Cost Accountant

Summary

Our client is seeking a seasoned Cost Accountant with experience working in a manufacturing environment to ensure the proper and accurate distribution of costs, while helping track and manage efficiency in production.

This role is dedicated to the cost accounting of products manufactured primarily at the Charlotte, NC site. The position will work closely with the Site Manager and Director of Supply Chain and will be responsible for product costing, production order variance analysis (purchase price, materials, and production variances), make vs. buy analyses, assortment rationalization, and other production- and product-related analyses.

This position will be based in Charlotte, NC.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain the cost accounting system; make recommendations for improvement as needed.

• Develop and document cost accounting policies and procedures, including appropriate internal controls related to standard costing, inventory counts, inventory valuation, reserves, etc.

• Participate in the monthly and year-end close process, including journal entry preparation related to cost accounting.

• Review standard costs to ensure alignment with expected material, labor, and overhead costs for all production orders. Highlight manufacturing and yield variances.

• Support analysis of excess and obsolete inventory.

• Review and ensure accuracy of product-level Bills of Materials (BOMs).

• Calculate and update labor and overhead rates annually in advance of fiscal year-end.

• Develop, calculate, analyze, and report key performance metrics.

• Build and maintain manufacturing variance reports; identify issues and implement corrective actions.

• Own all aspects of the year-end financial audit related to inventory values, standard costs, and absorption rates.

• Review and analyze inventory, margins, and manufacturing variances (material, labor, and overhead), including calculation of capitalized variances.

• Complete monthly reconciliation of inventory, purchase price variances, and manufacturing reports highlighting product rework, efficiencies, and capital expenditures.

• Prepare cost estimates for new and proposed products.

• Partner with Supply Chain on coordination of physical inventory.

• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain in preparation of operating and capital budgets, manage monthly spend by communicating key variances, updating forecasts, and enacting mitigation plans as needed.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Highly motivated with strong attention to detail.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to thrive in a team-oriented environment.

• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to manage priorities and workflow while driving process efficiencies.

• Experience in manufacturing accounting required.

• Chemicals or process manufacturing experience preferred.

• High level of integrity and commitment to business ethics.

• Strong focus on delivering high-quality work output.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.

• 5–7 years of related experience in manufacturing accounting.

• Strong decision-making and analytical abilities.

• Strong communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with ERP systems.

• MRP experience required; Microsoft Dynamics strongly preferred.

Physical Requirements

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Primarily office-based role; must be able to work at a computer approximately 8 hours per day.

• Some lifting required (up to 50 lbs).

• Approximately 10% travel, primarily domestic, with some potential international travel.