Cost Accountant

Outform Group

  • Chicago, IL
  • 1 day ago

    Highlights

    This position will serve as a critical liaison between Finance and Operations, working cross-functionally to enhance cost transparency, support strategic decision-making, and drive continuous improvement in a manufacturing and project-based environment. The Senior Cost Accountant plays a key role in supporting the controllership function by ensuring the timely and accurate reporting of financial results and maintaining strong internal controls over financial reporting.

    Numbers & Facts

    LocationChicago, IL

    Description

    Position Summary:

    The Senior Cost Accountant plays a key role in supporting the controllership function by ensuring the timely and accurate reporting of financial results and maintaining strong internal controls over financial reporting. This position will serve as a critical liaison between Finance and Operations, working cross-functionally to enhance cost transparency, support strategic decision-making, and drive continuous improvement in a manufacturing and project-based environment.

    This role will work closely with the Operational Finance team to actualize their revenue analysis and serve as a check and balance against their work.

    Key Responsibilities:

    • Partner with the Operational Finance team to actualize their analysis on revenue, and act as an independent check and balance against the analysis they prepare.
    • Analyze inventory across two North American divisions to ensure all project costs are appropriately recognized.
    • Maintain accurate and consistent inventory costing across all U.S. facilities.
    • Maintain appropriate net inventory value, performing inventory reconciliation and WIP analysis.
    • Analyze manufacturing and purchasing variances to identify opportunities for cost reduction and production efficiency.
    • Perform absorption variance and absorption rate analysis.
    • Manage the closing of production orders and perform detailed cost allocations within the ERP system.
    • Develop, implement, and maintain robust product costing methodologies, including labor and overhead rate structures.
    • Evaluate inventory movements and valuation impacts; provide financial analysis and recommendations related to inventory changes.
    • Prepare and reconcile freight cost and revenue by project.
    • Collaborate with operations teams to support initiatives aimed at improving operational efficiency and cost performance.
    • Act as a finance liaison to operational departments, translating production workflows into accounting impacts to ensure financial accuracy and alignment.
    • Drive automation and process improvements within cost accounting and inventory reconciliation workflows.
    • Assist in the preparation and review of audit schedules related to inventory, project costing, and capitalization.
    • Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures related to inventory and cost reporting.

    Required Qualifications:

    • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
    • Minimum of 6+ years of cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment with project-based costing.
    • At least 3 years of general accounting experience, with a deep understanding of GAAP and financial reporting principles.
    • Demonstrated experience with input-based cost accounting methods and inventory valuation.
    • Proficiency with large-scale ERP systems (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP).
    • Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally and effectively communicate complex financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders.
    • Proficient in Microsoft Excel with the ability to analyze large datasets, create dashboards, perform reconciliations, and automate reports using advanced formulas.

    Characteristics:

    • Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skill sets
    • Strategic and innovative thinker, excelling with a high degree of autonomy in entrepreneurial environments.
    • Great communicator who can distill powerful messages that resonate with clients.
    • Proactive and able to command respect through intelligence, hard work, and persistence.
    • Problem-solver, with a consistent track record of flawless project execution.
    • Personal passion and fervor for utilizing enabling technologies.
    • Strong organizational skills and the ability to adhere to deadlines.
    • Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to drive decision-making.
    • Continuous and thoughtful listener, able to learn from clients and leverage input.
    • Strong personal work ethic focused on high-priority issues; action- and results-oriented.

    #LI-Hybrid


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