Cost Accountant & Commodity Hedging Analyst

SUMMARY

The Cost Accountant & Commodity Hedging Analyst is a dual-role position responsible for ensuring the accuracy and integrity of manufacturing cost data while also overseeing the company’s commodity risk management activities. This role plays a key part in maintaining and analyzing costs, identifying cost variances, and supporting operational efficiency initiatives. Additionally, the position oversees the execution of hedging strategies to mitigate commodity price volatility and protect company margins. The individual in this role must possess strong expertise in cost accounting, a solid understanding of financial markets and risk management instruments, and the ability to effectively leverage information systems and ERP data to support financial analysis and strategic decision-making.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Cost Accounting:

• Maintain and analyze production costs by product, production run, and customer.
• Track material, labor, and overhead costs at the batch or order level to support accurate margin analysis and operational decision-making.
• Identify cost trends, inefficiencies, and anomalies by reviewing variances between expected and actual production results.
• Partner with operations and production teams to improve cost visibility and drive continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support month-end close processes including inventory valuation, cost allocations, and reconciliation of WIP and finished goods.
• Partner with information systems to develop and maintain reporting tools to provide insights into yield losses, downtime, material usage, and customer profitability. 
• Assist in refining cost tracking processes and integrating them into ERP systems for improved real-time decision support.

Hedging:

• Coordinate the purchase, sale, and management of futures contracts to hedge against copper price fluctuations.
• Work closely with internal stakeholders to understand hedging needs and develop effective hedging strategies.
• Monitor market conditions and trends to identify opportunities and risks related to futures contracts.
• Oversee the hedging operations, ensuring compliance with established policies and procedures.
• Analyze hedge effectiveness and make recommendations for adjustments as needed.
• Reconcile hedge positions and transactions to broker statements on a regular basis, ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Reconcile physical inventories and sales order book to open hedge position on a weekly basis. 
• Collaborate with accounting team to ensure proper recording and reporting of hedge transactions.
• Stay up-to-date on regulatory requirements and industry best practices related to futures trading and hedging activities.

Other Responsibilities:

• Assist in physical inventory used for hedging and monthly valuation.
• Serve as backup resource for accounts payable, accounts receivable, and general accounting functions.
• Participate in year-end reporting and annual audits.
• Research and incorporate improvements and advancements in technology
• Other projects as they arise.

SAFETY POLICIES AND PRACTICES

The employee performing this job must be knowledgeable of and follow the company's safety policies and procedures.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE 

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance is required (CPA or CMA is a plus). Two or more years of experience in cost accounting with a manufacturing environment is preferred. Two or more years exposure to futures trading, hedging operations, or risk management, preferably in a manufacturing or commodity trading environment is also preferred. 

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, and volume.  

COMPUTER APPLICATION SKILLS

Windows Operating System; Microsoft Office Suite of products which include Excel, Access, Outlook, Word; Crystal Reports, Great Plains Modules and Microsoft Dynamics GP.

REASONING ABILITY

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, telephone, ten-key adding machine and printer. The employee occasionally has to reach with hands and arms to gain access to certain information stored on shelves and desk. The employee occasionally has to stoop or crouches to obtain information from file drawers. The employee frequently is required to talk or hear on the phone to convey and receive information from people. The employee is occasionally required to stand and walk. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to fumes and/or airborne particles of copper or zinc dust, outside weather conditions, and vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.