Senior Cost Accountant

Key Responsibilities

Cost Accounting

* Maintain and enhance costing methodologies.
* Calculate, analyze, and update product cost and material costs.
* Analyze COGS variances and trends including purchase price, and production volume.
* Prepare monthly cost accounting journal entries and reconciliations.
* Review inventory transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance with company policies.
* Perform margin and profitability analyses by product, customer, and business unit.
* Assist with annual physical inventory processes.

Inventory Management

* Maintain accurate inventory valuation in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
* Partner with Operations to improve inventory accuracy and cycle count programs.
* Analyze inventory reserves, obsolescence, excess inventory, and slow-moving stock.
* Reconcile inventory subledger to the general ledger.

Financial Reporting & Analysis

* Support monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes.
* Prepare management reports explaining cost trends and manufacturing performance.
* Develop dashboards and KPIs related to inventory.
* Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and annual operating plans.
* Support internal and external audit requests.

ERP Implementation & Process Improvement

* Serve as Finance lead or key contributor during ERP implementations, upgrades, and optimization projects.
* Design and validate cost accounting processes within ERP systems.
* Test costing functionality, inventory transactions, production workflows, and financial reporting.
* Develop internal controls around ERP cost accounting modules.
* Create documentation, procedures, and end-user training materials.
* Identify opportunities to automate manual processes and improve reporting efficiency.

Cross-Functional Partnership

* Collaborate with Operations, Purchasing, Supply Chain and FP&A to improve operational performance.
* Provide financial guidance for new product introductions and manufacturing initiatives.
* Participate in capital expenditure analysis and manufacturing investment decisions.
* Present financial results and recommendations to leadership.

Qualifications

* Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
* CPA or CMA preferred
* 5–8+ years of progressive accounting experience
* Minimum 3 years of cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment
* Experience with high growth and/or CPG companies
* Demonstrated experience participating in at least one full ERP implementation or major ERP upgrade
* Strong understanding of:
* Standard costing
* Inventory accounting
* GAAP
* Internal controls
* Advanced Excel skills
* Experience with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Infor, Epicor, NetSuite, or similar
* Experience with business intelligence tools is a plus

Core Competencies

* Analytical thinking
* Continuous improvement mindset
* ERP systems expertise
* Business partnership
* Strong attention to detail
* Project management
* Problem solving
* Effective communication
* Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Preferred Experience

* CPG operations
* Public company or SOX compliance experience
* ERP implementation leadership
* Experience developing financial dashboards and KPIs

Success Measures

Within the first 12 months, the successful candidate will:

* Improve accuracy and timeliness of monthly cost reporting.
* Enhance inventory controls and reduce inventory discrepancies.
* Successfully support ERP implementation or optimization initiatives.
* Develop meaningful inventory KPIs that improve operational decision-making.
* Identify and implement process improvements that reduce manual work and strengthen internal controls.
* Build strong partnerships across Finance and Operations.