Cost Accountant

PALFINGER; Trenton (NJ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Benefits package

Paid time off

Career growth

Diversity & inclusion

Job summary

PALFINGER is seeking a Cost Accountant to join the Trenton, NJ manufacturing facility and Finance team. You will prepare cost analyses, budget reports, and insights that support pricing, profitability, and cost controls.

The role covers inventory costing, COGS, financial close, forecasting, and audit documentation. Responsibilities include variance analysis, BOM accuracy, and collaboration with operations and engineering to improve reporting accuracy and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field.
• 2–5 years of accounting experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably cost accounting.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and familiarity with ERP systems, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with Sage, SQL, and Power BI is preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; ability to present reports to management.

Responsibilities

• Analyze actual manufacturing costs against standards and provide insights into pricing and profitability.
• Perform monthly, quarterly, and annual close activities focused on inventory and cost of goods sold, with GL support per U.S. GAAP.
• Reconcile raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods inventories; support inventories and cycle counts.
• Collaborate with operations, purchasing, and engineering to maintain BOMs, routings, and cost standards; assist forecasting.
• Drive cost accounting process improvements, ERP data flow, and documentation for audits.

Skills

Cost accounting

Analytical skills

Excel

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

Tools

Sage

SQL

Power BI

ERP systems

Job description

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For more than 90 years, PALFINGER has set benchmarks with innovative crane and lifting solutions worldwide. As a leading technology and mechanical engineering company, we transform customer needs into seamlessly integrated solutions while providing opportunities for our people to grow, collaborate, and push beyond limits. We foster an environment where we reach up, reach out, and reach beyond. Become part of our team and let’s lift each other to create what’s next.

Reach Beyond at PALFINGER as a Cost Accountant supporting our Trenton, NJ manufacturing facility and Finance team. In this role, you will prepare cost analyses, budget reports, and financial insights that support product pricing, profitability, and expenditure control. You will manage key cost accounting activities related to inventory, cost of goods sold, financial close processes, forecasting, controls, and audit documentation. Your strong analytical skills and ability to combine and present cost data will help improve reporting accuracy, operational efficiency, and business decision‑making.

For more than 90 years, PALFINGER has set benchmarks with innovative crane and lifting solutions worldwide. As a leading technology and mechanical engineering company, we transform customer needs into seamlessly integrated solutions while providing opportunities for our people to grow, collaborate, and push beyond limits. We foster an environment where we reach up, reach out, and reach beyond. Become part of our team and let’s lift each other to create what’s next.

Reach Beyond at PALFINGER as a Cost Accountant supporting our Trenton, NJ manufacturing facility and Finance team. In this role, you will prepare cost analyses, budget reports, and financial insights that support product pricing, profitability, and expenditure control. You will manage key cost accounting activities related to inventory, cost of goods sold, financial close processes, forecasting, controls, and audit documentation. Your strong analytical skills and ability to combine and present cost data will help improve reporting accuracy, operational efficiency, and business decision‑making.

Your Responsibilities

• Analyze actual manufacturing costs against standards, prepare production variance reports, and provide management with insights into factors affecting product pricing and profitability.
• Execute monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close activities focused on inventory and cost of goods sold, including general ledger support and adherence to U.S. GAAP principles.
• Reconcile and report raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods inventories while supporting physical inventories, cycle count programs, and key inventory controls.
• Partner with operations, purchasing, and engineering to maintain accurate bills of materials, routings, and cost standards, and provide input into forecasts for inventory, labor, and overhead.
• Drive continuous improvement in cost accounting workflows, reporting accuracy, ERP data flows, and cost efficiency while preparing schedules and documentation for internal and external audits.

Your Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field with two to five years of accounting experience in a manufacturing environment, preferably in cost accounting.
• Strong cost systems background, excellent analytical skills, and a sound understanding of accounting principles.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills and familiarity with ERP systems, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience working cross‑functionally with engineering and manufacturing teams on the development and analysis of cost standards.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to accurately prepare recurring reports and present information to management; experience with Sage, SQL, and Power BI is preferred.

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation: $100,000-120,000 base salary
• Comprehensive benefits package with flexible options
• Paid time off
• Opportunities for continuous learning and career growth
• An environment of Respect, Integrity, Openness, Inclusion, and Support

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Vet/Disabled