Senior Accountant

Federal Signal; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Federal Signal in Houston, TX is seeking a Cost Accountant to join our manufacturing finance team. You will maintain standard costing, manage labor, material and overhead rates, and analyze variances to drive cost efficiency.

You will collaborate with Operations, Supply Chain, Production and Engineering on cost reductions, capex analysis, and new product costing while ensuring GAAP compliance and accurate reporting. The role supports audits and internal controls in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting required.
• 5+ years progressive accounting experience with minimum 3 years cost accounting in manufacturing.
• Experience with standard costing and inventory accounting required.
• Experience with ERP systems such as JD Edwards and SAP required.
• Demonstrated experience supporting audits and financial reporting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and analyze standard costing systems.
• Calculate and update labor, material, and overhead rates.
• Monitor and analyze manufacturing variances including labor, material usage, purchase price, production efficiency, and inventory variances.
• Perform monthly inventory valuation and reconciliation activities.
• Lead annual standard cost roll processes.
• Reconcile inventory subledger to general ledger accounts; oversee physical counts and cycle counts; resolve discrepancies.
• Prepare monthly journal entries and account reconciliations; support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close.
• Prepare financial analyses and management reports; assist in budgets and forecasts; identify cost reductions.
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Production and Engineering on cost reductions, capex analysis, and new product costing; drive process improvements.
• Support internal and external audit activities; ensure GAAP compliance and documentation of controls; SOX if applicable.

Skills

GAAP

Cost accounting

Inventory valuation

Standard costing

Excel

Pivot tables

VLOOKUP

XLOOKUP

Charts

MS Office

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

Tools

JD Edwards

SAP

Job description

Key Activities/Responsibilities

Cost Accounting

• Maintain and analyze standard costing systems.
• Calculate and update labor, material, and overhead rates.
• Monitor and analyze manufacturing variances including:
• Labor variances
• Material usage variances
• Purchase price variances
• Production efficiency variances
• Inventory variances
• Perform monthly inventory valuation and reconciliation activities.
• Lead annual standard cost roll processes.

Inventory Management & Controls

• Reconcile inventory subledger to general ledger accounts.
• Participate in and oversee physical inventory counts and cycle count programs.
• Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies.
• Review Excess and Obsolete Inventory and recommend changes
• Ensure compliance with inventory control procedures and accounting standards.
• Assist in developing internal controls related to inventory and manufacturing accounting.

Financial Reporting

• Prepare monthly journal entries and account reconciliations.
• Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes.
• Prepare financial analyses and management reports.
• Assist in preparation of annual budgets and forecasts.
• Provide reporting and recommendations to management regarding cost reduction opportunities.
• Perform other duties, assignments and special projects that may be required.

Operational Support

• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Production, and Engineering teams on:
• Cost reduction initiatives
• Capital expenditure analysis
• New product costing
• Process improvement projects

Compliance & Audit

• Support internal and external audit activities.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and company accounting policies.
• Assist with documentation of accounting processes and controls.
• Support SOX compliance activities if applicable.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Inventory accuracy percentage
• Manufacturing variance reduction
• Cost savings identified and implemented
• Month-end close completion timeline
• Standard cost update accuracy
• Audit findings and compliance performance

Requirements: Bachelor's degree in accounting required.

Job Experience

• 5+ years of progressive accounting experience.
• Minimum 3 years of cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment required.
• Experience with standard costing and inventory accounting required.
• Experience with ERP systems such as JD Edwards and SAP required.

Demonstrated experience supporting audits and financial reporting preferred.

Skills

• Must have a strong working knowledge of: GAAP, Cost accounting principles, Inventory valuation methods, Standard costing
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills required including, ability to create Pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, & Charts.
• Advanced knowledge in MS Office product suite required
• Ability to demonstrate strong analytical and problem-solving skills required.
• Effective oral and written communication skills, and ability to work collaboratively as well as independently.
• Ability to demonstrate strong business acumen, analytic, integrative, and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to communicate financial information effectively to non-financial stakeholders.
• Excellent organizational skills required; project management experience a plus.
• Ability to adapt to and operate within a fast-paced environment.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to sit for extended periods while working on a computer.
• Able to walk large square footage manufacturing facilities and warehouse locations as needed.
• Ability to conduct inventory counts and review production operations in a manufacturing environment as needed.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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