Senior Cost Accountant

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Cost Accountant based in the United States.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Cost Accountant to lead cost accounting, inventory valuation, and manufacturing financial analysis within a growing organization. In this role, you will ensure the accuracy of product costing, financial reporting, and inventory controls while identifying opportunities to strengthen operational efficiency. Working closely with Finance, Operations, Purchasing, and Supply Chain teams, you will translate financial data into actionable business insights. You will also play a key role in ERP implementation and optimization initiatives, helping improve costing processes, reporting capabilities, and internal controls. This position combines hands-on accounting expertise with strategic business partnership and continuous improvement. It is an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented professional who enjoys solving complex financial challenges and supporting business growth.

Accountabilities

As a Senior Cost Accountant, you will oversee cost and inventory accounting activities, strengthen financial processes, and provide analytical support to manufacturing operations. Your main responsibilities will include:

• Cost Accounting:

  • Maintain, review, and enhance cost accounting methodologies to ensure accurate product and manufacturing cost information.

  • Calculate, analyze, and update product costs, material costs, and standard costing structures.

  • Analyze cost of goods sold (COGS) variances and trends, including purchase price and production volume variances.

  • Prepare monthly cost accounting journal entries, reconciliations, and supporting schedules.

  • Review inventory transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance with internal policies.

  • Perform margin and profitability analyses across products, customers, and business units.

  • Support annual physical inventory activities and related accounting processes.

  • Inventory Management:

    • Maintain accurate inventory valuation in accordance with U.S. GAAP requirements.

    • Partner with Operations teams to improve inventory accuracy and strengthen cycle counting programs.

    • Analyze inventory reserves, obsolescence, excess inventory, and slow-moving stock.

    • Reconcile inventory subledgers with the general ledger and investigate discrepancies.

    • Financial Reporting and Analysis:

      • Support monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes.

      • Prepare management reports explaining cost trends, inventory movements, and manufacturing performance.

      • Develop dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor inventory and operational performance.

      • Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and annual operating plan activities.

      • Support internal and external audits by preparing financial documentation and responding to information requests.

      • ERP Implementation and Process Improvement:

        • Act as the Finance lead or a key contributor during ERP implementations, upgrades, and optimization initiatives.

        • Design, implement, and validate cost accounting processes and workflows within ERP systems.

        • Test costing functionality, inventory transactions, production workflows, and financial reporting capabilities.

        • Establish and strengthen internal controls across ERP cost accounting modules.

        • Develop process documentation, accounting procedures, and end-user training materials.

        • Identify opportunities to automate manual activities, streamline workflows, and improve reporting efficiency.

        • Cross-Functional Partnership:

          • Collaborate with Operations, Purchasing, Supply Chain, and Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) teams to improve business performance.

          • Provide financial guidance and cost analysis for new product introductions and manufacturing initiatives.

          • Participate in capital expenditure evaluations and manufacturing investment decisions.

          • Present financial results, business insights, and recommendations to management and leadership teams.

          Requirements

          The ideal candidate is an analytical accounting professional with substantial manufacturing cost accounting experience, strong ERP expertise, and the ability to work effectively across business functions. You should be comfortable managing complex financial processes while identifying opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, and decision-making. The following qualifications are expected:

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

          • CPA or CMA certification is preferred.

          • At least 5–8 years of progressive accounting experience.

          • Minimum of 3 years of cost accounting experience within a manufacturing environment.

          • Previous experience working in high-growth organizations and/or consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies.

          • Demonstrated participation in at least one full ERP implementation or major ERP upgrade.

          • Strong understanding of standard costing methodologies, inventory accounting, U.S. GAAP, and internal control frameworks.

          • Advanced Excel skills and the ability to analyze complex financial and operational datasets.

          • Hands-on experience with ERP platforms such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Infor, Epicor, NetSuite, or comparable systems.

          • Familiarity with business intelligence and financial reporting tools is an advantage.

          • Strong analytical thinking and problem-solving abilities, with excellent attention to detail.

          • Demonstrated ability to drive continuous improvement and optimize accounting processes.

          • Effective business partnership and communication skills, including the ability to present financial findings and recommendations to non-financial stakeholders.

          • Project management capabilities and the ability to coordinate ERP-related initiatives and cross-functional activities.

          • Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, evolving business environment.

          Preferred Qualifications:

          • Experience supporting consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturing operations.

          • Previous experience in a publicly traded company or an environment subject to Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) compliance requirements.

          • Experience leading or coordinating ERP implementation projects.

          • Demonstrated experience developing financial dashboards, inventory reporting tools, and operational KPIs.

          First-Year Success Measures:

          Within the first 12 months, the successful candidate will be expected to:

          • Improve the accuracy and timeliness of monthly cost accounting and financial reporting.

          • Strengthen inventory controls and reduce inventory discrepancies.

          • Successfully contribute to ERP implementation, upgrades, or optimization initiatives.

          • Develop meaningful inventory KPIs that support better operational and financial decision-making.

          • Identify and implement process improvements that reduce manual work and strengthen internal controls.

          • Establish strong working relationships across Finance, Operations, and other key business functions.

          Benefits

          • Opportunity to take ownership of cost accounting and inventory management processes within a growing organization.

          • Exposure to strategic ERP implementation and optimization initiatives.

          • Cross-functional collaboration with Finance, Operations, Purchasing, and Supply Chain leadership.

          • Opportunity to influence manufacturing performance through financial analysis and process improvements.

          • Professional development opportunities through involvement in enterprise systems, financial reporting, and operational strategy.