Manager Cost Accounting

LDK Talent Solutions LLC; New Brunswick (NJ); On-site; USD 126,000 - 154,000; Full time

Job summary

Growing Food Manufacturer is hiring a Manager Cost Accountant to lead cost accounting, inventory valuation, and product costing across its manufacturing operations. You will partner with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Procurement, FP&A, and leadership to analyze cost performance, explain variances, and drive cost optimization opportunities.

This role requires translating complex financial data into actionable insights.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 7+ years in accounting/finance with manufacturing cost accounting.
• 3+ years in cost accounting leadership or supervision.
• Knowledge of standard costing, inventory valuation, and U.S. GAAP.
• Experience with ERP systems and advanced Excel.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost accounting across manufacturing operations and multiple entities.
• Maintain standard costs for raw materials, packaging, labor, and overhead.
• Oversee product costing methodologies including BOMs and routings.
• Ensure cost accounting practices comply with U.S. GAAP and company policies.
• Provide cost analysis to support pricing, profitability, and margin improvements.
• Drive ERP costing enhancements, data master, and reporting improvements.
• Lead cost accounting month-end close and inventory valuations.
• Support internal and external audits.
• Partner with FP&A and Operations on budgets and forecasts.
• Identify process improvements and build a high-performance cost accounting team.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Leadership and cross-functional

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance or related field

Tools

Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Growing Food Manufacturer hiring for a Manager Cost Accountant!

The Cost Accounting Manager is responsible for leading cost accounting, inventory valuation, and product costing activities across my client and its subsidiaries.

This position plays a critical role in ensuring the accuracy and integrity of manufacturing costs, providing visibility into operational performance, and supporting informed business decisions that improve profitability.

The Cost Accounting Manager partners closely with Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Procurement, FP&A, and business leadership to analyze cost performance, explain manufacturing variances, identify cost optimization opportunities, and strengthen financial controls. The ideal candidate combines strong technical accounting expertise with a hands-on, analytical approach and the ability to translate complex financial information into actionable business insights. And this is how you'll do it...

1. Cost Accounting & Product Costing

• Lead cost accounting activities across manufacturing operations and multiple legal entities.
• Own the development, maintenance, and accuracy of standard costs, including raw materials, packaging, direct labor, and manufacturing overhead.
• Manage the standard cost update process, ensuring timely and accurate reflection of changes in input costs, production processes, and operating assumptions.
• Oversee product costing methodologies, including bill of materials (BOM), production routings, labor rates, and overhead allocations.
• Ensure cost accounting practices comply with U.S. GAAP and company policies.
• Support new product development, product launches, and product cost estimates.

2. Manufacturing Performance & Variance Analysis

• Analyze manufacturing performance, including material purchase price and usage variances, labor efficiency, yield, scrap, and overhead absorption.
• Partner with plant leadership to understand operational cost drivers, investigate variances, and develop corrective actions.
• Prepare monthly manufacturing performance reports and provide clear explanations of actual results versus standards, budgets, and forecasts.
• Identify trends, operational inefficiencies, and opportunities to improve manufacturing productivity and cost performance.
• Develop and maintain key manufacturing financial KPIs and performance dashboards.
• Oversee inventory valuation and related accounting processes across raw materials, work in process, and finished goods.
• Ensure accurate inventory reconciliations, inventory reserves, and valuation adjustments.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to improve inventory accuracy, cycle counting, and physical inventory processes.
• Monitor inventory obsolescence, shrinkage, and write-offs, ensuring appropriate accounting treatment and financial visibility.
• Maintain strong internal controls over inventory and cost accounting processes.
• Lead the month-end close for cost accounting and inventory, including journal entries, inventory and COGS reconciliations, variance capitalization, and account analysis within the close calendar.
• Prepare and review month-end inventory roll‑forwards, reserve calculations, and cost of goods sold analyses, and deliver timely close commentary to the Corporate Controller and FP&A.
• Support internal and external audits.

4. Financial Planning & Business Partnership

• Partner with FP&A and Operations in developing manufacturing budgets, forecasts, and standard cost assumptions.
• Provide cost analysis and financial insights to support pricing decisions, product profitability, and margin improvement initiatives.
• Support make‑versus‑buy decisions, sourcing alternatives, production optimization, and capital investment evaluations.
• Collaborate with Procurement to assess commodity cost changes and their impact on product costs and profitability.
• Support business planning activities through accurate cost projections and manufacturing performance analysis.

5. Process Improvement & Systems

• Drive continuous improvement in cost accounting processes, reporting, and internal controls.
• Improve the accuracy, consistency, and efficiency of product costing and inventory accounting across ERP systems.
• Partner with IT, Operations, and Finance to optimize ERP costing functionality, master data, and reporting capabilities.
• Identify opportunities for automation, standardization, and improved data visibility.
• Support ERP enhancements, integrations, and related system initiatives.
• Lead, coach, and develop the cost accounting team.
• Establish clear priorities, performance expectations, and accountability for deliverables.
• Promote cross‑functional collaboration and a continuous improvement mindset.
• Ensure timely completion of cost accounting activities supporting monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Experience and Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 7+ years of progressive accounting or finance experience, including significant manufacturing cost accounting experience.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a cost accounting leadership or supervisory role.
• Strong knowledge of standard costing, inventory valuation, manufacturing variances, and U.S. GAAP.
• Experience working in manufacturing environments with complex production processes and inventory flows.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate financial data into actionable operational insights.
• Advanced Excel skills and proficiency with ERP systems.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively with manufacturing and business leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to improve processes, strengthen controls, and lead cross‑functional initiatives.

The budget for this role is up to $140k base plus bonus and Beneftis!