Cost Accountant

ML6 Search + Talent Advisory; Severn (MD); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

ML6 Search + Talent Advisory is seeking an experienced accounting professional to lead project accounting activities in a fast-moving manufacturing environment in Severn, MD. You will manage ASC 606 revenue recognition, POC schedules, and cost tracking for long-term contracts.

The role emphasizes close collaboration with Project Management, Finance, Operations, and Supply Chain to ensure accurate financial reporting, strong controls, and timely month-end close under US GAAP.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 3+ years in project or cost accounting.
• Strong working knowledge of accrual accounting and US GAAP.
• Experience with ASC 606 and POC revenue recognition.
• Manufacturing or project-based contract exposure is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Review monthly project status, costs, and estimated costs to complete.
• Maintain POC schedules supporting revenue recognition.
• Analyze project performance vs estimates and investigate variances.
• Prepare journal entries and reconciliations for project-related accounts.
• Support month-end close and US GAAP compliance.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Time management

Attention to detail

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

What You'll Be Doing:

• Partner with Project Management and Commercial teams to review monthly project status, costs incurred, estimated costs to complete, expected margins, milestones, risks, and changes in scope.
• Maintain the percentage-of-completion (POC) schedules supporting monthly revenue and gross profit recognition for long-term projects under ASC 606.
• Analyze actual project performance against estimates and investigate margin fluctuations, cost overruns, changes in estimates, and potential loss-making contracts.
• Prepare and support journal entries and reconciliations related to revenue, project costs, contract assets, contract liabilities, and other project-related accounts.
• Support project closeout activities by confirming final costs, revenue, billing status, outstanding commitments, and required accounting adjustments.
• Help develop, implement, and maintain effective controls around inventory receipts, issues, transfers, project allocations, valuation, reconciliations, and physical inventory.
• Reconcile inventory and project cost information across multiple systems, spreadsheets, and operational records, researching and resolving discrepancies.
• Develop and maintain manufacturing cost and variance reporting across materials, labor, overhead, usage, purchase price, and other relevant cost categories.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to improve the accuracy and completeness of project cost capture, work-in-process information, and inventory records.
• Support cycle counts and physical inventories, analyze adjustments, and assist with corrective actions where required.
• Prepare accurate and timely balance sheet reconciliations, including intercompany, inventory, contract balances, and other assigned accounts.
• Research reconciling items and collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure outstanding items are resolved within established timelines.
• Support month-end and year-end close activities, external audit requirements, and the continued transition toward accrual accounting and US GAAP compliance.
• Develop and maintain clear accounting procedures, schedules, and internal control documentation.
• Participate in process improvement, data cleanup, system testing, and implementation activities associated with future ERP enhancements and transitions.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes, reporting accuracy, controls, and overall efficiency across the finance function.

What You'll Need to Be Successful:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 3+ years of progressive accounting experience, ideally involving project accounting, cost accounting, inventory accounting, manufacturing accounting, or general ledger responsibilities.
• Strong working knowledge of accrual accounting, journal entries, account reconciliations, and US GAAP fundamentals.
• Experience with ASC 606, percentage-of-completion (POC), or cost-to-cost revenue recognition is highly preferred.
• Experience working with long-term manufacturing, engineering, project-based, or construction-type contracts is considered an asset.
• Manufacturing accounting experience involving inventory, work in process (WIP), job costing, standard costing, or manufacturing variances is highly desirable.
• Strong Excel skills, including lookups, pivot tables, data analysis, and working with large or manually maintained schedules.
• Ability to understand operational and project information and translate that activity into accurate accounting and financial results.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify unusual trends, investigate discrepancies, and communicate findings clearly.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet month-end close deadlines.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across Finance, Project Management, Commercial, Operations, and Supply Chain teams.
• Detail-oriented and comfortable working in an evolving environment where processes and controls are continuing to mature.
• Experience supporting process improvements, ERP implementations, or accounting system transitions is considered an asset.