Cost Accountant

Perdue Chicken; Salisbury (MD); On-site; USD 68,000 - 102,000; Full time

Job summary

Perdue Farms Inc. is seeking a Cost Accountant to support Live Operations. You’ll drive accurate financial reporting, month-end closings, and balance sheet reconciliations for grow-out departments, feed mills, and hatcheries.

This role also handles weekly grower pay settlements, collaborates with management to resolve issues, and contributes to a fast-paced, hands-on accounting environment. The position offers a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting.
• 2–3 years of cost accounting experience.
• Strong team player.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment.
• Flexible hours to accommodate settlements on Tuesday and special projects.
• Availability to travel to assist with Live audits outside of the Delmarva area, as needed.
• Strong math, analytical, and organizational skills with a good working knowledge of Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience with SAP would be considered a plus.

Responsibilities

• Adhere to GAAP; monthly balance sheet prep for assigned facilities.
• Management reporting with timely, accurate analyses for Accounting and Operations Management.
• Maintain accounting controls including payroll, receivables, capital assets, and inventory audits.
• Assist in annual operating plan preparation.
• Back up weekly settlements posting and support Settlement Coordinators.
• Post Broiler settlements and tie producer pay to SAP for weekly payments.
• Create and upload weekly/monthly Agristats data files.
• Address settlement-related data corrections with relevant teams.

Skills

Team player

Communication skills

Multi-tasking

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting

CPA and/or MBA (preferred)

Tools

SAP

Job description

Perdue Foods has a goal of becoming the most trusted name in premium proteins by creating products for consumers and for retail and foodservice customers around the globe while changing the way animals are raised for food. It is part of Perdue Farms, a fourth-generation, family-owned food and agricultural business deeply rooted in tradition yet with a forward-thinking mindset. We believe that success starts with our people, and our culture is built on a foundation of teamwork, integrity, and respect, where every voice matters and everyone is encouraged to contribute to our shared goals. We are dedicated to creating a supportive, inclusive environment where associates feel valued and inspired to make an impact, both within the company and in the communities we serve. From promoting growth and development to prioritizing work-life balance, we’re committed to helping our team members thrive. That's Perdue.

Summary

We’re looking for a Cost Accountant to play a key role supporting our Live Operations. You’ll drive accurate financial reporting, month-end closings, and balance sheet reconciliations for grow-out departments, feed mills, and hatcheries. This role also supports weekly grower pay settlements, collaborating with management to resolve issues and ensure smooth operations. If you enjoy hands‑on accounting work and want to make a real impact on operations, this is an exciting opportunity to apply your skills in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment.

The salary range for this position is $68,000 - $102,000 per year, based on experience and qualifications with annual bonus available (variable depending on performance).

In addition to the base salary, Perdue offers a competitive benefits package, including medical/Rx, 401(k) with employer match after 1-year, critical illness, accident insurance, dental, vision, life insurance, optional group life insurance, short-term and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts and paid time off.

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Responsible for adhering to generally accepted accounting principles for assigned feed mills, hatchery and grow-out areas. Accurate accounting and balance sheet preparation by established deadlines required monthly.
• Management reporting on a timely, accurate and consistent basis. Includes ad hoc analysis and reporting for Accounting and Operations Management.
• Maintain accounting controls by performing annual payroll, receivables, capital assets, Internal Controls SOPs, and feed mill inventory audits for all assigned facilities.
• Assist in the preparation of annual operating plans.
• Act as back up for posting weekly settlements and supporting Settlement Coordinators which would include:
• Have a thorough understanding of the MTech system and all the growing programs. Have sufficient knowledge to be back up for all coordinators for settlement process.
• Have responsibility for coordinating Mtech updates to support new growing programs or new/revised payment terms/incentives/bonuses.
• Set up new weekly audit procedures to ensure that settlements are accurate.
• Post Broiler settlements and tie out producers pay to SAP for weekly payments to contract growers.
• Maintain weekly litter standards and monthly medication, supplies, and production admin standards in Mtech.
• Address settlement-related issues with Grow Out, Coordinators, and Fuel Clerk and fuel companies.
• Dotted line supervision of fuel settlement clerk.
• Address requests from operations for data corrections/changes in Mtech for chick placements, feed, or processing transactions as needed.
• Create and upload weekly and monthly Agristats data files.
• Manage process with coordinators and address issues related to Kofax indexing of settlement documents.
• Perform other tasks as assigned.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting.
• 2 – 3 years of cost accounting experience.
• Strong team player.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced, time-sensitive environment.
• Flexible hours to accommodate settlements on Tuesday and special projects that arise due to the nature of live accounting environment.
• Availability to travel to assist with Live audits outside of the Delmarva area, as needed.
• Strong math, analytical, and organizational skills with a good working knowledge of Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
• Experience with SAP would be considered a plus.

Preferred Education and Experience

• CPA and/or MBA

Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors

• Position is mostly sedentary but may require occasional moving to other offices or buildings.
• May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another.
• May need to access files, supplies and equipment.
• Work activity is in an office, open-partitioned, cubicle environment.

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Perdue Farms Inc. is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.