Cost & Financial Analyst

Vaco Recruiter Services; Columbus (OH); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment firm in Columbus, Ohio is seeking a highly motivated Cost & Financial Analyst to join their finance team. This role involves key responsibilities such as financial reporting, compliance, cost accounting, and cross-functional collaboration with various departments. Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree in finance or accounting and 3-5 years of relevant experience, particularly in industrial manufacturing. Excellent analytical and communication skills are essential.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of progressive accounting and/or finance experience.
• Experience in industrial manufacturing or with manufacturing clients.
• Strong understanding of GAAP, cost accounting, and financial planning.

Responsibilities

• Support the Corporate Accounting team with month-end close procedures.
• Analyze production costs and inventory valuation.
• Lead the preparation of weekly, monthly, and quarterly business reporting packages.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

Infor VISUAL

Microsoft 365

Power BI

Job description

We are seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Cost & Financial Analyst to join our finance team in a dynamic industrial manufacturing environment. This role is ideal for a professional with finance experience supporting manufacturing operations and who also possesses a strong understanding of accounting principles.

The Cost & Financial Analyst will serve as a key liaison between business operations and the corporate finance team (accounting, finance, and shared services), taking ownership of forecasting, reporting, and financial process understanding and documentation as well as hands-on collaboration with operation and sales to help drive profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Compliance

• Support the Corporate Accounting team with month-end close procedures (e.g., accruals numbers and analysis) and assist in balance sheet and P&L review throughout the close process to ensure accuracy.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and internal accounting policies.
• Support internal and external audits with documentation and analysis.
• Assist in month-end and year-end close processes.

Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Support

• Analyze production costs, inventory valuation, and cost variances.
• Collaborate with operations and supply chain teams to optimize cost efficiency.
• Monitor work-in-progress (WIP), raw materials, and finished goods inventory.
• Perform detailed margin analysis utilizing ERP data and Power BI aggregations.
• Prepare variance analysis and review with finance, operations, engineering, and sales teams to help drive profitable decision-making.

Forecasting & Business Support

• Support the finance function to help prepare monthly reporting and assist in conducting thoughtful analysis of results.
• Lead the preparation of weekly, monthly, and quarterly business reporting packages.
• Provide financial insights and analysis to support strategic decision-making.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as a liaison between accounting, finance, sales, and operational teams.
• Participate in cross-functional initiatives such as ERP upgrades and process improvements.
• Support business unit leaders with ad hoc financial analysis and reporting.

Team Leadership & Development

• Collaborate with the corporate accounting team and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement across teams within the brand and beyond.
• Share best practices across departments and support knowledge transfer.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 3-5 years of progressive accounting and/or finance experience.
• Experience in industrial manufacturing or with manufacturing clients during public accounting tenure with a strong underpinning in cost accounting principles for manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of GAAP, cost accounting, and financial planning.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (currently using Infor VISUAL and CSI/SyteLine), Microsoft 365, and Power BI.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual’s skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs.