Cost Accountant

Northern Engraving Corp.; Sparta (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Engraving Corp. is seeking a Cost Accountant to analyze inventory and production costs, develop and maintain cost systems, and provide leadership with accurate data for pricing and production decisions.

The role requires five years of manufacturing cost accounting experience, strong analytical skills, and bilingual Chinese and English. Travel and plant-floor collaboration across departments are expected.

Qualifications

• Associate degree in accounting or related field; bachelor’s preferred.
• Five or more years of manufacturing cost accounting experience.
• Bilingual Chinese and English.
• Strong analytical thinking and data-driven recommendations.
• Knowledge of standard costing and cost reporting.
• Ability to collaborate across plant floor to upper management.

Responsibilities

• Analyze inventory, production costs, margins and cost drivers.
• Develop and maintain cost data accumulation and reporting systems.
• Maintain standard costs and analyze variances under GAAP.
• Develop absorption rates by plant and work center.
• Coordinate physical inventory and cycle counts; investigate variances.
• Prepare month-end cost and margin analysis; assist with general accounting tasks.
• Identify obsolete inventory and coordinate disposal.
• Conduct production walks to understand cost build-ups.

Skills

Critical thinking

Verbal and written communication

Teamwork

Cost accounting

Bilingual Chinese and English

Interdepartmental coordination

Cost reporting

Education

Associate's Degree in Accounting or related field

Bachelor's degree preferred

Job description

The Cost Accountant provides ongoing analysis of inventory, costs associated with production, margin analysis, and associating costs to related activities. Provides current and accurate information required to make solid business decisions related to production, inventory management, and product pricing.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Ongoing analysis of inventory, production costs, margin, and tracing costs back to underlying activities and drivers
• Constructs and monitors cost-effective data accumulation systems
• Develops and reviews the controls necessary for data accumulation and reporting systems
• Develops and maintains absorption rates by plant and work center including labor and overhead costs
• Coordinates physical inventory and cycle counts, investigating variances and resolving associated issues
• Maintains standard costs and reviews standard and actual costs for inaccuracies including variance analysis, treating these in accordance with GAAP
• Develops meaningful and comprehensive reporting packages to provide current and accurate information to provide leadership with data necessary to make solid business decisions related to production, inventory management, and pricing
• Performs month end tasks associated with inventory, material costs, margin analysis, and plant financial analysis including adjustment, summary schedules, and reconciliation
• Locates, manages, and disposes of obsolete inventory
• Performs production walks at manufacturing facilities to understand processes, variances, reporting errors, and interpretation of cost build-ups
• Assists with general accounting tasks and other duties/projects as assigned

Qualifications

• Skills and Qualifications
• Minimum of Associate's Degree in Accounting or related field, Bachelor's preferred
• Minimum of five (5) years of manufacturing cost accounting experience
• Bilingual Chinese and English
• Advanced critical thinking and analysis skills to develop recommendations and solutions
• Knowledge of standard costing and associated rates with the ability to develop a cost accounting system with verifiable and accurate reporting
• Ability to work well with varying skill levels in multiple functions/departments (plant floor to upper management)
• Desire to work in a team oriented environment with excellent verbal and written communication skills

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