Principal Cost Accountant

MKS Instruments, Inc.; Województwo wielkopolskie; On-site; PLN 240,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

MKS Instruments, Inc. is seeking a Principal Cost Accountant to support multiple manufacturing sites and distribution centers across PSD European operations.

You will lead cost collection, allocation, and reporting for labor, depreciation, and other manufacturing costs. The role involves month-end close, variance analysis, inventory controls, standard costings, and collaboration with management and auditors to ensure accurate financial statements.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
• 7–10 years of manufacturing finance or cost accounting experience.
• Fluency in English (spoken/written).
• Strong knowledge of SAP with experience in costing and inventory.
• Experience with Business Objects and HFM preferred.
• Advanced MS Office skills (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Self-starting, detail-oriented, and able to work with cross-functional teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities; able to interact with management and international teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead month-end close activities and variance analysis for multiple factories.
• Prepare and publish weekly/monthly operations cost reports.
• Conduct new part costing and item setups; periodic standard cost resets.
• Manage inventory analyses, reserve policies, and aging inventories.
• Support internal controls, audits, and cycle counts.
• Collaborate with material control and external auditors on inventory valuation.

Skills

Fluency in English

Analytical thinking

Team collaboration

Communication with management

Education

Master’s Degree

Tools

SAP

Business Objects

Hyperion Financial Management (HFM)

MS Office

Job description

Principal Cost Accountant Are you naturally curious? So are we at MKS. Our collective curiosity drives us to be an innovation leader in many industries. Our products drive technology advancements across a wide range of applications such as 5G, augmented/virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, clean drinking water and space exploration. We are a team of collaborators who value fresh thinking and believe in mutual respect, constructive candor, diversity and inclusion. As a valued and trusted partner to our customers, we are continually pushing the boundaries of possibility. We believe in creating technology that transforms our world and are looking for like-minded individuals to join our team. If this is appealing to you, we want to meet you.

We are seeking an exceptional Principal Cost Accountant to support multiple manufacturing sites & distribution centers across the PSD European operations. This role involves collecting data, allocating costs, and preparing reports on labor, equipment, depreciation, assembly, and other operating expenses. You will also prepare journal entries, maintain and reconcile ledger accounts, and prepare financial statements and variance reports. Additionally, you may conduct analyses and prepare special reports for management.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and participate in month-end close activities and variance analysis, including monthly Purchase Price Variance analysis and related capitalization and amortization entries for multiple factories.
• Prepare and publish weekly and monthly operations reports covering inventory, labor hours earned, and various manufacturing costs (e.g., scrap, manufacturing variances, warranty).
• Perform new part costing and item setups as required.
• Conduct periodic standard cost resetting for purchased parts, labor, overhead costs, and BOM revisions in accordance with corporate policies and procedures.
• Execute inventory analyses and reserve policies, including excess and obsolescence, MRB, and aged-inventory analyses, as well as used equipment, demo, and service inventories.
• Interface with group management on new product cost development and inventory controls.
• Ensure accuracy of standard cost of sales, variances, scrap, and other recurring journal entries detailing cost of sales and inventory.
• Fully support the internal controls process, including audit support, control monitoring, and execution of POs, cycle counts, periodic physical inventories, month-end reconciliation of accounts, revenue classifications, and other controls as required.
• Collaborate closely with material control to develop and monitor inventory control procedures.
• Liaise with external auditors for audits on inventory, reserves, and valuation issues.
• Report on asset utilization, cycle count accuracy, and completeness.
• Participate in annual budgeting and forecasting processes across multiple facilities as requested by Operations and/or BU Finance staff.
• Support the business planning and forecasting process, review forecast vs. actual results with department managers, and explain variances.
• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree
• Minimum of 7 - 10 years of manufacturing finance or cost accounting experience
• Fluency in English
• Strong working knowledge of SAP
• Experience with Business Objects and Hyperion Financial Management (HFM) preferred
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office
• Self-starting, self-directed, detailed, team-oriented professional with ability to independently determine the direction of work required and priority of projects
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Experienced financial analysis and communication skills and the ability to successfully interact with management, international teams, and all reporting stakeholders
• Ability to work cooperatively with others within and across functions and demonstrate a positive attitude

Globally, our policy is to recruit individuals from wide and diverse backgrounds. However, certain positions require access to controlled goods and technologies subject to various export control regulations. Applicants for these positions may be limited (by, for example, their countries of citizenship, country of origin, or immigration status) where required by law or governmental contact, and/or employment made contingent upon the issuance of appropriate governmental licensing.

MKS Inc. and its affiliates and subsidiaries (“MKS”) is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer: diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. We win as a team and are committed to recruiting and hiring qualified applicants regardless of race, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions), religion, age, ancestry, physical or mental disability or handicap, marital status, membership in the uniformed services, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. Hiring decisions are based on merit, qualifications and business needs. We conduct background checks and drug screens, in accordance with applicable law and company policies.

MKS is generally only hiring candidates who reside in states where we are registered to do business.

MKS is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process due to a disability, please contact us at: [e-mail].

At MKS, it's all about courage, big ideas, and a serious passion for innovation. Winning here is about exploring possibilities, taking action, and solving our customers’ toughest challenges. It's not just a job – it's what you make of it. While you shape your role and make it unique, we invest in you with on-the-job and formal training, as well as educational assistance. Curiosity is key at MKS - ask questions, own your path. Our success comes from celebrating the unique skills, diverse perspectives, and lived experience of employees from over 100 countries. The goal is to make sure that everyone feels that they belong. Diversity isn't just a nice-to-have; making sure everyone feels included is a big deal for us.

Our group of ~10,000 employees serves semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial markets. With over 3,800 patents, our products are enabling advancements in 5G, renewable energy & storage, artificial intelligence, cloud technology, and big data. We're the behind-the-scenes support for some amazing technology. MKS Instruments enables technologies that transform our world.

MKS Instruments Product Overview