Cost Accountant

Outform; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Outform in Chicago, IL seeks a Senior Cost Accountant to support controllership, ensuring accurate reporting and strong internal controls. The role serves as a key liaison between Finance and Operations, driving cost transparency and continuous improvement across manufacturing and project-based environments.

The position collaborates with Operational Finance to actualize revenue analysis and act as a check and balance to ensure financial accuracy and alignment, enabling strategic decision-making

Qualifications

• 6+ years in cost accounting within manufacturing with project costing.
• Strong GAAP knowledge and financial reporting background.
• Experience with ERP and inventory valuation.

Responsibilities

• Partner with operations to analyze revenue and cost data.
• Monitor inventory costing across divisions and reconcile variances.
• Support cost reduction and efficiency initiatives.

Skills

Cost accounting

Manufacturing costing

GAAP

ERP systems

Excel dashboards

Cross-functional collaboration

Variance analysis

Inventory valuation

Project-based costing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365

SAP

Job description

Position Summary:

The Senior Cost Accountant plays a key role in supporting the controllership function by ensuring the timely and accurate reporting of financial results and maintaining strong internal controls over financial reporting. This position will serve as a critical liaison between Finance and Operations, working cross-functionally to enhance cost transparency, support strategic decision-making, and drive continuous improvement in a manufacturing and project-based environment.

This role will work closely with the Operational Finance team to actualize their revenue analysis and serve as a check and balance against their work.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partner with the Operational Finance team to actualize their analysis on revenue, and act as an independent check and balance against the analysis they prepare.
• Analyze inventory across two North American divisions to ensure all project costs are appropriately recognized.
• Maintain accurate and consistent inventory costing across all U.S. facilities.
• Maintain appropriate net inventory value, performing inventory reconciliation and WIP analysis.
• Analyze manufacturing and purchasing variances to identify opportunities for cost reduction and production efficiency.
• Perform absorption variance and absorption rate analysis.
• Manage the closing of production orders and perform detailed cost allocations within the ERP system.
• Develop, implement, and maintain robust product costing methodologies, including labor and overhead rate structures.
• Evaluate inventory movements and valuation impacts; provide financial analysis and recommendations related to inventory changes.
• Prepare and reconcile freight cost and revenue by project.
• Collaborate with operations teams to support initiatives aimed at improving operational efficiency and cost performance.
• Act as a finance liaison to operational departments, translating production workflows into accounting impacts to ensure financial accuracy and alignment.
• Drive automation and process improvements within cost accounting and inventory reconciliation workflows.
• Assist in the preparation and review of audit schedules related to inventory, project costing, and capitalization.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures related to inventory and cost reporting.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 6+ years of cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment with project-based costing.
• At least 3 years of general accounting experience, with a deep understanding of GAAP and financial reporting principles.
• Demonstrated experience with input-based cost accounting methods and inventory valuation.
• Proficiency with large-scale ERP systems (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics 365, SAP).
• Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally and effectively communicate complex financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel with the ability to analyze large datasets, create dashboards, perform reconciliations, and automate reports using advanced formulas.

Characteristics:

• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skill sets
• Strategic and innovative thinker, excelling with a high degree of autonomy in entrepreneurial environments.
• Great communicator who can distill powerful messages that resonate with clients.
• Proactive and able to command respect through intelligence, hard work, and persistence.
• Problem-solver, with a consistent track record of flawless project execution.
• Personal passion and fervor for utilizing enabling technologies.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to adhere to deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to drive decision-making.
• Continuous and thoughtful listener, able to learn from clients and leverage input.
• Strong personal work ethic focused on high-priority issues; action- and results-oriented.

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