Plant Accountant

Position: Plant Accountant

Location: Benton, KY

Reports To: Manufacturing Controller

FLSA: Exempt

Position Summary

The Plant Accountant has responsibility for cost accounting and the internal control environment at the Benton, KY factory. The position reports to the Manufacturing Controller with a strong dotted line reporting relationship to the Benton Plant Manager.

This position helps set cost objectives and measures cost performance of the Benton plant on a continuous basis. Planning, studying, collecting and analyzing data to determine the actual costs of business activity for raw materials, inventory and labor. Tracking costs daily to determine if they are meeting expectations as each accounting month progresses. The position directs activities of product costing, product margin analysis and inventory accuracy/valuation. The position provides recommendations to management in support of achievement of Company cost goals.

Responsibilities

• Full knowledge and assistance for Cognos system and local reporting for month end close.
• Measures current costs. Achieve in depth knowledge of GL COGS material accounts and how they impact the P&L . Research all unusual entries.
• Sets objectives with the manufacturing team on cost improvements. Participate in plant production meetings.
• Lead monthly review of Benton plant P&L statement.
• Inventory control and valuation. Understand how FG inventory change impacts the P&L. Work with all departments to optimize inventory levels to achieve working capital targets. Provide information to establish proper inventory reserves.
• Relates physical purchasing and consumption data to operational costs.
• Bill of Materials responsibility. Measure BOM material usage vs. actual usage.
• Reviews and reports product margin analysis. Makes needed adjustments.
• Actual material usage/consumption tracking by G/L account or material account.
• Understand fundamentals of material ledger and periodic cost run updates to explain period to period changes.
• Ensure that material ledger and BOM's are in sync.
• Work with the Purchasing group to understand and eliminate any errors in purchase price variance.
• Annual update and testing of internal control narratives related to areas of responsibility.
• Daily tracking of other variable costs beyond raw materials – Freight, Packaging, Labor, etc.
• Track fixed costs vs. goals.
• Work with Outside SAP Contractor and others to construct and monitor effective daily cost accumulation techniques and inventory control.
• Review and report manufacturing cost variances daily from production orders.
• Work with facility personnel to gain full understanding of manufacturing processes. Spend time at production lines.
• Alert plant and cost accounting management to unexpected consumption results or inventory adjustments as soon as discovered.
• Ensure accuracy of inventory. Participate frequently in cycle counts and research abnormal results.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in Accounting
• Minimum 3 Years of cost accounting in a manufacturing environment.
• GAAP/IFRS knowledge.
• Financial Month end close experience
• Strong background in inventory accounting. 3 years of operational experience.
• SAP Software experience and information technology literate.
• Experience working with engineering and manufacturing personnel on the development of cost standards and resolving problems.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office with a strong understanding of Excel spreadsheet analysis, including Pivot Table creating/editing.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills with attention to detail.
• Professional presentation skills.
• Ability to accurately and simplistically prepare daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual cost reports.
• High confidence level in expressing opinions.
• Demonstrates an understanding of physical manufacturing processes and materials consumption.