Cost Accountant

Howmet Fastening Systems (HFS) is seeking a Cost Accountant for our aerospace fastener plant in Fullerton, CA.

The Cost Accountant supports the Plant Controller in the direct supervision of the day-to-day general accounting functions and coordination month end closing process, and daily/weekly monthly financial reporting. Assist in the development of financial plans and forecasts, and the analysis of operational results. Prime day-to-day responsibility will be cost accounting; monitor and report inventories, standard cost revisions and the operating budget will be key responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities:

Manufacturing Cost Accounting: 

• Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of manufacturing work order processes, including bills of materials (BOMs), production routings, operating standards, standard costing, and overhead absorption methodologies.

Inventory Accounting and Reconciliation: 

• Perform detailed inventory reconciliations between the inventory subledger and general ledger, ensuring accurate valuation, transaction integrity, and timely resolution of discrepancies.

Month-End Close and Inventory Valuation:

•  Support month-end closing activities, including preparation of inventory-related journal entries, inventory adjustments, account reconciliations, and excess and obsolete (E&O) inventory reserve calculations.

Cost Allocation and Burden Rate Management: 

• Analyze manufacturing cost structures and develop departmental cost pools to support appropriate cost allocation methodologies. Evaluate, maintain, and periodically update labor and overhead burden rates to ensure accurate product costing.

Manufacturing Variance Analysis: 

• Conduct comprehensive analysis of purchase price variances (PPV), material usage variances, labor efficiency variances, and manufacturing overhead absorption variances. Identify underlying cost drivers and recommend corrective actions.

Operational and Financial Reporting: 

• Interpret complex manufacturing and operational data and translate findings into actionable financial reporting, performance metrics, and management recommendations.

Production Efficiency and Cost Performance: 

• Evaluate actual versus earned standard hours, production volume, capacity utilization, machine efficiency, product mix, overhead spending, equipment downtime, routing accuracy, and labor charging practices to assess their impact on manufacturing costs and profitability.

Cross-Functional Business Partnership: 

• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance to identify cost improvement opportunities, validate manufacturing standards, strengthen cost controls, and support continuous improvement initiatives.

Inventory Cycle Counts & Compliance

• Manage and analyze inventory cycle counts, including aged WIP, ensuring compliance with corporate inventory policies and resolving discrepancies in a timely manner.

Inventory Valuation Accuracy

• Monitor and maintain inventory valuation accuracy by reviewing material costing, E&O exposure, and inventory transaction behavior.

Inventory Control Tools

• Maintain ASATs and other inventory‑control tools to ensure alignment with corporate standards and audit requirements.

Standard & Job Cost Management

• Update and maintain standard costs and job costs within the ERP system; perform cost rolls and support periodic cost updates.

High‑Value Transaction Review

• Review and approve high‑value or unusual inventory transactions from warehouse and operations teams to ensure proper financial treatment.

Profitability Reporting

• Prepare product‑line P&Ls and customer‑level profitability reports to support business decision‑making and margin

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited institution
• 3-5 years’ experience in an accounting function or related field in aerospace, automotive, medical, or related industrial manufacturing environment
• Strong proficiency with MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook) and related computer skills and working knowledge of ERP systems (prefer QAD/Syteline Manufacturing software).
• Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position
• Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position;

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business, or other business discipline
• 2-3 years of directly related work experience - standard cost system, manufacturing, aerospace. 
• QAD and Oracle ERP system experience highly desirable.
• Strong excel skills preferred
• Strong organizational skills, and be able to interact with all organization levels
• Experience working in a Sarbanes-Oxley section 404 controls (SOX) environment and maintaining compliance as defined by SOX
• Exceptional written/oral communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills
• Experience managing multiple complex projects and delivering under tight deadlines and resource constraints.
• Familiarity with standard cost accounting

Compensation and Benefits:

The position includes competitive wages and a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance (medical, dental, vision), excellent 401k matching program, paid holidays and vacation. This role's pay range is between $75,000 to $125,000.