Plant Accountant

The role partners closely with the Plant Controller and site leadership to deliver accurate financial reporting, support operational decision-making, maintain compliance with accounting policies and internal controls, and identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency.

This position reports directly to the Plant Controller and is based onsite at the manufacturing facility.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Analysis & Reporting

• Track and review manufacturing expenditures and identify required reclassification entries or accruals.
• Identify spending anomalies and communicate findings to management.
• Perform financial and manufacturing analysis, including variance analysis, forecasting, and reporting.
• Prepare Cost of Goods Sold forecasts, including standard costs, purchase price variances, and manufacturing variances.
• Investigate and explain financial variances.
• Prepare plant-level financial reports and provide clear variance explanations.
• Support quarterly and annual internal and external audit activities.

Inventory & Cost Accounting

• Manage inventory accuracy, reconciliations, and related financial impact analysis.
• Perform cost runs and validate product costing in partnership with Engineering and Operations.
• Analyze production variances and purchase price variances.
• Support ongoing improvements to plant cost-accounting processes.

Month-End Close

• Prepare journal entries, including accruals and reclassifications.
• Reconcile accrual, prepaid, and other assigned balance sheet accounts.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities.
• Review trade and intercompany revenue and COGS for accuracy.
• Help ensure intercompany receivables and payables remain properly balanced.
• Maintain confidentiality and integrity of financial data.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, internal accounting policies, and SOX controls.

Budgeting & Planning

• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
• Calculate and maintain labor and overhead rates.
• Assist with financial projections and plant performance planning.

Business Partnership

• Provide financial insights and recommendations to plant leadership.
• Support operational efficiency and cost-reduction initiatives.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Procurement, and other functions on financial matters.
• Respond to corporate data requests, including tax-related requests and government reporting requirements.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Approximately 4–7 years of relevant accounting or financial analysis experience.
• Experience supporting a manufacturing environment.
• Strong SAP experience, particularly within:
  • General Ledger
  • Cost Accounting
  • Procurement
  • Inventory
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to identify financial errors, inconsistencies, and unusual trends and take appropriate action.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and strong overall proficiency with Microsoft Office.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to work effectively with employees and leaders at all levels.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
• Ability to work additional hours during month-end close, budgeting cycles, and special projects when required.
• Ability to work in a plant business-office environment and regularly enter manufacturing areas.
• Minimal travel required, generally less than 5%.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA or CMA certification preferred.
• Chemical, industrial, or process manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Strong background in plant accounting, manufacturing cost accounting, or financial analysis.