Senior Cost Accountant

As Senior Cost Accountant, you will serve as the architect and builder of ANA’s cost accounting function. This is not a maintenance-only role; we are looking for a hands-on, systems-minded leader who can design, implement, and continuously improve a scalable cost accounting system that supports accurate inventory valuation, standard costing, margin visibility, operational decision-making, and disciplined financial controls. This role will partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Service, Engineering, and Finance to build the processes, data discipline, and reporting needed for a mature cost accounting environment.

Role & Responsibilities:

• Design, build, implement, and maintain ANA’s cost accounting system, including standard costing, inventory costing, variance reporting, and product margin analysis.
• Create the cost accounting framework, processes, controls, account structures, reporting cadence, and data governance needed to support a scalable manufacturing and distribution business.
• Develop, document, and maintain standard costs for materials, labor, overhead, bills of material, routings, service activities, and other cost drivers.
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Service, and Finance to understand cost flows, identify gaps, improve source data, and translate operational activity into reliable financial information.
• Lead standard cost implementation and ongoing variance analysis, including purchase price variance, production variance, labor and overhead absorption, inventory revaluation, and gross margin trends.
• Build reporting and analysis that provides leadership with visibility into product profitability, customer profitability, inventory trends, cost center performance, and operational cost drivers.
• Establish and maintain procedures for inventory valuation, inventory reserves, cycle count analysis, physical inventory reconciliation, and inventory-related balance sheet reconciliations.
• Prepare and review month-end close activities related to inventory and cost of goods sold, including journal entries, reconciliations, variance explanations, and management reporting.
• Develop cost estimating tools and processes for new products, existing products, service offerings, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Evaluate changes in product design, sourcing, supplier pricing, manufacturing methods, logistics, and service models to determine the impact on cost and margin.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, cost center planning, rate development, and operating cost analysis.
• Maintain internal control documentation for costing and inventory processes, identify control gaps, and recommend practical improvements.
• Prepare audit schedules, support audit requests, and ensure costing and inventory processes are aligned with company accounting policies and applicable accounting standards.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for cost accounting within the ERP environment, helping define requirements, improve system usage, validate data, and train business partners as needed.
• Create practical tools, dashboards, and recurring analyses that turn cost data into actionable recommendations for leadership.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including significant cost accounting experience in a manufacturing, equipment, distribution, or operations-focused environment.
• Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, or significantly improving a cost accounting system, standard costing model, inventory costing process, or related ERP-based costing function.
• Strong understanding of standard costing, bills of material, routings, overhead allocation, labor rates, inventory valuation, variance analysis, margin analysis, and cost of goods sold accounting.
• Hands-on ERP experience required; experience with system implementation, process design, data validation, or ERP optimization strongly preferred.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and the ability to work with large data sets, build models, reconcile complex activity, and create repeatable reporting tools.
• Ability to operate independently in an evolving environment, build structure where it does not yet exist, and move comfortably between strategy, process design, and hands-on execution.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and root-cause analysis skills, with the ability to explain cost drivers and financial impacts to non-finance business partners.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence cross-functional partners and drive adoption of new processes.
• High attention to detail, strong ownership mindset, and the judgment to balance accuracy, practicality, and scalability.
• CPA or CMA preferred.

ANA’s Core Values:

• Root Cause Problem Solving
• Be Creative with Solutions
• Build open and honest relationships
• Build a positive team and family spirit
• Be inclusive
• Look for better ways
• Be humble
• Urgency

Benefits & Perks:

• Competitive pay
• 401k with company contribution
• Medical, Dental, & Vision
• Life Insurance
• Voluntary Accident Insurance
• Voluntary Critical Illness Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Appreciation Programs