Cost Accountant / Assistant Controller

Milwaukee Succeeds; Wisconsin; On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Milwaukee Succeeds seeks a Cost Accounting Manager / Assistant Controller to lead cost accounting across our manufacturing operations, drive profitability, and partner with the executive team on strategic initiatives.

The ideal candidate will supervise a team, build scalable processes, analyze product costs and inventories, and influence budgeting, forecasting, and long-term growth decisions. This role offers high visibility and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Experience in cost accounting within manufacturing environments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration.
• Leadership experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost accounting activities across manufacturing operations.
• Partner with Controller and executives on financial decisions.
• Supervise accounting team and build scalable processes.
• Analyze product costs, inventory trends, and operational metrics.
• Support due diligence and integration for acquisitions.

Skills

Cost accounting

Manufacturing accounting

Financial analysis

Leadership

Team mentoring

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

SAP

Job description

Are you a hands-on finance leader who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment? Our client is seeking a Cost Accounting Manager / Assistant Controller to join a growing organization and play a key role in driving financial performance, operational excellence, and strategic growth initiatives.

This is a highly visible opportunity that combines technical accounting, cost accounting, business partnership, and leadership. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable diving into cost analysis, partnering with operations leaders, and contributing to executive-level strategic decisions.

Cost Accounting Manager / Assistant Controller

Are you a hands‑on finance leader who thrives in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment? Our client is seeking a Cost Accounting Manager / Assistant Controller to join a growing organization and play a key role in driving financial performance, operational excellence, and strategic growth initiatives.

This is a highly visible opportunity that combines technical accounting, cost accounting, business partnership, and leadership. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable diving into cost analysis, partnering with operations leaders, and contributing to executive-level strategic decisions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead cost accounting activities across multiple manufacturing operations, identifying root causes of variances and opportunities for improvement.
• Partner closely with the Controller and executive leadership team to support financial and operational decision‑making.
• Supervise and develop accounting team members while helping build scalable processes and organizational structure.
• Analyze product costs, manufacturing performance, inventory trends, and operational metrics to provide actionable business insights.
• Support financial due diligence, valuation analysis, and integration efforts related to future acquisition opportunities.
• Evaluate contracts, business agreements, and financial implications of strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with operations, supply chain, engineering, and leadership teams to improve profitability and efficiency.
• Provide financial guidance related to budgets, capital expenditures, and operational investments.
• Participate in forecasting, financial planning, and long‑term business strategy discussions.
• Support fiscal year‑end close activities and ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across accounting, finance, and reporting functions.
• Help establish processes and systems that support ongoing growth and expansion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Progressive accounting and finance experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong cost accounting expertise with the ability to investigate variances, identify root causes, and drive corrective actions.
• Experience leading teams and collaborating across multiple departments.
• Advanced analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• High level of proficiency with ERP systems, preferably SAP.
• Advanced Excel skills and comfort working with large data sets.
• Strong financial modeling, reporting, and business analysis capabilities.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with day‑to‑day execution.

EEO Notice

Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal .

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada: Based on Highspring's discussions with its Client, Highspring's understanding is that this position for employment is a current vacancy (either through Highspring as a contractor or with the client directly).

Privacy Notice

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.