Cost Accounting Analyst: Factory Cost & Planning

Nestlé; Jonesboro (AR); On-site; USD 70,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

Nestlé USA is seeking a Cost Accounting Analyst to partner with factory leadership and cross‑functional teams for accurate costing, financial analysis, inventory control, and NAS compliance. You will maintain product costs, analyze manufacturing performance, support budgeting, and drive cost improvement initiatives.

The role focuses on period‑end close, forecasting, and data integrity, working closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Quality to enhance operational efficiency and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in accounting, finance, cost accounting, or manufacturing finance.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills.
• Experience with financial systems, ERP systems, and reporting tools.
• Excellent communication, organizational, and planning skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate product costing in accordance with Nestlé Costing Standards.
• Develop and support cost estimates for new and existing products.
• Analyze manufacturing variances, cost drivers, and operational performance.
• Challenge assumptions and identify opportunities to improve cost efficiency and reduce operating expenses.
• Support factory initiatives and cost improvement projects through financial analysis and recommendations.
• Support period-end close activities, ensuring accurate and timely reporting of factory financial results.
• Prepare and analyze financial reports for factory and corporate management.
• Assist with forecasting, budgeting, and business planning activities.
• Perform financial modeling, scenario analyses, and simulations as needed.
• Monitor performance against budget and forecast targets and support action plans to address gaps.
• Maintain and validate bills of materials (BOMs) to ensure costing accuracy.
• Conduct regular inventory and cost data reviews to identify discrepancies, losses, or variances.
• Investigate and resolve cost and inventory-related issues.
• Promote data integrity and ownership at the source to support reliable reporting.
• Ensure adherence to NAS, costing standards, and applicable financial requirements.
• Partner with factory compliance and technical teams to deploy best practices and compliance initiatives.
• Monitor completion of compliance health checks and required control activities.
• Track audit findings and corrective actions to ensure timely resolution.
• Support internal, external, peer, and corporate audit activities.
• Collaborate with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, and Factory Leadership to support business objectives.
• Provide financial insights and recommendations to improve decision‑making and operational performance.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives through data‑driven analysis.

Skills

Analytical skills

Financial modelling

Excel

ERP systems

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Nestlé USA is seeking a Cost Accounting Analyst to partner with factory leadership and cross‑functional teams for accurate costing, financial analysis, inventory control, and NAS compliance. You will maintain product costs, analyze manufacturing performance, support budgeting, and drive cost improvement initiatives.

The role focuses on period‑end close, forecasting, and data integrity, working closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Quality to enhance operational efficiency and