Cost Accountant

Role Overview

The Cost Accountant will be responsible for factory Project Accounting, Cost Accounting, and Assets Management. This is a hands-on role that requires strong collaboration with manufacturing and supply chain teams to ensure robust financial accounting and controls are in place to support the factory construction projects and the ongoing management of factory costs, expenses, assets, and financial reporting & analysis. This role reports into the Finance Manager, NF North America and acts as a finance business partner to the factory teams.

Key Responsibilities

Project Accounting

• Develop and maintain factory Capex investment budgets, progress tracking, project costing, and variance analysis report.
• Manage purchase orders, invoices, and payment tracking, in accordance with supplier contract terms and the Company policies/procedures.
• Ensure appropriate financial controls are in place with budgeting, costing integrity, and assets security.
• Collaborate with project teams, including internal team in US/China, suppliers, and contractors.

Cost Accounting

• Maintain ERP master data, cost element, product price, and cost center assignments.
• Monitor and analyze factory costs, products & lines profitability; provide financial insights and recommendations to the factory management teams.
• Build and track production department budgets; perform variance analysis and cost performance reviews.
• Support margin optimization initiatives by identifying cost-saving opportunities.
• Prepare cost-related financial reports and manufacturing performance reviews to support manufacturing decision-making.
• Maintain and archive all factory financial-related data and documents.

Asset Management

• Oversee the end-to-end process of fixed assets request, purchase, acceptance, and payment cycle, and perform accounting treatment in ERP system.
• Maintain Fixed Assets ledgers and labeling; conduct physical verification in accordance with company policies and procedures.
• Maintain factory inventories ledgers, including raw materials, finished goods, consumables, and work-in-process (WIP), ensuring accounting and physical inventory integrity.
• Assist in preparing factory P&L, B/S, and Cashflow statement, including forecast and accounts reconciliations.

Key Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; professional certification (e.g., CPA, CFA) is a plus.
• 5-10 years of cost and project accounting experience in the manufacturing industry, preferably in Fast-Moving Consumer Goods or the beverage manufacturing industry.
• Ability to analyze financial data, generate insights, and make actionable recommendations.
• Proficiency in the use of ERP systems (e.g. SAP, Oracle); strong Excel and reporting skills.
• Strong business acumen with an ability to partner effectively with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams.
• Experience working with suppliers and contractors, knowledge of industry market practices.

Key Competencies

• Financial Acumen: Strong ability to manage costs, expenses, and financial analysis.
• Business Partnership: Ability to communicate and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Industry Knowledge: Understand the factory and supply chain operations.
• Problem-Solving & Attention to Detail: Ensures financial discipline and effective risk mitigation.