Plant Cost Analyst

Vertiv Corporation; Edinboro (Erie County); On-site; USD 75,000 - 97,000; Full time

Job summary

Vertiv is seeking a Plant Cost Analyst to analyze plant costs, support budgeting, forecasting, and month-end close, and translate operational data into actionable financial insights.

You will partner with Plant Operations, Procurement, and Accounting to explain cost drivers, perform variance analysis, and drive cost transparency and continuous improvement at the Erie PA plant.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in cost accounting, manufacturing finance, or a related analytical role.
• Strong understanding of cost accounting principles and manufacturing cost drivers.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial analysis tools; experience with ERP systems required.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Analyze plant operating costs, including labor, overhead, and conversion costs, to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Perform detailed variance analysis (standard vs. actual), including labor efficiency, overhead absorption, and material usage variances.
• Conduct root-cause analysis of cost variances and operational performance, partnering with plant leadership to develop corrective actions.
• Monitor key operating metrics such as earned hours, productivity, and efficiency indicators.
• Support month-end close activities, including partnering with accounting on the preparation and analysis of cost-related journal entries, accruals, and supporting schedules.
• Prepare and maintain standard plant cost and performance reports for management review.
• Partner with Plant Accounting to ensure accurate inventory valuation and cost of sales reporting.
• Assist in the development of the annual plant budget and periodic forecasts.
• Track actual results versus budget and forecast, highlighting variances, risks, and cost‑saving opportunities.
• Support labor, headcount, and capacity planning through financial modeling and scenario analysis.
• Support physical inventory counts and cycle count programs.
• Analyze inventory balances and movements to ensure alignment with operational activity and financial expectations.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to improve inventory accuracy and working capital performance.
• Monitor and report on capital expenditures, including spending versus approved budgets.
• Track and validate cost reduction initiatives and productivity improvements, ensuring financial impact is measurable and sustainable.
• Act as a financial business partner to plant leadership, providing clear, data‑driven insights to support operational and strategic decisions.
• Prepare executive-level analyses and presentations for plant, regional, and finance leadership.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance teams.
• Support documentation and execution of SOX controls related to costing, inventory, and financial reporting.
• Assist with internal and external audits by providing analysis, explanations, and supporting documentation.
• Participate in and drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance cost visibility, reporting quality, and decision support.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Excel proficiency

Financial analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Position Summary

The Plant Cost Analyst is responsible for analyzing, monitoring, and reporting manufacturing and operational costs to support effective decision-making at the plant level. This role partners closely with Plant Operations, Plant Management, Procurement and Accounting to provide insight into cost drivers, variances, and productivity, while supporting accurate financial close, budgeting, and forecasting processes. The Plant Cost Analyst plays a critical role in translating operational data into actionable financial insights and driving continuous improvement in cost transparency and control.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Analysis & Operational Support

• Analyze plant operating costs, including labor, overhead, and conversion costs, to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Perform detailed variance analysis (standard vs. actual), including labor efficiency, overhead absorption, and material usage variances.
• Conduct root-cause analysis of cost variances and operational performance, partnering with plant leadership to develop corrective actions.
• Monitor key operating metrics such as earned hours, productivity, and efficiency indicators.

Month-End Close & Financial Reporting

• Support month-end close activities, including partnering with accounting on the preparation and analysis of cost-related journal entries, accruals, and supporting schedules.
• Prepare and maintain standard plant cost and performance reports for management review.
• Partner with Plant Accounting to ensure accurate inventory valuation and cost of sales reporting.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Planning

• Assist in the development of the annual plant budget and periodic forecasts.
• Track actual results versus budget and forecast, highlighting variances, risks, and cost‑saving opportunities.
• Support labor, headcount, and capacity planning through financial modeling and scenario analysis.

Inventory & Cost Control

• Support physical inventory counts and cycle count programs.
• Analyze inventory balances and movements to ensure alignment with operational activity and financial expectations.
• Partner with Operations and Supply Chain to improve inventory accuracy and working capital performance.

Capital & Cost Reduction Initiatives

• Monitor and report on capital expenditures, including spending versus approved budgets.
• Track and validate cost reduction initiatives and productivity improvements, ensuring financial impact is measurable and sustainable.

Business Partnering & Communication

• Act as a financial business partner to plant leadership, providing clear, data‑driven insights to support operational and strategic decisions.
• Prepare executive-level analyses and presentations for plant, regional, and finance leadership.
• Collaborate cross‑functionally with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and Finance teams.

Controls, Compliance & Continuous Improvement

• Support documentation and execution of SOX controls related to costing, inventory, and financial reporting.
• Assist with internal and external audits by providing analysis, explanations, and supporting documentation.
• Participate in and drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance cost visibility, reporting quality, and decision support.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• -3+ years of experience in cost accounting, manufacturing finance, or a related analytical role.
• Strong understanding of cost accounting principles and manufacturing cost drivers.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and financial analysis tools; experience with ERP systems required.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA, CMA, or equivalent professional certification.
• Experience in a multi‑plant or multinational manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with operations and driving cost or productivity improvements.

Key Competencies

• Analytical and critical thinking
• Financial and operational acumen
• Business partnering mindset
• Attention to detail and data integrity
• Continuous improvement orientation
• Ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights

Travel

No extensive/overnight travel required. We have various locations in Pennsylvania that will need to occasionally visit.

The successful candidate will embrace Vertiv's Core Principals & Behaviors to help execute our Strategic Priorities.

OUR CORE PRINCIPALS

• Safety
• Integrity
• Respect
• Teamwork
• Inclusion

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

• High-Performance Culture
• Customer Focus
• Operational Excellence
• Innovation
• Financial Strength

VERTIV BEHAVIORS

• Own it
• Act with urgency
• Foster a customer‑first mindset
• Think big and execute
• Lead by example
• Drive continuous improvement
• Learn and seek out development
• Promote transparent & open communication

About Vertiv

Vertiv (NYSE: VRT) brings together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services to enable its customers' vital applications to run continuously, perform optimally and grow with their business needs. Vertiv solves the most important challenges facing today's data centers, communication networks and commercial and industrial facilities with a portfolio of power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extend from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Westerville, Ohio, USA, Vertiv employs around 34,000 people and does business in more than 130 countries. Visit Vertiv.com to learn more.

Work Authorization

No calls or agencies please. Vertiv will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, or TN or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Vertiv is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.

We promote equal opportunities for all with respect to hiring, terms of employment, mobility, training, compensation, and occupational health, without discrimination as to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression (including transgender status or sexual stereotypes), genetic information, citizenship status, national origin, protected veteran status, political affiliation, or disability.

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