Plant Accountant

Guided Search Partners; Lancaster (SC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading executive search firm is seeking a Plant Accountant for a stable manufacturing client in South Carolina. This role is pivotal in managing plant-level accounting and ensuring compliance while partnering with operations. The ideal candidate has a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and at least 5 years of manufacturing accounting experience. Proficiency in cost accounting, inventory management, and ERP tools like JD Edwards or SAP is essential. This position offers a blend of stability and the opportunity to influence financial processes in a dynamic setting.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing accounting, cost accounting strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with audits and internal controls (SOX exposure a plus).
• Comfortable in an onsite plant environment.

Responsibilities

• Own plant-level accounting and reporting, partnering with the Plant Manager.
• Lead cost accounting activities including variance review and analysis.
• Manage inventory accounting and controls, support financial reporting.

Skills

Cost accounting

Inventory management

Financial reporting

Communication skills

ERP tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Tools

JD Edwards

SAP

Oracle

Excel

Job description

Guided Search Partners (GSP)
Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships.
We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth—helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity

We’re partnering with a stable, publicly traded manufacturer with a broad U.S. footprint and strong long-term demand for its products. This site operates with a lean team and a “plant-as-a-business” mindset—where finance is expected to be close to the operation and influential in daily decisions.

This Plant Accountant role is open due to an internal promotion and is positioned as a key member of the plant leadership team. It’s a great fit for someone who enjoys manufacturing finance—balancing hands-on accounting with plant-level controller responsibilities, partnering with operations, and keeping leaders aligned to budget, forecasts, and compliance requirements.

If you’re looking for a place that invests in employee growth, values practical business partnership, and gives you room to improve how things run, this role offers the right mix of stability and impact.

What You’ll Do

• Own plant-level accounting and reporting, partnering with the Plant Manager and collaborating with area/corporate finance.
• Lead cost accounting activities, including standard costing support, variance review, and analysis tied to plant performance.
• Manage inventory accounting and controls: physical inventory support, reconciliation, and inventory accuracy/management.
• Support financial reporting, forecasting, and data-driven analysis (including data dumps and financial modeling).
• Ensure compliance and internal controls (including audit/SOX-related support) and maintain strong documentation discipline.
• Participate in cross-functional problem-solving—bringing financial clarity to operational decisions and tradeoffs.
• Use ERP tools (JD Edwards / SAP / Oracle experience helpful) and Excel to improve reporting and decision-making.

Who You Are

You’re a manufacturing-minded accountant who can zoom in on details and still see the bigger picture. You listen well, build credibility with operations, and know how to keep leadership grounded जांच what the numbers are saying—without slowing the business down. You’re steady, organized, and comfortable getting “in the weeds” when needed.

Preferred Experience & Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
• Around 5+ years of experience in manufacturing accounting (cost accounting strongly preferred).
• Experience with inventory control/management and physical inventory processes.
• Familiarity with audits and internal controls (SOX exposure a plus).
• ERP experience (JD Edwards, SAP, or Oracle) and strong Excel skills.
• Strong communication skills and the ability to partner across teams.
• Comfortable in an onsite plant environment (typical schedule M–F, standard business hours).

Why This Role Matters

This role helps the plant operate like a business—protecting inventory integrity, improving cost visibility, and strengthening how decisions tie back to budget and forecast. You’ll be a key partner to plant leadership, with real influence on performance, compliance, and financial discipline.