Cost Accountant / Manufacturing Business Analyst

Vienna Beef; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Vienna Beef in Chicago is seeking an in-office Manufacturing Business Analyst to lead cost accounting efforts and provide actionable business insights into food product manufacturing.

You will collaborate with the CFO, Corporate Controller and manufacturing leaders to ensure ERP integration, accurate cost reporting, and support for budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field is essential.
• CPA license is preferred.
• 2-5 years of cost accounting experience is essential.
• Strong ERP and accounting process knowledge in a food manufacturing setting.
• Solid cost accounting principles, inventory management and variance analysis.
• Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, financial modeling).
• Strong understanding of financial statements.
• Ability to conduct detailed financial analysis and provide actionable insights.
• Experience with budgets and forecasts.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly and effectively to stakeholders.
• Excellent report-writing and IT skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain cost accounting systems and procedures to track production costs.
• Build and maintain master data including product records, BOMs, routings, and cost structures.
• Provide input on financial requirements to ensure ERP is configured for reporting needs.
• Analyze rates of labor, depreciation and overhead to suggest policy changes.
• Create cost builds for new products.
• Conduct audits and reconciliations to ensure data accuracy in reporting.
• Analyze changes in goods or services to determine cost impact.
• Analyze manufacturing costs and prepare reports comparing standard vs actual costs.
• Provide management with reports on factors affecting prices and profitability.
• Assist in external audits and general ledger preparation.
• Conduct physical inventories and monitor cycle count program.

Skills

Cost accounting

ERP systems

Financial analysis

Advanced Excel

Variance analysis

Budgeting & forecasting

Report writing

Data presentation

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field

CPA license (preferred)

Tools

Deacom ERP

Job description

We are looking to hire an in office Manufacturing Business Analyst to perform cost accounting and provide business insights regarding the manufacturing of food products. Candidates are expected to be detailed oriented, be knowledgeable with statistics, have strong problem-solving skills, work comfortably under pressure, and deliver on tight deadlines.

To ensure success, candidates should be confident, professional, and meticulous with a keen interest in the cost-efficient operations of the organization. Top candidates will have outstanding presentation and report-writing skills, with the ability to work on their own initiative and as part of a team.

The Manufacturing Business Analyst will work closely with the company's Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Controller and manufacturing leaders to conduct cost and efficiency analyses and provide solutions to ensure all financial aspects of the ERP system are well-integrated, accurate, and support the company's overall financial goals. While not required, the desired candidate will have had experience in food manufacturing and with the Deacom ERP system.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain cost accounting systems and procedures to ensure accurate tracking and reporting of production costs.
• Build and maintain accurate master data including product records, bills of materials (BOMs), routings, and cost structures.
• Provide input on financial requirements and cost accounting processes to ensure the ERP system is configured to meet company financial reporting and analysis needs.
• Analyzing organizational data and assessing rates of labor, depreciation and overhead to recommend policy amendments that will improve numbers.
• Create cost builds on new products.
• Conduct regular audits and reconciliations to verify the accuracy of financial data and ensure it aligns with production and procurement records and reflects accurately in reporting.
• Analyze any changes in goods or services provided in order to determine what effect it has on the cost.
• Analyze manufacturing costs and prepare regular reports comparing standard costs to actual production costs.
• Provide management with reports that specify and compare factors that affect prices and profitability of products or services.
• Assist in external audits and general ledger preparation.
• Conduct physical inventories and monitor the cycle count program (once implemented).

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field (essential).
• Certified public accountant (CPA) license (preferred)
• 2-5 years of cost accounting work experience (essential).
• Strong understanding of ERP and accounting processes within a food manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of cost accounting principles, inventory management, and variance analysis.
• Advanced Excel skills (VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, financial modeling).
• Strong understanding of financial statements.
• Ability to conduct detailed financial analysis and provide actionable insights.
• Experience in preparing budgets and forecasts.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly and effectively to various stakeholders.
• Excellent report-writing, communication, and IT skills