Sr. Cost Accountant/Cost Accounting Manager

The Morning Star Company

Senior Cost Accountant/Cost Accounting Manager

The CompanyThe Morning Star Company is the largest independent producer of bulk tomato ingredient products (tomato paste and diced tomatoes) in the world. We also produce canned tomatoes, tomato products, and specialty sauces in pouches for customers in the retail and food service markets. The company is known worldwide for its innovation and integrity.

We are organizationally structured through a system we term Mission Focused Self-Management. Our company is operated by colleagues without titles or an appointed hierarchy of authority. Authority relative to other colleagues' activities is lateral, with our Mission as our guiding principle of action, and respect, influence, and success built based on each colleague's integrity, competency, effort, persistence, and straightforward persuasiveness. Although we have grown significantly, we intend to maintain a culture of individual responsibility and Mission Focused Self-Management.

Mission

The Mission of the individual will be to provide accurate, timely and actionable cost, productivity, and performance information that enables Liberty Packing colleagues to understand operating results, improve manufacturing performance, protect inventory integrity, and make economically sound decisions.

We are open to hiring this colleague at either the Senior Cost Accountant or Cost Accounting Manager level, depending on the successful candidate's experience, demonstrated capabilities, and readiness to assume full functional ownership.

A developing candidate hired as Senior Cost Accountant will be expected to grow into broader responsibility for the Liberty Packing cost-accounting function. A more experienced candidate may be hired directly as Cost Accounting Manager and assume immediate ownership of plant costing, inventory accounting, manufacturing analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and related financial controls.

The successful candidate would likely have a meaningful, formal education in Mission related disciplines, such as business administration with a focus on finance and accounting. They will be expected to anticipate and resolve transactional issues, maintain accurate ERP data, and work collaboratively with finance, operations, maintenance, logistics, and quality colleagues to meet production goals and customer commitments. This colleague will be based at Liberty Packing in Los Banos.

Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze financial data to determine standard costs of manufactured goods.
• Provide weekly analysis comparing actual vs. standard yield and cost.
• Compile cost-volume-profit analysis based on financial data for sales price determination and contract negotiations and true-ups.
• Enter, maintain, and audit data in the ERP system, ensuring accurate reflection of material purchases and receipts, inventory counts, production runs, materials usage, and finished goods receipts.
• Ensure inventory and production transactions provide accurate lot-level information in support of the company's traceability and recall program.
• Implements and maintains accurate and current records for bills of materials (BOMs).
• Implements and maintains accurate and current inventory counts by lot number for all warehouses. Performs inventory analysis and reconciliation.
• Assists with period-end close.
• Assists with budgeting, forecasting and business unit analysis.
• Communicate effectively with supply chain, logistics, sales and quality colleagues regarding changes in production plans or delivery timing.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance production efficiency, accuracy and profit.
• Maintain high standards of accuracy, organization, and follow-through in a fast-paced environment.

Knowledge and Experience

• Works independently, with broadly defined work objectives and limited review of overall results.
• Strong knowledge of cost accounting and has a working knowledge of GAAP. CPA, CMA or MBA a plus.
• Familiarity with production planning and manufacturing processes, preferably in food or beverage operations.
• Experience leading a plant standard-cost roll or manufacturing close. Prior experience in canning, packaging, or process manufacturing is desirable but not required.
• Experience with ERP systems (Sage 300 is a plus) and related production data entry.
• Understanding of labeling, BOMs, and bills of lading.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Excellent computer skills, particularly Excel and data management.
• Effective written and verbal communication in English.

Personal Characteristics

• Rock solid integrity.
• Leads by doing; willing to work long hours and "do any task" regardless how small.
• Hands-on versus directive
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and solutions-focused.
• Quick learner who thrives on troubleshooting and problem-solving.
• Honest, forthright, and trustworthy - not political.
• Persistent and reliable under pressure.
• Collaborative and adaptable to changing priorities.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, team-driven production environment.

Compensation: $110,000-$150,000

Benefits: Morning Star offers a top-tier, comprehensive health plan, including medical, dental, and vision, and we pay the full monthly premiums for the Colleague and all eligible family members. The company also contributes to Colleagues Health Savings Accounts. Year-round Colleagues are eligible to enroll in our 401K plan, with 4% match.