Financial Analyst

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Plant Controller and working closely with Plant Operations, the Cost Accountant/Analyst will play a critical role in driving financial performance through expert-level cost accounting support and analysis. This position is responsible for monitoring and controlling manufacturing costs, analyzing cost variances, and providing data-driven insights to optimize plant efficiency and profitability. The ideal candidate will demonstrate deep experience with standard costing, inventory valuation, and cost analysis in a manufacturing setting. This role will also contribute to continuous improvement initiatives and support strategic financial planning through accurate and timely cost data.

Principal Responsibilities and Duties:

• Lead the analysis, investigation, and reporting of cost variances (standard vs. actual), including material, labor, and overhead, with actionable recommendations for improvement.
• Execute month-end close activities related to manufacturing cost accounting: journal entries, cost roll-ups, and account reconciliations.
• Maintain and update standard cost systems to ensure accurate product costing, bill of materials (BOM), and routing data.
• Provide detailed cost analysis to support pricing decisions, cost reduction initiatives, and plant performance evaluations.
• Monitor and report on inventory valuation and participate in inventory cycle counts and reconciliations in accordance with company policies.
• Track and communicate operational KPIs and cost metrics to site leadership to improve decision-making.
• Analyze financial and operational data to forecast cost trends and support the preparation of capital expenditure requests.
• Partner with Plant Controller to support annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and long-term planning, with a focus on cost structure and productivity gains.
• Ensure proper classification and tracking of capital projects, distinguishing between capitalized and expensed costs in alignment with corporate guidelines.
• Identify and recommend cost-saving opportunities through analysis of manufacturing processes, material usage, and labor deployment.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, SOX requirements, and corporate financial policies related to cost accounting processes.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Accounting major highly preferred.

Experience & Skills:

• Minimum 5 years of direct cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong expertise in standard costing, variance analysis, inventory accounting, and cost modeling.
• CMA or CPA certification preferred.
• Experience with ERP systems (QAD, SAP) and strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel; Power BI knowledge is a plus.
• Proven track record of cross-functional collaboration with operations, finance, and supply chain.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and experience supporting cost initiatives aligned with operational efficiency.
• Strong analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, with a keen eye for detail and continuous improvement.