The Cost Accountant – Manufacturing & Inventory is responsible for ensuring the accuracy, reliability, and integrity of manufacturing costs, inventory valuation, and related financial information across the organization. The role combines strong manufacturing cost accounting expertise with hands-on responsibility for inventory accounting, cost analysis, month-end close activities related to costing and inventory, and ERP processes. The Cost Accountant is expected to proactively investigate cost and inventory discrepancies, identify root causes, and work cross-functionally to implement sustainable corrective actions. In addition, the position provides local Finance support and coordination to the Group Components & Digital Controlling Manager for the Budget, Reforecast, and US FP&A processes. This includes supporting business performance analysis and ensuring the financial consistency of key operational and commercial assumptions, while manufacturing costing and inventory remain the core responsibilities of the position. RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIESManufacturing Cost Accounting Maintain, review, and update standard costs for manufactured products, including material, direct labor, machine, and manufacturing overhead components. Analyze actual versus standard manufacturing costs and investigate material, labor, overhead, purchase price, usage, and production variances. Partner with Manufacturing, Engineering, Purchasing, and Operations to review and maintain accurate Bills of Materials (BOMs), routings, work centers, labor rates, machine rates, and cost drivers. Ensure manufacturing cost structures accurately reflect operational processes and production conditions. Perform detailed product cost and margin analyses and identify the key drivers of changes in costs and profitability. Support initiatives aimed at improving manufacturing efficiency and identifying cost reduction opportunities. Provide reliable cost information to support pricing, operational, and financial decision-making. Inventory Accounting & Control Ensure accurate inventory valuation across the organization. Monitor and analyze inventory transactions, including purchases, receipts, production, transfers, shipments, adjustments, and other inventory movements. Perform monthly reconciliations of inventory subledgers to the General Ledger and investigate discrepancies. Analyze slow-moving, excess, and obsolete inventory and support the calculation and documentation of inventory reserves in accordance with Group policies and applicable accounting standards. Support and coordinate physical inventories and cycle counts, including preparation, reconciliation, variance analysis, and follow-up on corrective actions. Develop and monitor relevant inventory KPIs to improve inventory accuracy and financial control. Work closely with Operations to ensure that inventory adjustments are properly documented, approved, and recorded. Month-End Close, COGS & Margin Analysis Perform assigned activities related to the month-end close for inventory and manufacturing costs. Prepare inventory and cost accounting reconciliations and supporting schedules within established closing deadlines. Analyze Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) and gross margin by product, business, or other relevant dimensions. Investigate significant cost, inventory, and margin variances and provide clear explanations to Top Management and operational management. Support the appropriate accounting treatment of manufacturing costs, inventory movements, variances, and reserves. Support internal and external audits related to inventory, manufacturing costs, and COGS.ERP, Processes & Internal Controls Act as a key Finance user for manufacturing costing and inventory processes within the ERP environment. Support the integrity and financial consistency of costing and inventory master data and their appropriate integration with financial accounting. Understand the end-to-end financial impact of manufacturing and inventory transactions, including the related debit and credit accounting flows. Proactively investigate ERP, costing, and inventory issues, identify root causes, and coordinate corrective actions with Operations, Manufacturing, Purchasing, Engineering, and IT.Contribute to the design, documentation, implementation, and continuous improvement of cost accounting and inventory processes and internal controls. Support the consistent application of costing and inventory processes across the organization. Contribute as a Finance key user and subject-matter expert to ERP and Finance transformation initiatives impacting manufacturing costing, inventory, and financial reporting. Budget, Reforecast & US FP&A Support Provide local support and coordination to the Group Components & Digital Controlling Manager for the Budget, Reforecast, and US FP&A processes. Coordinate with local operational and business managers to collect, challenge, and consolidate the key assumptions required for Budget and Reforecast preparation. Support the preparation and financial review of key operational and business assumptions, including sales, production volumes, material costs, direct labor, manufacturing overhead, headcount, inventory, COGS, and gross margin. Analyze actual performance against Budget and Reforecast, identify key variances, and provide relevant explanations to the Group Components & Digital Controlling Manager. Support the analysis of revenue, COGS, and gross margin performance, including key volume, price, and mix impacts where relevant. Ensure consistency between commercial assumptions, operational forecasts, manufacturing costing, inventory projections, and financial forecasts. Business and operational managers remain accountable for the assumptions and forecasts related to their respective areas. Business Partnership & Cross-Functional Support Serve as a key Finance partner for the Utah manufacturing site and support the broader organization. Work closely with Manufacturing, Operations, Purchasing, Engineering, and Sales. Provide financial and cost accounting support to operational teams while maintaining appropriate financial controls. Support local business teams with relevant financial analysis while maintaining clear ownership boundaries between financial analysis and commercial decision-making. Challenge and analyze operational and commercial assumptions and assess their financial impact, while business owners retain ownership of the underlying commercial and operational forecasts. Develop clear and actionable analyses to support operational and management decision-making. Promote a strong culture of data accuracy, financial ownership, process discipline, and continuous improvement.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field. Minimum of 5 years of experience in cost accounting, inventory accounting, and financial analysis, with significant experience in a manufacturing environment. Strong knowledge of: Standard costing Manufacturing cost accounting Inventory valuationBOMs and routings Material, labor, and overhead variances Inventory reconciliationsCOGS and gross margin analysis Month-end close processes Experience working with manufacturing ERP systems; experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central is a plus. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel. Experience supporting Budget, Forecast, or Reforecast processes in a manufacturing environment is preferred. Experience in FP&A and business performance analysis is a plus. CPA or CMA certification is a plus. SKILLS AND COMPETENCIESStrong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to investigate issues independently, identify root causes, and drive corrective actions. Strong understanding of the relationship between manufacturing operations, inventory flows, costing, and financial accounting. Ability to connect operational, manufacturing, and commercial drivers to financial performance. Hands-on and detail-oriented approach, combined with the ability to understand the broader financial impact of operational decisions. Ability to work effectively across Finance and operational functions. Ability to partner effectively with local business and Sales teams while maintaining a clear Finance perspective. Strong organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet closing deadlines. Ability to constructively challenge data, forecasts, and business assumptions. Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain financial and costing topics to non-Finance stakeholders. High level of accuracy, ownership, and accountability. Continuous improvement mindset and ability to contribute to the development of robust processes and internal controls. WORK LOCATION & TRAVELThe role supports multiple U.S. locations and therefore requires: Regular travel to Utah, as needed, to support Finance, inventory, FP&A, and operational activities. On-site presence at relevant locations when required for physical inventories, process reviews, ERP initiatives, Budget/Reforecast activities, or other key Finance activities.
