Job Description
Job Description
Job Summary We are seeking a highly analytical Sr. Cost Analyst to lead and manage the implementation of a robust costing system, with a primary focus on coating processes in our manufacturing operations. Reporting to the VP of Finance, this role conducts complex cost analysis, audits, and financial support for production facilities. The successful candidate will drive the implementation and ongoing maintenance of advanced costing capabilities within the ERP system to improve cost accuracy, margin visibility, and overall financial decision-making.
This is a hands-on leadership opportunity to partner with plant management, ensure precise job costing, enhance profitability insights, and support operational improvements in a manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Partner with Plant leadership to provide financial analysis, insights, and decision support to maintain and improve facility financial performance.
- Lead the implementation, ongoing maintenance, and support of enhanced costing modules/tools in the ERP system for manufacturing facilities.
- Develop, implement, manage, and continuously measure processes to ensure accuracy of job costing standards, including annual and ad-hoc cost roll exercises.
- Maintain integrity of Work Order processing (material issues, labor postings, and variance resolution).
- Deliver profitability insights for various functions and products to collaborate with management on performance improvements.
- Review and monitor WIP (Work in Process) and outside process clearing accounts; make necessary adjustments.
- Support annual budgeting and rolling forecasts, including hours, headcount, and direct/indirect production expenses.
- Assist production teams with ad-hoc inquiries, reporting, and data analysis.
- Analyze daily, weekly, and monthly WIP in collaboration with Plant management.
- Verify accuracy of plant processes, including purchased parts costs, router development, overhead costs, and labor rates.
- Prepare and analyze month-end reports, including variance reporting and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) performance.
- Perform compliance duties (e.g., SOX-related), such as WIP reconciliation, subledger aging, inventory reconciliation, and manufacturing segregation of duties.
- Conduct ad-hoc data analysis and reporting for operations management.
- Review balance sheet and P&L accounts; provide detailed variance explanations and resolve errors.
- Perform all other duties as assigned.
Required Qualifications & Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field (preferred).
- Minimum 5 years of experience in cost accounting, with a solid background in the manufacturing industry (candidates must demonstrate hands-on experience in manufacturing environments, such as cost tracking in production processes, variance analysis, and supporting plant-level financial decisions).
- Proven experience leading a project from start to finish (e.g., system implementations, process improvements, or costing initiatives; highlight examples of end-to-end project ownership, stakeholder management, and successful delivery in your candidate summary).
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (complex formulas, pivot tables, data modeling, etc.).
- Strong knowledge of cost accounting principles, job costing, variance analysis, and manufacturing processes.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and persuasion skills—ability to explain complex costing concepts and drive adoption of new systems/processes.
- Highly analytical, detail-oriented, and proactive with the ability to handle large datasets, identify trends, and meet tight deadlines.
- Experience with JDE (JD Edwards) or similar ERP systems for job costing (preferred); Hyperion and SmartView experience is a significant plus (trainable candidates considered).
- Stable work history—no job hoppers; we seek candidates with consistent tenure and reliable performance.
- Ability to travel domestically to local manufacturing facilities as needed.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in heavy industrial manufacturing, coatings, or related production sectors.
- Familiarity with compliance requirements in manufacturing settings.
- Leadership potential (role starts without direct reports but may evolve with business growth).