Cost Accountant

Randstad Canada; Guelph; On-site; CAD 65,000 - 92,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive health and dental plan

Employee and Family Assistance Program

RRSP 3% Company match

On-site cafeteria and gym – Open 24: 0

3 weeks of paid vacation per year

Job summary

Randstad Canada is partnering with a global automotive manufacturing leader to hire a Cost Accountant who moves beyond back‑office reporting, working with Industrial Engineers on the plant floor to validate data and strengthen costing decisions that boost profitability.

You will own reporting and compliance, audit BOMs, analyze large data sets in Excel, manage product costing and inventory valuation, and support budgeting and forecasting cycles, with a clear path for rapid advancement.

Qualifications

• CPA designation preferred.
• Minimum 2+ years of manufacturing accounting experience is non-negotiable; automotive industry experience preferred.
• Outstanding Excel skills (Pivot Tables, Macros, VLOOKUP) and familiarity with OneStream/PowerBI/AS400 ERP systems.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to challenge numbers and partner with operations on the shop floor.

Responsibilities

• Reporting & Compliance: Lead complex financial reporting, variance analysis, and month/quarter/year-end close activities.
• Operational Partnership: Collaborate with Industrial Engineers and Operations leadership; audit BOMs against floor performance to ensure data integrity.
• Data Detective Work: Use advanced Excel to digest large datasets (sales mix, volume, profitability) and validate operational relevance.
• Product Costing & Analysis: Manage collection and analysis of product costing, part profitability, and inventory valuation.
• Audit Support: Act as liaison for external auditors and internal audits (SOX/Government).
• Forecasting: Support budgeting and forecasting cycles with actionable financial insights.

Skills

Excel mastery

Cost accounting

Data analysis

Communication

Education

CPA designation preferred

Tools

OneStream

PowerBI

AS400 ERP

Job description

Are you ready to partner with a global industry leader in the automotive manufacturing sector; a company that has built a stellar reputation for innovation, financial stability, and long-term career growth?

This is not just another standard "back office" role. If you looking for a Cost Accountant role that gets you out from behind a desk and onto the manufacturing floor, partnering with Industrial Engineers to validate data rather than just reporting it?

Could you see yourself stepping into a role that acts as a critical component of our finance team's long-term succession plan, providing an ambitious, career-minded costing specialist with a clear and structured runway for rapid advancement?

Do you thrive in a high-volume, fast-paced environment where no two days are the same? Are you a resilient self-starter who genuinely enjoys an operational challenge and actively prefers a dynamic, energetic manufacturing setting over a quiet, slow-paced office?

If you are a curious, data-driven professional looking for a corporate home where your financial analysis and operational costing directly impact plant profitability, could this be the perfect match for you?

Advantages

• Comprehensive health and dental plan
• Employee and Family Assistance Program
• RRSP 3% Company match
• On-site cafeteria and gym – Open 24 hours
• 3 weeks of paid vacation per year

Duties & Responsibilities

Reporting & Compliance: Lead complex financial reporting, variance analysis, and month/quarter/year-end close activities

Operational Partnership: Step out from behind the desk to collaborate with Industrial Engineers and Operations leadership. Audit BOMs against actual floor performance to ensure data integrity

Data Detective Work: Use advanced Excel skills to digest large volumes of data (sales mix, volume, profitability). "Dig in" to the numbers to discern if the information makes operational sense

Product Costing & Analysis: Manage the collection and analysis of product costing, part profitability, and inventory valuation

Audit Support: Act as a key liaison for external auditors and internal corporate audits (SOX/Government)

Forecasting: Support plant department leaders through budget and forecasting cycles with actionable financial insights

Qualifications

Education: CPA Designation is preferred (CPA in progress or late-stage CPA candidates will be considered with relevant experience)

Experience: Minimum 2+ years of manufacturing accounting experience is non-negotiable. Automotive industry experience is highly preferred [20, Image 7]

Technical Mastery: You must be "Outstanding" in Excel (Pivot Tables, Macros, VLOOKUPs, managing large datasets). Experience with OneStream, PowerBI, and AS400 ERP systems is highly preferred

Soft Skills: You are not just "book smart", you possess the emotional intelligence to challenge numbers, ask the right questions to operations teams, and thrive in a deadline-driven plant environment

Why Join?

Mentorship: You will have a dedicated transition and mentorship period with the Controller and Assistant Controller to ensure you are set up for success. Growth: This role is explicitly viewed as a pipeline for future leadership within the finance department. Impact: You will move beyond standard tracking to protect corporate compliance and build robust financial structures.