Cost Accounting Manager

Play a key role in leading and supporting comprehensive cost accounting functions across multiple manufacturing locations, with a strong emphasis on inventory management, product costing, and financial analysis. Partner closely with plant controllers and operations teams to ensure accurate costing, drive consistency in accounting practices, and support informed business decision-making. Serve as a subject matter expert in cost accounting, providing guidance on complex manufacturing and dairy-specific costing considerations, while supporting budgeting and month-end close processes in an SAP ERP environment. Lead efforts to standardize procedures, strengthen internal controls, and ensure compliance with accounting standards and audit requirements.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Co-lead in the development, standardization, and governance of cost accounting practices across multiple dairy manufacturing plants
• Oversee inventory reconciliation, analysis, and complex costing models
• Function as a lead resource for site controllers and other accountants related to cost accounting
• Provide product cost and margin forecasts; perform estimates of new or proposed product costs and perform analysis or estimates of actual production costs; review completed product manufacturing costs, and review and analyze unit costs of finished products
• Resolve and/or provide resolution guidance of issues that plant controllers have on day-to-day operations of cost accounting activities
• Utilize in-depth knowledge of cost accounting to develop a forward-looking approach to the department including cost of goods sold (COGS) budget analysis and preparation
• Perform complex weekly, monthly, and quarterly variance analysis of key performance indicators and communicate insights, risks, and opportunities to management
• Manage the compilation of periodic statements of product cost and development and/or prepare appropriate operating reports
• Present cost data and recommendations to executive and mid-level management as well as to other appropriate individuals
• Prepare profit and loss statements for individual manufactured products
• Supervise the maintenance of inventory records of products, and direct other statistical and tabulating services
• Direct cost audits and their interpretation that will assist management in directing and controlling operations
• Provide proactive analysis of variances and communication of issues and opportunities to appropriate management
• Consult with plant and/or operations management on resource activity measurements concerns, efficiency measurements, and overhead analysis
• Provide analytical decision support for maintaining and auditing bills of materials (BOM's)
• Be responsible for month-end closing activities, including analysis of inventory valuations and operations analysis
• Manage audits of the financial records with internal audit and independent auditors
• Develop and implement SOP's based on best known practices on all costing data to provide consistency and comparability across all assigned locations (e.g., plants, areas) within the company
• Seek continuous improvement in all areas related to cost accounting and financial reporting
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting standards, and audit requirements related to inventory and cost accounting
• Serve as a central point of expertise for dairy-specific costing complexities (fat/protein standardization, shrink, spoilage, co-products like whey)
• The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned as required