Cost Accountant

LHH; Florence (KY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

LHH is seeking a Cost Accountant for a growing manufacturing organization in Florence, KY. This fully onsite role focuses on analyzing product costs, maintaining inventory accuracy, and supporting budgeting and forecasting to improve operational performance.

The ideal candidate will have 3+ years in cost accounting within manufacturing, strong analytical skills, and the ability to partner with both finance and operations teams. CPA/CMA is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 3+ years of cost accounting experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, and variance analysis.
• Experience supporting inventory controls, cycle counts, and physical inventories.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to communicate financial information effectively to non-financial stakeholders.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting is preferred.
• CPA, CMA, or progress toward professional certification is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Analyze material, labor, and overhead costs to determine product costs.
• Maintain and update standard costs while monitoring variances.
• Prepare and distribute cost analysis reports for management.
• Monitor inventory transactions and assist with cycle counts.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities related to inventory and costs.
• Evaluate manufacturing performance metrics and identify cost reduction opportunities.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning for production costs.
• Develop reports that support profitability analysis and operational decisions.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls and cost accounting policies.
• Participate in ERP system enhancements, process improvements, and financial reporting initiatives.

Skills

Cost accounting

Variance analysis

Budgeting

Forecasting

Inventory controls

Stakeholder communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Our client is seeking a Cost Accountant to join a growing manufacturing organization with a complex production environment. This role is responsible for analyzing product costs, maintaining inventory accuracy, supporting budgeting and forecasting activities, and providing financial insight to improve operational performance. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, experience in a manufacturing setting, and the ability to partner with both finance and operations teams. This position is fully onsite and will pay between $65K and $85K annually.

Responsibilities

• Analyze material, labor, and overhead costs to determine product and production costs.
• Maintain and update standard costs while monitoring variances and investigating root causes.
• Prepare and distribute cost analysis reports for management and operational leadership.
• Monitor inventory transactions and assist with inventory reconciliations and cycle count programs.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities, including inventory and cost-related journal entries.
• Evaluate manufacturing performance metrics and identify opportunities for cost reduction and process improvements.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities related to production costs.
• Review and analyze purchase price, labor, material usage, and overhead variances.
• Partner with operations leadership to understand production trends and provide actionable financial recommendations.
• Develop and maintain reports that support profitability analysis and operational decision-making.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls and accounting policies related to inventory and cost accounting.
• Participate in ERP system enhancements, process improvements, and financial reporting initiatives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 3+ years of cost accounting experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, and variance analysis.
• Experience supporting inventory controls, cycle counts, and physical inventories.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving abilities.
• Ability to communicate financial information effectively to non-financial stakeholders.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting is preferred.
• CPA, CMA, or progress toward professional certification is a plus.