Summit Products is seeking an experienced, hands-on Accounting Manager with a strong background in manufacturing and cost accounting to lead the accounting function for our operation in Altoona, Iowa. This person will serve as the company’s primary accounting professional, with direct responsibility for the accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of daily accounting activities, manufacturing cost analysis, inventory accounting, and financial reporting. The Accounting Manager will be a key business partner to company leadership and operations, helping teams understand product costs, financial performance, inventory, and profitability. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys working through the details, has practical experience with manufacturing cost accounting, and can turn financial information into actionable recommendations.
What you’ll do:
Lead and manage the day-to-day accounting function for Summit Products.
Own the monthly close process, including journal entries, general ledger review, accruals, account reconciliations, and financial-statement preparation.
Prepare timely and accurate monthly financial reports, management reporting, and budget-to-actual variance analysis.
Manage manufacturing cost accounting, including inventory valuation, standard costs, material and labor variances, cost-of-goods-sold reporting, and overhead allocation.
Develop, maintain, and review product costs to ensure material, labor, and manufacturing overhead are accurately reflected.
Analyze actual production costs against standard or expected costs, investigate variances, and communicate findings to leadership and operations.
Evaluate product margins and cost trends to identify opportunities to improve profitability, control spending, and reduce waste.
Partner with operations, purchasing, and production to review costing inputs, investigate inventory discrepancies, and improve the accuracy of manufacturing and inventory records.
Coordinate inventory cycle counts, annual physical inventory, inventory reconciliations, and related documentation.
Review raw materials, work-in-process, and finished-goods balances for accuracy and identify slow-moving or obsolete inventory.
Maintain general ledger integrity and ensure accurate classification of revenue, expenses, inventory, fixed assets, liabilities, and other financial activity.
Oversee or directly perform accounts payable, accounts receivable, invoicing, payment processing, collections support, and cash-application activities.
Manage bank reconciliations, cash-flow tracking, and routine cash-position reporting.
Maintain fixed-asset records, depreciation schedules, capital-purchase documentation, and asset-disposal records.
Prepare supporting schedules and documentation for outside accountants, annual tax filings, financial reviews, insurance reporting, banking needs, and audits.
Assist leadership with annual budgeting, forecasting, spending controls, and financial planning, including projected manufacturing costs and margins.
Establish, maintain, and improve accounting policies, procedures, internal controls, and documentation standards.
Identify process improvements that strengthen accuracy, reporting timeliness, accountability, and visibility into operating costs.
Supervise, train, or provide direction to accounting support staff as business needs require.
Handle confidential company and employee financial information with discretion and sound judgment.
What we’re looking for:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
Five or more years of progressive accounting experience, including hands-on cost-accounting experience in a manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience with product costing, inventory valuation, manufacturing overhead allocation, cost of goods sold, and variance analysis.
Strong understanding of how material, labor, and overhead costs affect product margins and overall financial performance.
Prior experience as an Accounting Manager, Senior Accountant, Assistant Controller, Cost Accountant, or lead accountant strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience managing a month-end close process and preparing financial reports.
Strong knowledge of general ledger accounting, reconciliations, internal controls, accruals, fixed assets, and financial-statement preparation.
Experience working with operations, purchasing, or production teams to resolve inventory and costing discrepancies.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and experience using accounting software and ERP systems, including inventory and costing functions.
Strong analytical skills and the ability to explain financial results and cost variances clearly to non-accounting team members.
Strong attention to detail, organization, confidentiality, and follow-through.
Ability to work independently, prioritize competing deadlines, and balance daily accounting responsibilities with analysis and process improvement.
CPA, CMA, MBA, or progress toward a professional accounting credential preferred but not required.
Ability to work on-site at Summit Products in Altoona, Iowa.
