Cost Accountant

Brilliant®; United States; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Brilliant® is seeking a Senior Cost Analyst to lead product costing, margin analysis, and inventory management across multiple manufacturing facilities.

You will partner with Operations, Supply Chain, plant leadership and Finance to improve cost visibility, support profitability initiatives, and provide actionable financial insights, with travel approximately 50% domestically.

Must reside by a Major Airport; CT & ET preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive cost accounting or manufacturing finance experience.
• Strong manufacturing background with experience in product costing, variance analysis, inventory accounting, and COGS.
• Experience partnering directly with plant and operations leadership.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP/manufacturing costing systems.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 50% domestically.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain product costs, including material, labor, and overhead.
• Analyze manufacturing cost variances and provide insights to Finance and Operations leadership.
• Support new products, process changes, and other initiatives through accurate cost modeling.
• Identify cost-reduction and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Perform margin and profitability analysis by product, customer, and manufacturing location.
• Identify drivers of margin improvement or erosion and support pricing decisions.

Skills

Cost accounting

Manufacturing finance

Excel

ERP costing systems

Variance analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Economics

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Our client is a well-established U.S.-based manufacturer entering an exciting phase of growth and transformation under a new leadership team.

Must reside by a Major Airport; Preference is CT & ET

*This role requires approximately 50% (US) travel to manufacturing facilities*

Position Summary

The Senior Cost Analyst will be responsible for product costing, margin analysis, and inventory management across multiple manufacturing facilities.

This individual will partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, plant leadership, and Finance to improve cost visibility, strengthen inventory controls, support profitability initiatives, and provide actionable financial insights.

• Develop and maintain product costs, including material, labor, and overhead.
• Analyze manufacturing cost variances and provide insights to Finance and Operations leadership.
• Support new products, process changes, and other initiatives through accurate cost modeling.
• Identify cost-reduction and continuous improvement opportunities.

Margin Analysis & Business Support

• Perform margin and profitability analysis by product, customer, and manufacturing location.
• Identify drivers of margin improvement or erosion.
• Support pricing decisions and profitability reviews.
• Present cost and margin insights to leadership.

Inventory Management & Controls

• Support inventory valuation for raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods.
• Monitor inventory levels, turns, obsolescence, and reserves.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to improve inventory accuracy, cycle counts, and physical inventories.
• Ensure appropriate controls related to inventory and cost accounting.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of progressive cost accounting or manufacturing finance experience.
• Strong manufacturing background with experience in product costing, variance analysis, inventory accounting, and COGS.
• Experience partnering directly with plant and operations leadership.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP/manufacturing costing systems.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 50% domestically.