Senior Accountant

Federal Signal Corporation; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Federal Signal Corporation in Houston, TX, seeks an experienced Cost Accountant to maintain standard costing systems, manage labor, material, and overhead rates, and monitor variances. This role partners with Operations and Finance to support accurate inventory valuations and cost control.

Key duties include monthly close, inventory reconciliation, and leading the annual standard cost roll, with collaboration across Finance, Operations, and Engineering to drive cost reduction initiatives.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Maintain and analyze standard costing systems.
• Calculate and update labor, material, and overhead rates.
• Monitor and analyze variances: labor, material usage, purchase price, production efficiency, and inventory.
• Perform monthly inventory valuation and reconciliation.
• Lead annual standard cost roll processes.

Skills

GAAP

Cost accounting

Inventory valuation

Standard costing

Excel

Pivot tables

VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

Tools

JD Edwards

SAP

Job description

• 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
• Inventory variances
• Perform monthly inventory valuation and reconciliation activities.
• Lead annual standard cost roll processes.

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.

Skills

Demonstrated experience supporting audits and financial reporting preferred.

• 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.