Cost Accountant

Hire Road, Inc.; Kingsford (MI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Hire Road, Inc. is seeking a Cost Accountant to ensure accuracy of cost accounting and inventory management in a manufacturing setting. The role provides critical financial analysis and operational insights to support profitability and regulatory compliance.

The Cost Accountant partners with Finance, Operations, and IT to drive process improvements and enhance ERP reporting accuracy. The role requires 3+ years in manufacturing cost accounting, a Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in accounting or finance
• 3–5 years cost accounting experience in manufacturing
• Experience with inventory accounting and controls
• Strong analytical and reporting skills
• Advanced Excel and ERP experience
• ERP exposure to SAP/Oracle/NetSuite/Microsoft Dynamics is a plus
• Experience in job shop/defense contracting environments preferred
• Familiarity with government contract accounting and audit requirements preferred
• Willingness to travel between Wisconsin and Michigan facilities
• Physical ability for extended sitting and computer use
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 compliance and government regulations

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly physical inventory counts, cycle counts, and obsolete inventory reserve analyses
• Coordinate annual physical inventory audits and serve as on-site liaison
• Maintain standard cost systems for materials, labor, and overhead
• Ensure accurate inventory valuation and compliance with policies
• Analyze manufacturing variances (PPV, labor efficiency, scrap) and report findings
• Evaluate product-line profitability and pricing impact with Operations
• Prepare financial reports to identify cost drivers and improvement opportunities
• Manage month-end close activities for cost accounting (journal entries, reconciliations)
• Support POC and EAC accounting with Director of Finance and Defense Programs
• Assist budgeting and forecasting and support audits (BDO, DCAA, DCMA)
• Improve ERP functionality with IT and Operations and implement process improvements
• Support internal controls and other duties as assigned

Skills

Cost accounting

Inventory control

ERP systems

Excel skills

Financial analysis

Govt contracts familiarity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting/Finance

Job description

Summary: The Cost Accountant will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and effectiveness of our cost accounting and inventory management processes. This role provides critical financial analysis and operational insights to support profitability, improve decision-making, and maintain compliance with statutory, regulatory, and audit requirements. The Cost Accountant partners closely with Finance, Operations, and IT to drive process improvements and enhance ERP system accuracy and reporting capabilities.

The Cost Accountant should have at least 3 years of experience in accounting experience within a manufacturing environment

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 3–5 years of cost accounting experience within a manufacturing environment
• Experience managing inventory accounting and inventory control processes
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and financial reporting skills
• Advanced proficiency with ERP systems and Microsoft Excel
• Experience with ERP platforms such as SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Aptean, or Microsoft Dynamics is a plus
• Experience in a job shop, manufacturing, or defense contracting environment is preferred
• Familiarity with government contract accounting and audit requirements is preferred
• Travel Requirements
• Ability to travel periodically between Wisconsin and Michigan facilities
• Physical Requirements
• Position requires extended periods of sitting and computer use
• Inventory Management & Cost Control
• Lead and manage monthly physical inventory counts, cycle count programs, and excess and obsolete inventory reserve analyses
• Coordinate and oversee annual physical inventory audits, serving as the primary scheduler and on-site audit liaison
• Maintain and update standard cost systems, including raw materials, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead rates
• Ensure inventory valuation accuracy and compliance with company policies and accounting standards
• Financial Analysis & Reporting
• Analyze and report daily, weekly, and monthly manufacturing variances, including purchase price variances (PPV), labor efficiency, and scrap variances
• Partner with Operations and leadership teams to evaluate product-line profitability, identify margin erosion risks, and support pricing strategy decisions
• Prepare and analyze financial reports to identify trends, cost drivers, and opportunities for operational improvement
• Accounting & Compliance
• Lead cost accounting month-end close activities, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial statement analysis
• Support Percentage of Completion (POC) and Estimate at Completion (EAC) accounting activities in collaboration with the Director of Finance and Controller, Defense Programs
• Assist with annual budgeting and forecasting processes as needed
• Support external and government audits, including BDO, DCAA, and DCMA reviews
• Ensure compliance with company policies, departmental procedures, ISO 9001 requirements, and applicable government regulations
• Process Improvement & Systems Support
• Collaborate with IT and Operations to improve ERP functionality, automate workflows, and enhance data accuracy and reporting efficiency
• Recommend and implement process improvements that strengthen internal controls and operational performance
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned

WHO WE ARE

Choosing the Hire Road is about shared success, active and committed partnerships and relationships that last. Hire Road is solely focused on connecting highly skilled professionals with leading organizations. We are a solutions-based, results-oriented staffing company specializing in a wide range of industry specific practices. To put it simply, we recruit, screen and hire talented people for temporary and full-time positions.

This classification description is intended to indicate the general kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that are required of positions given this title and should not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the work of the employees under her/his supervision. The use of a particular expression or illustration describing duties shall not exclude other duties not mentioned that are of a similar kind or level of difficulty.