COST ACCOUNTANT III

Paul Mueller Company; Springfield (MO); On-site; USD 64,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision insurance

Tuition reimbursement

401k with company match

Paid time off

Holidays

Job summary

Paul Mueller Company is seeking a Cost Accountant III to lead the cost accounting department, supporting and training junior roles while overseeing inventory accounting and system transactions impacting cost and inventory management. You will collaborate with finance and operations to ensure accurate financial reporting, close schedules, and internal controls.

The role requires manufacturing cost experience and strong analytical skills, with opportunities for process improvements and career

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance is required.
• Three to five years of cost accounting or finance experience. Manufacturing experience preferred.
• Knowledge of JD Edwards preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily operations of the cost accounting department including inventory and WIP valuations.
• Prepare monthly journal entries and perform reconciliations for cost and inventory accounts.
• Assist in quarterly labor and burden rate updates by completing inventory rolls and rate uploads.
• Lead during quarterly and year-end audits; coordinate responses to auditors.
• Analyze manufacturing, labor, overhead and material costs to identify trends and opportunities.
• Collaborate with operations to manage consigned inventory and backlogs.
• Monitor inventory balances through book-to-physical reconciliation and adjustments.
• Support process improvements in cost accounting procedures.

Skills

Cost accounting

GAAP

Inventory valuation

Financial reporting

SQL

Power BI

Excel (advanced)

Internal controls

Communication

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance

Three to five years of cost accounting experience

Tools

JD Edwards

Data Access Studio

SQL

Excel

Power BI

Job description

The Cost Accountant III has key responsibilities of acting as a lead for the Cost Accounting Department through supporting and training the Cost Accountant I and II roles. This position is responsible for inventory accounting and acting as the operations contact for system transactions impacting cost and inventory management.

Essential Job Functions

• Responsible for supporting the Cost Accountant I and II roles by assisting with required tasks as necessary to ensure continuity of operations and departmental deadlines.
• Maintain knowledge of current GAAP guidance in relation to cost accounting and inventory valuation and assist in updating internal processes and procedures to comply as necessary.
• Assist the Cost Accounting Manager in periodically evaluating current accounting procedures to comply with internal control requirements to ensure appropriate internal control processes and procedures are in place and adequate.
• Act as a lead on the daily operations of the cost accounting department including inventory and work-in-process (WIP) valuations, manufacturing variance analysis, reviewing and approving daily sales update batches, and intercompany orders management.
• Act as a lead of the cost accounting department for certain monthly tasks including profit recognition, net realizable value (NRV) analysis, construction-in-process (CIP) entries, calculation of company backlog, intercompany eliminations, and warranty reserves analysis.
• Monitor and reconcile inventory balances through the book to physical analysis and adjustment.
• Coordinate with the inventory control analyst to ensure appropriate cycle counting is occurring and adjustments are being made as necessary.
• Assist the Financial Analyst role in the quarterly labor and burden rate updates by completing appropriate inventory rolls and rate uploads in the system during the rate update process.
• Complete quarterly calculation and analysis of LIFO inventory value and update company reserve.
• Collaborate with the business unit managers to review and evaluate slow-moving inventory levels and make / update reserves as necessary quarterly.
• Collaborate with the appropriate operations personnel to manage consigned inventory.
• Prepare monthly journal entries and performs monthly / quarterly / yearly reconciliations of the cost accounting / inventory accounts and resolves discrepancies as they are discovered.
• Assist the Cost Accounting Manager in maintaining the cost accounting close schedule during the month-end close process and continually work towards timeline improvement.
• Take lead with the other Cost Accountants during the quarterly and year-end audits as various deliverables are required as well as assist the Cost Accounting Manager with responses to analytical questions asked by the third-party auditors.
• Collaborate with the other Cost Accountants and the Cost Accounting Manager to identify and complete departmental process improvement opportunities.
• Leverage knowledge of Cost Accounting Manager regarding cost accounting methodology, skills, and processes. Establish and maintain procedures.
• Analyze manufacturing, labor, overhead, and material costs to identify trends, cost drivers, risks, and opportunities for operational improvement.
• Conduct profitability analysis by product line, project, customer, and business unit to support pricing, resource allocation, and business decisions.
• Analyze trends in inventory, production efficiency, scrap, rework, and absorption rates and recommend corrective actions as appropriate.
• Utilize data analytics tools and ERP reporting capabilities to improve financial visibility, reporting accuracy, and operational insights.
• Ensure lessons learned applied to future efforts.
• Collaborate with other professional disciplines throughout the business on technical inquires and needs.
• Complete other duties and special projects as assigned.
• Regular, in-person attendance due to necessary teamwork and personal interactive nature of this position.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities (Competencies)

• Advanced knowledge of cost accounting principles.
• Advanced knowledge of US GAAP especially as related to cost accounting and inventory.
• Excellent communication skills both oral and written
• Attention to detail and accuracy in financial reporting.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to interpret and analyze accounting standards to translate findings into actionable business recommendations.
• Ability to execute and follow-through to completion and documentation.
• Proficiency with Power BI, SQL, Excel (advanced), or other business intelligence and analytical reporting tools.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information to non-financial stakeholders.
• Strong business partnering skills with operations, engineering, and executive leadership.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate procedures and work processes and to exercise appropriate judgment in establishing priorities and work methods.
• Strong work ethic with the ability to work independently or in a team.
• Aptitude for customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain working relationships with individuals at all levels.
• Ability to efficiently utilize Microsoft Office, JD Edwards and Data Access Studio.
• Manage and prioritize multiple tasks and projects in parallel in a time sensitive environment.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical, problem solving and organizational skills.

Education And Experience

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or Finance required; Other equivalent work experience will be considered
• Three (3) to five (5) years' experience in Cost Accounting or Finance required.
• Cost Accounting experience in a manufacturing environment preferred.
• Knowledge of JD Edwards preferred.

Base Compensation Range

$63,736 - $99,691 annually

Variable Compensation Range

Incentive bonus eligibility up to 12% of gross annual salary base on company performance.

Health and Ancillary Benefit Overview

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance with low employee premiums
• Free off-site medical clinic
• Company paid Life Insurance & Short-Term Disability
• 401k - Employer match of up to 4.0% for coworker contributions of 8.0% or more
• Company covers tuition costs up to $5,250.00 annually, contingent on course completion and grades
• Paid Time Off and Sick, Family & Parental Paid Time Off
• Ten (10) Paid Holidays
• Four-day work weeks, varied shifts, and flexible remote work options depending on position
• Career progression program for advancement
• Free in-house welding, grinding & machine operation school
• In-house training program

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Professional office environment with some time spent in the manufacturing area. Exposure to conditions, such as: dust, fumes, noise and high-degree varying seasonal temperatures. Machinery with energy sources including electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, or other energy.

Applicants for Paul Mueller Company must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire.

Paul Mueller Company is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity and providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities.

EEO Employer/Disabled/Protected Veteran