Cost Accountant

Vaco by Highspring; Lexington (KY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring seeks a detail-oriented Cost Accountant to support financial reporting, cost analysis, inventory accounting, and operational decision-making. You will partner closely with manufacturing, operations, supply chain, and finance teams to analyze production costs, improve profitability, and provide actionable insights that drive business performance.

The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, experience with inventory and cost accounting, and a passion for process

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 2–5+ years of accounting or cost accounting experience.
• Strong understanding of inventory accounting and cost accounting principles.
• Advanced Excel skills including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, and data analysis.
• Experience working within an ERP system (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Dynamics, JD Edwards, etc).
• Knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting requirements.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and analyze standard costs, labor costs, and overhead allocations.
• Prepare and review cost accounting reports and variance analyses.
• Monitor inventory transactions and ensure inventory accuracy.
• Analyze material, labor, and manufacturing variances and communicate findings to management.
• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes.
• Prepare journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
• Assist with inventory counts and cycle count programs.
• Evaluate product costs, margins, and profitability trends.
• Partner with operations to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve efficiencies.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities.
• Develop and maintain costing models and reporting tools.
• Assist with internal and external audit requests; ensure compliance with company policies, internal controls, and GAAP.

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication

Process improvement

Organization

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Power BI

Job description

We are seeking a detail-oriented Cost Accountant to support financial reporting, cost analysis, inventory accounting, and operational decision-making. This role partners closely with manufacturing, operations, supply chain, and finance teams to analyze production costs, improve profitability, and provide actionable insights that drive business performance.

The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, experience with inventory and cost accounting, and a passion for process improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain and analyze standard costs, labor costs, and overhead allocations
• Prepare and review cost accounting reports and variance analyses
• Monitor inventory transactions and ensure inventory accuracy
• Analyze material, labor, and manufacturing variances and communicate findings to management
• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes
• Prepare journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules
• Assist with inventory counts and cycle count programs
• Evaluate product costs, margins, and profitability trends
• Partner with operations to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve efficiencies
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities
• Develop and maintain costing models and reporting tools
• Assist with internal and external audit requestsEnsure compliance with company policies, internal controls, and GAAP

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 2-5+ years of accounting or cost accounting experienceStrong understanding of inventory accounting and cost accounting principles
• Advanced Excel skills including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, and data analysis
• Experience working within an ERP system (SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Dynamics, JD Edwards, etc.)
• Knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting requirements

Preferred Experience

• Manufacturing, distribution, or industrial environment
• Standard costing and inventory valuation
• Bill of Materials (BOM) analysis
• Labor and overhead cost allocation
• Physical inventory and cycle counting processes
• Power BI or advanced financial reporting tools

Desired Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Excellent attention to detail
• Ability to communicate financial information to non-financial stakeholders
• Process improvement mindset
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

Why Candidates Love This Role

• Exposure to both accounting and operational leadership
• Opportunity to influence profitability and business decisions
• Strong visibility within manufacturing and finance organizations
• Broad experience with inventory, production, and financial analysis
• Clear path toward Senior Cost Accountant, Accounting Manager, Plant Controller, or Finance Manager positions

By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions.

Equal Opportunity Notice

Highspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

the individual's skill sets, experience and training;

licensure and certification requirements;

office location and other geographic considerations; and

other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).