Cost Accountant

Position Overview

The Cost Accountant supports financial and operational accuracy within a fast-paced manufacturing environment by overseeing product costing, inventory valuation, and production cost analysis. This role is responsible for maintaining reliable cost data, monitoring manufacturing variances, supporting inventory controls, and assisting with new product costing initiatives.

Working closely with Operations, Supply Chain, R&D, and Finance teams, the Cost Accountant helps ensure cost structures remain current as products, materials, packaging, and production processes evolve. This position offers an opportunity to contribute directly to profitability improvements, operational efficiency, and financial visibility across the organization.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Product Costing & Cost Maintenance

• Maintain and update standard costs for raw materials, packaging components, work-in-process (WIP), and finished goods.
• Review and support bill of materials (BOM) and routing accuracy within the ERP system in collaboration with Operations and Planning teams.
• Assist in preparing cost rollups for new product launches, reformulations, and packaging revisions.
• Review supplier pricing updates and ensure standard costs are adjusted accurately and timely.

Manufacturing Cost & Variance Analysis

• Analyze manufacturing variances related to materials, labor, and overhead expenses.
• Investigate cost fluctuations and partner with production and supply chain teams to identify root causes involving scrap, yield, and operational efficiency.
• Prepare monthly variance reporting and communicate findings to Finance and Operations leadership.
• Monitor trends related to rework, obsolescence, and production waste.

Inventory & Production Accounting

• Assist with monthly inventory and WIP close activities.
• Reconcile inventory balances, manufacturing transactions, and production orders.
• Participate in cycle counts, physical inventories, and audit support activities.
• Review slow-moving and obsolete inventory while assisting with reserve calculations and reporting.

New Product & Operational Cost Support

• Support costing analysis for new product introductions and product modifications.
• Evaluate the financial impact of formulation adjustments, vendor changes, and packaging updates.
• Assist with margin analysis, pricing support, and cost modeling for business decisions.

Cross-Functional & Financial Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with Operations, Quality, R&D, and Supply Chain teams to strengthen cost control processes and improve financial transparency.
• Provide support for margin reporting, cost-to-serve analysis, and other operational finance initiatives.
• Assist with audit documentation, internal controls, and accounting processes related to inventory and cost of goods sold (COGS).

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 2–5 years of experience in cost accounting or manufacturing accounting.
• Knowledge of standard costing, inventory accounting, WIP accounting, and BOM structures.
• Experience within a manufacturing environment such as consumer goods, food production, chemicals, cosmetics, or similar industries.
• Strong Microsoft Excel and analytical skills.
• Experience using ERP systems; Sage X3 experience is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to work across multiple departments.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with operational and supply chain teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Background in consumer packaged goods (CPG), personal care, cosmetics, or chemical manufacturing environments.
• Experience with variance analysis, inventory controls, and manufacturing cost modeling.
• Interest in long-term growth into a senior-level cost accounting position.