Senior Cost Accountant

Accounting Advantage; Burlington; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Accounting Advantage in Burlington, Canada seeks a Plant Controller to oversee all financial and accounting operations at our manufacturing facility. You will partner with the Plant Manager to drive profitability, lead the local finance team, and ensure rigorous controls and reporting.

The role requires 5–8+ years of manufacturing accounting leadership, strong cost accounting, and ERP proficiency (SAP/Oracle/NetSuite). CPA or MBA is highly valued, with a focus on strategic financial guidance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or related field.
• Professional certifications (CPA/CMA) or MBA highly valued.
• 5–8+ years of progressive accounting/financial leadership experience.
• Manufacturing industry experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial strategy and partner with Plant Manager to drive site profitability.
• Manage cost accounting, variance analysis, and standard costing for all materials.
• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, month-end close, and financial reporting.
• Maintain internal controls and coordinate audits.

Skills

ERP systems

Excel advanced

GAAP

Internal controls

Financial modeling

Cost accounting

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business Administration

CPA / CMA / MBA

Tools

SAP

Oracle

NetSuite

Job description

Reports To: Corporate Controller / VP of Finance & Plant Manager (Matrix Reporting)

Job Summary

We are seeking a highly analytical and leadership-driven Plant Controller to oversee all financial and accounting operations at our manufacturing facility. In this role, you will serve as the primary strategic business partner to the Plant Manager, providing data-driven financial insights to optimize performance, control costs, and maximize profitability. You will lead the local finance team, maintain strict internal controls, and bridge the gap between plant floor operational metrics and corporate financial goals.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Leadership & Strategy

• Serve as a key member of the plant leadership team, offering financial guidance and actionable insights to drive site efficiency.
• Partner with the Plant Manager to identify cost-saving initiatives, continuous improvement projects, and operational waste reduction.
• Conduct detailed financial modeling and ROI analysis to justify capital expenditures (CapEx) and new equipment investments.

Cost Accounting & Variance Analysis

• Manage, update, and maintain standard costing systems for all stock-keeping units (SKUs), bill of materials (BOMs), and work-in-process (WIP) inventories.
• Perform weekly and monthly operational variance analysis, analyzing price, mix, volume, material usage, labor efficiency, and overhead absorption.
• Collaborate with the production team to investigate operational bottlenecks and explain P&L variances to corporate leadership.

Budgeting, Forecasting, and Reporting

• Coordinate and lead the plant’s annual operating plan, zero-based budgeting processes, and periodic financial forecasting.
• Oversee the month-end and year-end close processes for the plant, ensuring accurate journal entries, accruals, and reconciliations.
• Prepare comprehensive monthly reporting packages detailing local KPIs, productivity metrics, and overall site financial health.

Inventory Control & Auditing

• Establish and monitor robust inventory management controls, including supervising cycle count programs and full physical inventory audits.
• Track and manage slower-moving, obsolete, and damaged inventory reserves to minimize financial exposure.
• Oversee the fixed asset register, managing depreciation schedules and verifying asset existence through physical audits.

Job Requirements & Qualifications

Education & Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a closely related field is required.
• Highly valued professional credentials: Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or an MBA.

Experience

• 5 to 8+ years of progressive accounting and financial management experience.
• Minimum of 3 years of direct cost accounting or financial leadership experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven track record of managing internal controls and coordinating financial statement audits.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Expert-level proficiency with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, NetSuite) and manufacturing modules.
• Advanced expertise in Microsoft Excel (e.g., VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, complex financial formulas, and macros).
• Deep understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and standard internal control frameworks.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with a demonstrated ability to translate complex financial concepts to non-financial plant workers.