Cost Accountant

Bluewater Hayes Inc.; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Performance bonus

Full benefits

Job summary

Bluewater Hayes Inc. in Middleville, MI is seeking a Senior Cost Accountant to own the standard costing, variance analysis, and the financial narrative behind production. You’ll partner with finance and operations on the plant floor to drive accurate cost information and meaningful decisions.

You will lead cost updates, support month-end close, and deliver management reporting while implementing costing improvements and controls across manufacturing processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field or equal hands-on experience.
• 3+ years of accounting experience that includes inventory and manufacturing.
• 5+ years of cost accounting in heavy manufacturing such as metal fabrication, foundry, machining, stamping, chemical, or paper preferred.
• Solid command of standard costing, variance analysis, and month-end close.
• ERP experience required; Oracle EBS Cost Accounting super-user experience is a strong plus.
• Comfort on the plant floor to observe processes and support inventory counts, with required PPE.
• CMA or progress toward it is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Set and maintain standard direct material and labor costs alongside Supply Chain and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Keep routings, BOMs, and overhead rates current in the ERP system as processes change.
• Validate supplier quotes, build cost rollups, and enter final costs after each Engineering Change Order.
• Analyze material, labor, and overhead variances, including PPV and absorption, then explain the drivers and recommend fixes.
• Lead standard cost updates and periodic cost rolls so records match current operations.
• Support month-end close, recurring management reporting, and ad-hoc requests.
• Roll out process improvements in costing, reporting, and controls, then train the team on them.

Skills

Cost accounting

Variance analysis

Month-end close

Inventory management

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance

CMA or progress toward CMA

Tools

Oracle EBS Cost Accounting

ERP systems

Job description

Middleville, MI | On-Site | Manufacturing

Own the numbers behind the plant floor and turn cost data into decisions leadership acts on.

Our client is a manufacturer in Middleville, MI seeking a Senior Cost Accountant to serve as a cost accounting subject matter expert for the facility. You will be a key resource for standard costs, variance analysis, and the financial story behind production, working closely with the broader finance and operations teams. This is a hands‑on, on‑site role where finance meets the plant floor.

Projects You’ll Work On

• Set and maintain standard direct material and labor costs alongside Supply Chain and Manufacturing Engineering.
• Keep routings, BOMs, and overhead rates current in the ERP system as processes change.
• Validate supplier quotes, build cost rollups, and enter final costs after each Engineering Change Order.
• Analyze material, labor, and overhead variances, including PPV and absorption, then explain the drivers and recommend fixes.
• Lead standard cost updates and periodic cost rolls so records match current operations.
• Support month‑end close, recurring management reporting, and ad‑hoc requests.
• Roll out process improvements in costing, reporting, and controls, then train the team on them.

What Experience You Should Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field, or equal hands‑on experience.
• 3+ years of accounting experience that includes inventory and manufacturing.
• 5+ years of cost accounting in heavy manufacturing such as metal fabrication, foundry, machining, stamping, chemical, or paper preferred.
• Solid command of standard costing, variance analysis, and month‑end close.
• ERP experience required; Oracle EBS Cost Accounting super‑user experience is a strong plus.
• Comfort on the plant floor to observe processes and support inventory counts, with required PPE.
• CMA or progress toward it is a plus.

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

• Bring accuracy and consistency to product cost at a busy manufacturing site.
• Real influence with both finance and operations leaders.
• Hands‑on work that ties directly to margin and smarter decisions.
• Competitive pay, bonus, and full benefits.