Cost Accountant / Manufacturing Business Analyst

Vienna Beef; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Vienna Beef in Chicago, IL seeks an in-office Manufacturing Business Analyst to develop cost accounting systems, track production costs, and deliver insights that optimize efficiency and profitability.

The role collaborates with the CFO, Corporate Controller, and plant leadership to ensure ERP alignment, accurate master data, and robust reporting. Food manufacturing experience and Deacom ERP exposure are a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field is essential.
• CPA license preferred for advanced financial control.
• 2-5 years of cost accounting work experience in manufacturing.
• Strong Excel, budgeting, and forecasting skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain cost accounting systems and procedures to track production costs.
• Maintain master data including BOMs, routings, and cost structures.
• Ensure ERP configuration supports financial reporting and analysis needs.
• Analyze labor, depreciation, and overhead to suggest policy improvements.
• Create cost builds on new products and perform regular audits of data.

Skills

Cost accounting

ERP systems

Advanced Excel

Budgeting and forecasting

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

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