Costing & Inventory Accountant — Optimize Costs

Vibrant Ingredients; Indianapolis (IN); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous vacation time off

Paid Holidays

401(k) with company match

Health & Wellness programs

Job summary

Vibrant Ingredients, headquartered in Lake Mary, FL, is seeking a Cost Accountant in Indianapolis to manage inventory costing, BOM reviews, and cost control. You will partner with Operations to ensure accurate cost reporting, review variances, and support month-end close processes.

Ideal candidates have a manufacturing background, strong GAAP knowledge, and excellent Excel skills. This on-site role offers opportunities to optimize inventory performance and contribute to financial reporting

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 4–6 years of progressive finance or accounting experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Prior exposure to cost accounting, inventory accounting, and BOM review.
• Experience with ERP systems (Business Central, SAP, Great Plains/Vicinity, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Review and validate BOMs for accuracy of raw materials, packaging, and routing costs.
• Maintain and reconcile monthly inventory roll-forward schedules across raw materials, WIP, and finished goods.
• Ensure accurate cost accounting by tracking purchase price variances, usage variances, and yield losses.
• Monitor and report on inventory adjustments, obsolescence, and shrinkage.
• Prepare and post journal entries for inventory-related transactions, reserves, and accruals.
• Perform detailed month-to-month cost analysis, explaining variances in inventory balances and COGS.
• Partner with Operations Finance to reconcile standard vs. actual costs and ensure accuracy of financial statements.
• Collaborate with Operations and Supply Chain teams to strengthen inventory controls and cycle count accuracy.
• Support process improvements to streamline BOM management, costing, and reporting workflows.
• Provide actionable insights to improve working capital, reduce write-offs, and optimize inventory levels.
• Partner with Finance leadership to support budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimization initiatives tied to inventory performance.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Advanced Excel

Communication skills

Inventory costing

Cost accounting

ERP systems familiarity

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

Business Central

SAP

Great Plains

Vicinity

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Cost Accountant

Full Time Professional Indianapolis, IN, US

30+ days ago Requisition ID: 1534

Founded in 1954, Vibrant Ingredients is a leading provider of natural, clean label ingredients and systems that power extraordinary food and beverage experiences. The company’s broad portfolio — including natural flavors, botanical extracts, functional nutrition, cold brew coffee, tea essences, and food protection solutions — enhances taste, texture, color, shelf life, and performance across a wide range of applications. Vibrant operates four state-of-the-art facilities across the United States and works with leading brands, manufacturers, and foodservice operators. With vertically integrated capabilities and a proven track record of innovation and execution, Vibrant helps customers accelerate to market without compromise.

About the role:

We are a trusted partner to our customers when it comes to innovation and an industry leader in clean label ingredients, we are a true partner. We collaborate with our customers in ways that respect people and the environment. A commitment to Purely Better™ drives our innovation team to discover new, on trend solutions.

As the Costing and Inventory Accounting Specialist, you will serve as the key point of contact for all inventory-related financial activities, ensuring accuracy in product costing, compliance with corporate policies, and transparency in reporting. You will play a critical role in reviewing Bills of Material (BOMs), monitoring product costs, preparing inventory roll-forward reports, and partnering with Operations to strengthen both financial and inventory control accuracy.

How will you contribute:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions. Essential job functions and duties include, but are not limited to:

Inventory & Cost Accounting

• Review and validate BOMs for accuracy of raw materials, packaging, and routing costs
• Maintain and reconcile monthly inventory roll-forward schedules across raw materials, WIP, and finished goods
• Ensure accurate cost accounting by tracking purchase price variances, usage variances, and yield losses
• Monitor and report on inventory adjustments, obsolescence, and shrinkage

Month-End Close & Reporting

• Prepare and post journal entries for inventory-related transactions, reserves, and accruals
• Perform detailed month-to-month cost analysis, explaining variances in inventory balances and COGS
• Partner with Operations Finance to reconcile standard vs. actual costs and ensure accuracy of financial statements

Business Partnering & Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate with Operations and Supply Chain teams to strengthen inventory controls and cycle count accuracy
• Support process improvements to streamline BOM management, costing, and reporting workflows
• Provide actionable insights to improve working capital, reduce write-offs, and optimize inventory levels
• Partner with Finance leadership to support budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimization initiatives tied to inventory performance

Minimum Requirements/Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 4–6 years of progressive finance or accounting experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment
• Prior exposure to cost accounting, inventory accounting, and BOM review
• Experience with ERP systems (Business Central, SAP, Great Plains/Vicinity, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail
• Solid foundation in U.S. GAAP and inventory accounting practices
• Experience preparing inventory roll-forward schedules and variance analyses
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance
• Advanced Excel skills; ERP reporting tool experience a plus
• Strong communication skills to explain financial insights to both finance and non-finance stakeholders
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-mix manufacturing environment
• May involve exposure to allergens such as Soy, Wheat, Fish, Shellfish, Milk, Egg, Tree Nuts and Sesame.

What Vibrant Ingredients can offer you:

• Generous time off for vacations
• Paid Holidays
• 401(k) with company match
• Health & Wellness programs

More about us:

Vibrant Ingredients, headquartered in Lake Mary, FL, is one of the world's leading independent providers of natural ingredients. With a legacy spanning over 70 years, we deliver a diverse portfolio of clean label ingredients and innovative system solutions to the food and beverage industry. Our commitment to quality and performance is reflected in our American-made products, which enhance both taste and functionality. Backed by advanced manufacturing capabilities, we specialize in fermentation, patented cold brew extraction, custom flavor development, and a range of drying and blending technologies. Operating from four state-of-the-art facilities strategically located across the U.S., we ensure the accessibility of real, high-quality ingredients—helping our customers create better-for-you food and beverage for consumers.

"Improving the food and beverages consumed by providing real ingredients from nature that work."

This position is currently classified as on-site in Eustis, FL.

Employees are eligible to participate in Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k), Holidays, Vacation, Tuition Reimbursement Program.

The final salary offered for this position may take into account a number of factors including, but not limited to, location, skills, education, and experience.

The Company reserves the right to modify, update, change and/or make corrections to this job description, at the sole discretion of senior management, at any time during the employee’s employment term, at the sole discretion of management.

EEO Statement

Vibrant Ingredients is an equal opportunity employer committed to employing a diverse workforce and providing accommodations for people with disabilities in all parts of the hiring process as required under its Employment Accommodation Policy. Vibrant Ingredients will work with applicants to meet accommodation needs that are made known to Vibrant Ingredients in advance.