Cost Accountant

Kranz Consulting; Baxter Springs (KS); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Kranz Consulting seeks a Senior Cost Accountant to support our Baxter Springs, KS manufacturing operation—the largest site in the company and home to production of ultrahigh-pressure pumps and spare parts. You will own day-to-day cost activities, partner with operations and finance leadership, and drive improvements in standard costs, margins, and inventory accuracy.

This role offers visibility across the plant and opportunities to implement new costing processes.

Qualifications

• BS in Accounting or equivalent work experience.
• Proven background in high-volume, multi-component manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of manufacturing input costs: material, labor, overhead and outside processing.
• Solid understanding of integrated ERP systems in a standard cost environment.
• Intermediate to advanced Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Study data with operations to identify and drive improvements.
• Analyze changes in design, raw materials, methods to determine cost effects; support quotes.
• Prepare and report monthly gross margin analysis by customer, part number and production jobs.
• Analyze costs and prepare reports comparing standard costs to actual costs.
• Drive inventory accuracy through adjustments, cycle counts, and training on counting techniques.
• Control and maintain cost accounting system for accurate standard costs.
• Research and investigate work order and labor reporting issues; implement corrective actions.
• Complete daily, weekly, monthly reporting on manufacturing activity.
• Review daily production and price variances; adjust as needed.
• Update costs for new products and ECR changes.
• Conduct month-end processes and journal entries; reconcile inventory and GL, prepare reports.
• Maintain obsolete inventory calculations and disposal programs.
• Develop updates for material labor overhead and burden rates; annual cost roll.
• Assist in other accounting support as needed.

Skills

High-volume manufacturing

Cost analysis

Variance analysis

Education

BS in Accounting

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

Reporting to the Controller, the Sr Cost Accountant is a key member of the accounting team supporting the Baxter Springs, Kansas facility, the largest manufacturing operation within the organization and home to the production of industry-leading ultrahigh-pressure pumps and spare parts for our waterjet cutting systems.

The Sr Cost Accountant runs day-to-day cost accounting activities, partnering and providing feedback daily to the Ops team and the Controller regarding manufacturing performance, proper reporting and corrections, and variances. Partnering closely with operations and finance leadership, this role offers the opportunity to improve processes, leverage technology, and contribute to the continued growth and success of the flagship manufacturing facility.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Senior Level Analytics

• Study and collect data related to and working with the manufacturing operations team to identify and drive improvements
• Analyze changes in product design, raw materials, manufacturing methods, or services to determine effects on costs, provide support to McCartney and ETO business to provide accurate quotes
• Prepare, analyze and report monthly gross margin analysis by customer, part number and production jobs
• Analyze manufacturing costs and prepare reports comparing standard costs to actual production costs
• Drive inventory accuracy through monitoring adjustments and cycle counts, coaching and training on proper counting techniques, ensuring proper processes are being used in all inventory impact areas.

Daily Operations

• Control and maintain cost accounting system, inputs and records to ensure accurate standard product costs
• Research and investigate all work order and labor reporting issues, work with supervisors to implement corrective actions
• Complete daily, weekly, monthly reporting on manufacturing activity
• Review daily production and price variances, identify discrepancies and make adjustments as needed
• Timely and accurately update costs for new products and ECR change notices
• Conduct month end processes and journal entries, including balancing the perpetual inventory to the general ledger, reconciliations, management reports and audit support. Verify all entries to income statement and balance sheet.
• Maintain obsolete inventory calculations and conduct programs for disposal
• Develop updates for material labor overhead and material burden rates, conduct annual cost roll
• Assist in other accounting support as needed

TRAVEL

Not required

Qualifications

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

• BS in Accounting or equivalent work experience
• Proven background in high-volume, multi-component manufacturing environment (managing complex BOMs across thousands of SKUs)
• Knowledge and understanding of all manufacturing input costs including material, labor, overhead and outside processing
• Solid understanding of integrated ERP systems in a standard cost environment
• Intermediate to advanced skills in Excel