Manufacturing Cost Analyst: Margin & Analytics

Henderson Products Inc.; Manchester (IA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Henderson Products is seeking a Cost Analyst to own cost accounting for our engineered‑to‑order manufacturing operations. You will manage job costing, maintain standard costs, perform variance analysis, and support inventory valuation.

This role reports to the Controller and collaborates with estimating, engineering, and operations to ensure accurate cost data fueling quotes and margin visibility. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s in Accounting/Finance with 3–6 years in cost/manufacturing

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or 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 and simplify complex issues to deliver incremental improvement.
• Accuracy and detail focused.
• Team oriented, cross-functional collaboration.
• Competent with ERP systems, Microsoft Excel, and related tools.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost accounting for engineered-to-order manufacturing operations, including job costing, standard cost maintenance, variance analysis, and inventory valuation.
• Collaborate with estimating, engineering, and operations to ensure cost data drives quoting, margin visibility, and management reporting.
• Maintain and update cost records and standard costs; coordinate periodic standard cost updates.
• Perform monthly inventory reconciliation and support accurate cost of goods sold reporting.
• Analyze and report on job-level cost variances (material, labor, overhead) vs. quotes; document root causes.
• Refine standard costs, labor routings, and overhead rates based on actual experience; partner with estimating and engineering.
• Support month-end close activities related to cost accounting (journal entries, accruals, reconciliations).
• Provide ad hoc cost analysis for quoting, make-vs-buy decisions, and margin reviews for management.
• Support annual physical inventory and external audit requests related to cost accounting and inventory valuation.
• Assist ERP upgrade cost-workstreams (cost data conversion validation, costing, WIP).
• Assist in process improvement of finance functions.

Skills

Cost accounting

Manufacturing accounting

Variance analysis

ERP systems

Microsoft Excel

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance

CMA or CPA

Tools

Epicor ERP

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Henderson Products is seeking a Cost Analyst to own cost accounting for our engineered‑to‑order manufacturing operations. You will manage job costing, maintain standard costs, perform variance analysis, and support inventory valuation.

This role reports to the Controller and collaborates with estimating, engineering, and operations to ensure accurate cost data fueling quotes and margin visibility. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s in Accounting/Finance with 3–6 years in cost/manufacturing