insights to support strategic decision-making within Featherlite, Exiss, and Sooner trailer manufacturing operations. This role partners closely with Manufacturing, Procurement, Operations, Engineering, and Finance to maintain cost integrity, improve profitability, and optimize the company’s cost structure. The ideal candidate brings strong manufacturing cost accounting experience, analytical depth, and the ability to drive cross-functional improvements.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and update standard costs for all products, materials, labor, and overhead.
• Analyze manufacturing variances (material usage, labor efficiency, overhead absorption) and provide actionable insights.
• Prepare cost roll-ups, margin analysis, and cost impact assessments for new and existing trailer models.
• Conduct weekly WIP, inventory valuation, and cost-of-goods-sold (COGS) reconciliations.
• Support annual budgeting processes, including cost modeling and cost center analysis.
• Forecast manufacturing costs, overhead allocations, and inventory trends.
• Analyze cost deviations and assist leadership with cost-related strategic planning.
• Lead physical inventory counts and cycle count reviews.
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies related to materials, production orders, and finished goods.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and Engineering to improve costing accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Enhance costing methodologies, reporting tools, and ERP workflows.
• Prepare and present cost reports, dashboards, and variance explanations to senior management.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting standards, and audit requirements.
• Support internal and external audits with cost and inventory documentation.
• Assist in month-end and year-end close by preparing entries for COGS, WIP, scrap, labor, overhead, and finished goods inventory by plant and product line.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 3+ years of manufacturing cost accounting experience.
• Strong understanding of standard costing, BOM structures, and inventory accounting.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with ERP systems (manufacturing systems preferred).
• Strong analytical abilities and exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate complex financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders.
• Experience working in multi-site or complex manufacturing environments.
• Exposure to cost optimization initiatives, lean manufacturing, or process improvement projects.

Skills

• Financial & Analytical Rigor
• Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Process Orientation & Continuous Improvement
• Strong Communication Skills
• High Integrity & Accountability

Location: Cresco, IA - Corporate Headquarters
Reports To: Controller