Cost Accounting Analyst

JOA; Sheboygan (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

JOA is seeking a Cost Accounting Analyst to support manufacturing cost accounting, job costing, budgeting, and financial analysis. The role collaborates with Operations, Engineering, Sales, and Project Management to provide cost visibility, profitability insights, and budgeting input.

Responsibilities include standard costing, forecast support, project profitability reviews, and driving cost improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required.
• 6+ years of cost accounting and analysis experience.
• Requires strong data analytics and creative problem solving abilities.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office including Excel and Word.
• Experience with TCM (WorkWise) software.
• Ability to develop, write and follow procedures.
• Strong presentation skills to explain findings to managers and auditors.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost improvement initiatives and cost reviews.
• Conduct profitability analyses and forecast-versus-actual reviews.
• Support standard costing and job costing for projects and parts.
• Assist budgeting, forecasting and monthly variance analyses.
• Partner with Sales to validate costing for customer quotes.
• Support ERP system conversion and related financial reporting.

Skills

Data analytics

Creative problem solving

Communication/presentation

Procedures development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

TCM (WorkWise)

Job description

Job Summary:

The Cost Accounting Analyst supports manufacturing cost accounting, job costing, budgeting, and financial analysis activities. This role partners with Operations, Engineering, Sales, and Project Management to provide cost visibility, profitability analysis, budget input, and strategic financial insights. Responsibilities include standard costing, supporting forecasting and budgeting processes, monitoring project profitability, driving cost improvement initiatives, analysis of operating metrics and related financial reporting.

Job Responsibilities & Essential Functions of the Job:

Cost Improvement & Compliance

• Lead and manage cost improvement initiatives, including cost reviews, reconciliations, audits, and product costing updates.
• Support R&D activities and tax opportunities and assess new product return on investment.
• Support internal and external audit activities as required.

Business Partnership & Profitability Analysis

• Conduct customer profitability analyses and present findings to management.
• Assist Project Managers with forecast-versus-actual cost and profitability reviews.
• Serve as the financial business partner for SG&A departments by providing financial guidance and analysis.
• Support operational and strategic decision-making through financial and profitability reporting.

Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Analysis

• Support the standard costing process and related general ledger activities.
• Support job costing for major machine projects, kits, and spare parts.
• Analyze operation cost variances and evaluate labor and overhead standard rates.
• Conduct profitability analysis for customer projects and recommend margin improvement opportunities
• Partner with the Sales team to develop and validate costing information for customer quotations.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Reporting

• Support annual operating budget process.
• Evaluate labor capacity requirements based on sales forecasts and production plans.
• Calculate and maintain departmental cost allocations.
• Perform monthly budget-to-actual analysis and work with operational management to identify improvement opportunities

Other Responsibilities

• Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned to support organizational objectives.
• Support contemplated ERP system conversion as required.

Job Requirements:

• Bachelors degree in Accounting required
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) preferred but not required
• Requires 6+ years of relevant cost accounting and analysis experience.
• Ability to apply a high degree of data analytics and creative problem solving.
• Requires a strong knowledge of Microsoft Office Applications including Excel and Word.
• Will utilize TCM (Workwise) software
• Must have ability to develop, write and follow procedures
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from other managers, external auditors and outside regulatory agencies