Cost Accountant (Milwaukee)

Klement Sausage Co., Inc.; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

401(k) employer match

Job summary

Klement Sausage Company, Milwaukee, WI, seeks a Cost Accountant to partner with manufacturing, production and warehouse teams. The role focuses on standard costs, BOM management, and inventory accuracy to inform business decisions.

Reporting to the Corporate Controller, you will lead cost accounting cycles, reconcile inventory and support COGS reporting. Requirements include a Bachelor's in Accounting/Finance, 3+ years of cost accounting in manufacturing, strong Excel and ERP experience, and the

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance required.
• 3+ years of cost accounting experience in manufacturing.
• Hands-on experience with standard costing, BOMs and inventory accounting in ERP.
• Advanced Excel and ability to work with large data sets.
• Strong analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Establish, validate and maintain standard costs for BOMs and items.
• Lead annual standard cost-setting with cross-functional inputs.
• Update BOMs and item costs for formulation, packaging and process changes.
• Drive cost accounting cycles including cost rolls, variance analysis and updates.
• Reconcile inventory across internal and external warehouse locations and resolve discrepancies.
• Support profitability analysis and collaborate on cost/risk mitigation.

Skills

Advanced Excel

ERP systems

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

ERP system

Job description

For six generations, Klement Sausage Company has been making handcrafted sausage out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Our rich history, dedicated to quality, has made Klement’s the industry standard in delicious, authentic sausage. Klement’s incredible sausage products are meticulously crafted in small batches. Today, there are over 300 varieties of Klement’s products that are crafted with passion, pride and hard work.

Role Description

The Cost Accountant partners closely with manufacturing, production, and warehouse teams across Klement's and Amylu Foods to build and maintain accurate standard costs, drive inventory integrity, and support cost accounting processes that inform business decisions. This role owns the mechanics of standard costing on bills of material (BOMs) and new items, leads recurring cost accounting cycles, reconciles inventory at all internal and external warehouse locations, and provides support to the plant management teams. Reporting to the Corporate Controller, this role is a key contributor to enterprise cost accounting, inventory accuracy, and COGS reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Standard Costing & BOM Management

• Partner with food manufacturing facility teams to establish, validate, and maintain standard costs for bills of material (BOMs) and new/existing items.
• Lead the annual standard cost-setting process, coordinating timelines and inputs (materials, labor, overhead) with plant, purchasing, and operations teams.
• Review and update BOMs and item costs on an ongoing basis to reflect formulation, packaging, and process changes.

Cost Accounting Processes & Data Management

• Drive annual and recurring cost accounting processes, including cost rolls, variance analysis, and cost updates.
• Manage the data integrity of cost accounting entries, ensuring accurate and timely postings within the ERP/accounting system.
• Maintain documentation and controls supporting the cost accounting close process.
• Reconcile inventory at internal and external/third‑party warehouse locations, researching and resolving discrepancies in partnership with warehouse providers and the internal supply chain teams.
• Partner with production and warehouse teams on month‑end inventory counts, valuation, and reporting.
• Investigate inventory variances and recommend process improvements to strengthen accuracy and controls.

Profitability Support & Risk Mitigation

• Support customer profitability analysis by providing accurate, timely costing data and insights.
• Collaborate with operations to identify and help mitigate cost and business risks, primarily related to supply chain and labor.
• Perform other cost accounting duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
• 3+ years of cost accounting experience; food/beverage or other manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
• Hands‑on experience with standard costing, BOMs, and inventory accounting in an ERP system.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience working with large data sets and cost accounting systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills with high attention to detail.
• Effective communicator able to build working relationships across plant operations, warehouse, and finance teams.
• Ability to travel periodically to manufacturing and warehouse locations.

Compensation and Benefits Summary

• Pay Range: $80,000 - $100,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan with a company match of up to 3.5%

Klement Sausage Company is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affi… \"All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran, or disability status.\"