Cost Accounting Analyst

1101 Primary Products Ingredients Americas LLC; Schaumburg (IL); On-site; USD 68,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Healthcare options

401(k) with company match

Disability insurance

Paid holidays and vacation

Parental leave

Learning & development programs

Job summary

Primient is seeking a Cost Accounting Analyst to support the Sr. Plant Controller and Global Process Engineering in driving financial performance across manufacturing operations.

You will provide financial analysis, operational insights, and decision support while ensuring adherence to policy and internal controls. Responsibilities include site reporting, cost analysis, budgeting, monthly forecasts, and capital spending support, with collaboration across Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain

Qualifications

• BA/BS in Accounting, Finance or related field with 1–3 years of experience in FP&A or cost accounting.
• Experience with manufacturing cost accounting, standard costing and variance analysis.
• Proven ability to prepare financial reporting and perform budgeting/forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Monitor plant performance against operating plans and key cost drivers.
• Analyze manufacturing costs and standard cost performance to identify trends and variances.
• Prepare regular financial reports and variance analyses for site and corporate stakeholders.
• Support annual budgets and monthly forecasts with explanations of variances.
• Contribute to capex analyses and financial planning for major projects.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive cost improvements.

Skills

Cost accounting

Variance analysis

Budgeting & forecasting

Financial reporting

Excel advanced

SAP

Power BI

Education

BA/BS in Accounting/Finance

MBA preferred

Tools

Planful

Onestream

Power BI

Job description

Cost Accounting Analyst | Primient

Primient is a century old company with an entrepreneurial spirit. We are a leading producer of food and industrial ingredients made from plant-based, renewable sources. We deliver value through deep technical, commercial, and operational excellence that is backed by our long-standing corn wet milling heritage. Wherever we are in the process, from field to customer, our priorities are focused on ensuring we produce the safest, highest quality products through practices that uphold both our responsibility and commitments to the challenge and drive for excellence, our people and our planet. We’re investing in our plants and people to unlock our potential in the industrial and food sectors. Guided by our values of Safety, Excellence, Integrity, and Growth, we’re focused on growing our business, our reputation, and the career of every teammate.

About the Role

The Cost Manufacturing Analyst is responsible for supporting the Sr. Plant Controller and Global Process Engineering team in driving financial performance and enabling informed business decisions across manufacturing operations. This role serves as a key resource to site operations by providing financial analysis, operational insights, and decision support while ensuring alignment with company policies, financial standards, and a strong internal control environment. The position supports the preparation and communication of accurate financial results, forecasts, budgets, and performance analyses.

Responsibilities include manufacturing site reporting, fixed and variable cost analysis, capital spending support, annual budgeting, monthly forecast cycles, and financial analysis for strategic and operational initiatives. The role also contributes to continuous improvement by identifying cost trends, evaluating business performance, and providing actionable recommendations to improve operational and financial results.

The Cost Manufacturing Analyst partners closely with senior leadership, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and other cross-functional teams to deliver financial insights that support key business initiatives and strategic decision-making.

Accountabilities with Key Outcomes

• Monitor plant performance against operating plans, including financial results, production output, and key cost drivers
• Analyze manufacturing costs and standard cost performance to identify trends, variances, and opportunities for improvement
• Prepare and communicate regular financial reports and variance analysis to plant and corporate stakeholders
• Support development of annual budgets, and monthly forecasts including analysis and variance explanations
• Support the delivery of timely and accurate monthly financial reporting, ensuring transparency and alignment with plan and forecast
• Assist logistics and demand teams with manufacturing activities performed in tollers, such as standard cost, month-end close and reporting
• Support capital cash flow forecast for the Treasury team
• Prepare financial capex analyses for major projects, ensuring alignment with business strategies, priorities, and financial requirements

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

BA/BS Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; MBA preferred 1-3 years of experience in financial analysis, financial/strategic planning, reporting or FP&A Knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting, standard costing and variance analysis Background in budgeting and forecasting within a manufacturing or plant environment Experience with full month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close, including journal entries, reconciliations, analyses, and management reporting Ability to operate independently as the senior finance lead in a site-based environment Prior experience with financial reporting systems and visualization tools, such as SAP, Planful, Onestream and Power BI Excellent analytical skills and the ability to translate analytical findings into actionable solutions and processes Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment with fluctuating priorities and deadlines. Ability to work without direct supervision, and efficiently manage tasks and time Occasional travel, typically less than 10% Proficiency in Word, PowerPoint, Outlook required; Advanced Microsoft Excel skills include analytical modeling, robust chart prep and data mining for large data sets

Total Rewards

The annual pay range estimated for this position is $67,763.20 - $84,704.00 and is bonus eligible. Please note that while this range reflects the full spectrum of compensation available for this role, individual compensation will be determined based on several factors including your experience, skills, and alignment with the role's responsibilities. During the interview process there will be an opportunity to discuss how your background fits into the pay range.

• Competitive Pay
• Multiple Healthcare plan choices
• Dental and vision insurance
• A 401(k) plan with company and matching contributions
• Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Life, AD&D, and Voluntary Insurance plans
• Paid holidays & vacation
• Floating days off
• Parental leave for new parents
• Employee resource groups
• Learning & development programs
• Fun culture where you have an opportunity in shaping our future

Career Path & Culture

Primient is committed to a workplace that is all in – ensuring everyone has the opportunity to develop and shape a career that matters in an open culture which embraces equity, diversity and belonging. We challenge old ways of thinking; and encourage employee voices to be a guiding force for ongoing learning. Primient supports a culture of inclusion that respects individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe our differences make better decisions, drive excellence, and deliver better business results. Primient employees experience autonomy and accountability in their role. Here, employees control their destiny as there is opportunity for career growth and pathways outside the norm.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging

We are believers in the power of difference. We strive to represent the communities in which we operate and to provide an inclusive, welcoming environment for all. We want Primient to be a place where every employee feels they belong and knows they are seen, heard, valued and safe to speak up. Our aspiration is to unlock the full potential in diverse perspectives, while offering everyone an equal chance to grow, Primient is an equal opportunity employer, committed to the strength of an inclusive workforce.

California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”)

The Company is committed to complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act (“CCPA”) and all data privacy and laws in the jurisdictions in which it recruits and hires employees. We collect the following categories of personal information for the purpose of hiring the best qualified applicants and to comply with applicable employment laws: Name and contact information; Job preference and work availability; Social Security Number and/or other identification information; Education and qualifications; Employment history and experience; Military service; Reference and background check information, including relevant criminal history and credit history; Social media information; Pre-employment test results; Post-offer medical examination information and results, including drug test results; Voluntary self-disclosure information regarding minority, veteran, and disability status; and Information provided by you during the hiring process.

Primient is a leading producer of food and industrial ingredients made from plant-based, renewable sources. We deliver value through deep technical, commercial, and operational expertise that is backed by our long-standing corn wet milling heritage. Wherever we are in the process, from start to finish, we focus our priorities on producing the safest, highest quality ingredients through practices that uphold our ongoing commitment to sustainability. Our employees, some of whom are second and third generation legacy, understand the importance of maintaining the highest levels of safety, excellence, and integrity in all that we do. We continue to grow with a century long history of ingenuity that started with agricultural visionary Augustus “Gene” Staley. Staley’s “can do” attitude and entrepreneurial spirit continue to lead and inspire Primient in new ways that ensure we honor our traditions to confidently trail blaze ahead. We proudly walk the halls of the ‘Castle in the Cornfields’ administration building in Decatur, IL, US, tracing our rich heritage and planning for the next big ideas.