Cost Analyst

hendersonproducts; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Douglas Dynamics is seeking a Cost Analyst to own cost accounting for our engineered-to-order manufacturing operations. You will manage job costing, standard costs, variances, and inventory valuation, partnering with estimating, engineering, and operations to ensure accurate data for quotes and margin visibility.

You will support month-end close, maintain standard cost records, and provide ad hoc analyses to guide make-vs-buy decisions and operational improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 3-6 years of cost accounting or manufacturing accounting experience in a job-shop/ETO environment.
• Ability to work independently on job costing, variance analysis, and inventory reconciliation.
• Experience with ERP systems supporting job costing and inventory management (Epicor experience a plus).
• CMA or CPA a plus.
• Working knowledge of standard costing, BOMs, routings, and overhead allocation.
• Strong communication skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost accounting for engineered-to-order manufacturing operations, including job costing and standard cost maintenance.
• Perform monthly inventory reconciliation and support inventory and COGS reporting.
• Analyze and report on cost variances and document root causes.
• Refine standard costs, labor routings, and overhead rates with estimating/engineering.
• Support month-end close activities and journal entries for cost accounting.
• Maintain/coordinate standard cost system data (BOMs, routings, overhead rates).
• Provide ad hoc cost analysis for quoting, make-vs-buy, and margin reviews.
• Assist in ERP upgrade cost-related work streams and inventory valuation.

Skills

Cost accounting

Variance analysis

Inventory reconciliation

Financial reporting

Excel

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

Epicor ERP

Job description

WHO WE ARE: Douglas Dynamics is North America’s premier manufacturer and up-fitter of work truck attachments and equipment. Our belief is that our employees and culture are just as important to the company as serving our customers. We place a high value on building a team and working environment where individuals can succeed professionally and personally. As a team member at Douglas Dynamics, you can expect to make a difference through your work, to have a direct impact on the achievement of a very meaningful mission to serve our customers, to advance your career, and to have room for fun and fulfillment in your daily life.

We would love to have you join our team, where we offer top notch benefits, multiple avenues for advancement and a great working environment.

HOW WE DO IT: Grow, Improve, and Engage

is our focus as an organization to ensure we succeed by executing the right things. These are our Core Values and are How We Win in the marketplace. The Winning Behaviors are what each Douglas Dynamics employee does to support the success of our company. They are the expectations of all of us to help ensure we focus on winning as an organization the right way! Our Winning Behaviors are:

• Be Customer & Results Driven
• Anticipate the Possibilities
• Collaborate & Care
• Communicate Responsibly
• Develop Self & Others
• Get Better Every Day

HOW YOU WILL CONTRIBUTE:

The Cost Analyst is responsible for owning cost accounting for our engineered-to-order (ETO) manufacturing operations, including job costing, standard cost maintenance, variance analysis, and inventory valuation. This position requires strong analytical skills along with an in-depth understanding of job-order costing and manufacturing accounting practices. Reporting to the Controller, this role partners closely with estimating, engineering, and operations to ensure the cost data driving quoting, margin visibility, and management reporting is accurate and timely. Strong analytical and communication skills are critical in this role to translate detailed cost data into insight the business can act on.

• Lead by example and promote Winning Behaviors across all teams.
• Maintain and update job costing and standard cost records.
• Perform monthly inventory reconciliation and support accurate inventory and cost-of-goods-sold reporting.
• Analyze and report on job-level cost variances (material, labor, overhead) versus quoted/estimated cost; investigate and document root causes.
• Partner with estimating and engineering to refine standard costs, labor routings, and overhead rates based on actual job experience.
• Support month-end close activities related to cost accounting, including journal entries, accruals, and account reconciliations.
• Maintain the standard cost system (BOMs, routings, overhead rates) and coordinate periodic standard cost updates.
• Provide ad hoc cost analysis to support quoting, make-vs-buy decisions, and margin reviews for management.
• Serve as a key support contact for annual physical inventory and external audit requests related to cost accounting and inventory valuation.
• Support cost-related workstreams of the ERP upgrade (e.g., validating costing data conversion, testing job costing and WIP functionality).
• Assist in process improvement of finance functions.

WHAT THIS ROLE NEEDS:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required
• 3-6 years of cost accounting or manufacturing accounting experience, ideally in a job-shop, custom, or ETO environment
• Ability to work independently on job costing, variance analysis, and inventory reconciliation with minimal supervision
• Experience with ERP systems supporting job costing and inventory management (Epicor experience a plus)
• CMA or CPA a plus
• Working knowledge of standard costing, BOMs, routings, and overhead allocation
• Results-driven mindset, focused on delivering accurate, timely cost data to support quoting and margin decisions.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to analyze problems; categorize & simplify complex issues to deliver incremental improvement.
• Accuracy and detail focused.
• Team oriented, working with other employees across the company to effectively accomplish daily tasks
• Strong analytical and communication skills to partner with estimating, engineering, and operations
• Competent computer skills with ERP systems, Microsoft Excel, and other technical resources as require

Our focus on integrity, teamwork, and high performance creates an ideal work environment for every one of our employees.

We offer competitive salaries, benefits, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Discover our opportunities and come see all the ways you can do more at Douglas Dynamics.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Douglas Dynamics, LLC does not discriminate against qualified applicants in hiring based on race, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or any other characteristic protected by law.