Cost Accountant

Job Summary:

The position is responsible for developing and monitoring plant costs and operational metrics.  Maintains SKU level cost standards in SAP. Prepare root cause variance analysis of actual to standard for materials and labor. The cost accountant is responsible for managing the month end cost rolls, participating in the month end close process as well as interpretation of operational reporting, monitoring of actual results, forecasting, planning and analysis.  The role also assists with developing the annual plant budget, capital spending proposals and new product costing.  The role resides at the plant level to assist plant and business unit managers in the aforementioned metrics.

Job Duties:

Duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

• Plant expert regarding the cost accounting system, upholding internal controls over financial reporting.
• Develop standard costs, update and create new Bill of Materials and Routings within SAP.
• Reconcile FT and temp employee labor hours between SAP and payroll system on a weekly basis
• Prepare monthly journal entries for inventory related adjustments
• Assist production management with assessment of “continuous improvement” projects and processes. Measure and report progress toward planned goals.
• Analyzes manufacturing costs and prepares reporting comparing standard to actual production costs.
• Work with Plant leadership team in preparation of pricing quotations for the Sales and Marketing teams, as needed for new projects or engineering revisions.
• Maintain integrity between SAP and cost cards.
• Prepare financial analysis of new product performance against pricing assumptions
• Assist in the preparation of Annual Operating Budget for the plant
• Preparation and review of production metrics on a daily, weekly and periodic basis.
• Analyze and monitor production line capacity, utilization and performance.
• Responsible for creating SAP Routings
• Assist with preparation of analysis of capital expense projects, continuous monitoring of spending against CAPEX and ROI assessment.
• Responsible for reconciling customer owned inventory, tracking usages and understanding Usage drivers.
• Monitor both the frozen and current standards within the system, ensuring the current routing data matches playbooks.
• Assist with month end reporting, understanding overall plant financial performance against budget, participating in cost savings initiatives and project savings calculations.
• Assist with the month end closing process, WIP reporting, bill on production reconciliation, journal entries and variance to standard reporting.
• Track and prepare special billing opportunities, including material and labor costs
• Provide disposition costs into the QN process.
• Position provides multi-site support

Specific Reporting Requirements:

• Weekly labor reporting
• Weekly material usage reports
• Weekly KPI reporting
• Monthly KPI statistics
• Monthly Lbs. reporting
• Monthly WIP reporting
• Monthly Variance by Customer reporting

Required Competencies & Knowledge: Knowledge of:

• Procurement, manufactured products, and production processes
• Knowledge of accounting and finance principles
• Knowledge and experience with SAP
• Cost Accounting or Manufacturing accounting experience

Skilled in:

• Proficiency in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills.
• Must have ability to effectively interface with plant and corporate office personnel.
• Strong oral communication skills required.
• Must be able to effectively work as part of a team in a fast-paced environment and handle

multiple assignments simultaneously

Ability to:

• Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Successfully multi-task
• Ensure collaborative relationships with industry, trade, other associations, regulatory agencies and Hearthside staff.
• Lead ‘best in class’ behaviors with focus on safety, quality, and policy focus

Proficiency in:   MS Office Suite and SAP

Work Environment:

Work is primarily done in an office setting at supported plant(s) Infrequent production environment exposure which includes noise, dust, moving machinery, fork lifts, and fluctuations in temperature.

10% of time will be spent on the production floor so GMP’s must be followed

Physical Requirements:

• Sitting at a work station for extended periods of time
• Stand, walk, climb stairs on an infrequent basis
• Must be able to lift 20 pounds on an infrequent basis.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree is required.

Minimum of three years’ experience with Manufacturing/Cost Accounting in an industrial sector, preferably high-volume manufacturing.  Would prefer food or pharma industry