Senior Cost Accountant

Stepan Company

Illinois

On-site

USD 77,000 - 100,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary Bonus

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

401K with Match

Profit Sharing

PTO

STD/LTD

Job summary

Stepan Company’s Millsdale Plant in Elwood, IL is recruiting a Sr. Cost Accountant to oversee inventory integrity and standard costing. The role reports to the Millsdale Sr. Finance Manager and leads cycle counts, variance reporting, and corrective actions with Operations.

The ideal candidate has 3–6 years in cost accounting in manufacturing, strong Excel skills, and SAP experience. Bachelor’s in Accounting; CPA/CMA preferred. Pay range $77,000–$100,000 with robust benefits.

Qualifications

3–6 years of cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment.
Experience with SAP and cost management systems.
High proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis.

Responsibilities

Oversee inventory integrity and controls, including cycle counts and variances.
Analyze standard costing and BOM/overhead accuracy; suggest updates.
Prepare closing entries and GL reconciliations; report monthly expenses.
Lead continuous improvement and value creation in inventory and expense reporting.

Skills

Problem solving

Advanced Excel

Ownership of processes

Ability to work with minimal supervisi

Adapt to changing needs

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting

CPA/CMA preferred

Tools

SAP

Job description

Stepan Company’s Millsdale Plant (Elwood, IL; Joliet area) has a job opening for a Sr. Cost Accountant. This position reports to the Millsdale Sr. Finance Manager and is responsible for overseeing inventory integrity & controls at the site and ensuring the accuracy of our standard costs. Working closely with Operations, this position will lead inventory cycle counting and production variance reporting (material, OH, shrink, & scrap), as well as champion identified corrective actions and recommended process changes. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills will be utilized daily.

Responsibilities:

OVERSEE INVENTORY INTEGRITY AND CONTROLS

Perform monthly cycle counts, investigate variances, and post adjustments.
Ensure effective controls & accuracy over inventory movements, inventory reporting, and production order close-out.
Correct or follow-up on SAP inventory errors as reported by Operations, or as identified throughout other duties.
Review & report on area production variances (material, shrink, & scrap); Determine root causes and potential corrective actions; Work to adjust standards as necessary.
Prepare consigned inventory reconciliations.

ENSURE PROPER PRODUCT COSTING

Perform bill of material and overhead standard cost reviews to ensure product standard cost accuracy; Recommend updates, as necessary.
Review monthly cost explosion for reasonableness and manage exceptions.
Analyze plant absorption and identify necessary corrections; Work with Operations to implement changes.

ACCOUNTING REPORTING

Prepare closing journal entries including accruals, reclasses for cost accounting & other reporting purposes, corrections.
Review and analyze monthly expenses to ensure alignment with expectations.
Complete assigned General Ledger Account reconciliations.

VALUE CREATION / PROCESS IMPROVEMENT

Be an active leader in looking for ways to bring value through continual improvement to the organization as it pertains to inventory and expense reporting processes.
Work as a site change agent to streamline and improve processes in cooperation with plant staff.

Qualifications

3-6 years of Cost Accounting experience in a manufacturing environment
SAP and cost management experience
Highly focused on problem identification and solving; Takes a critical look at issues and challenges and engages in proactive problem solving; Utilizes facts and innovation to build reasoned arguments and leverages innovative thinking to promote decisions
Ability to own complex processes and deliverables and work with minimal supervision
High level of proficiency with Microsoft Excel
Ability to develop and implement continual improvements to systems and processes through self-motivation, identifying waste loops and correcting through standardization
Demonstrated ownership of functional responsibilities and action-oriented towards those responsibilities
Ability to adapt to changing needs and prioritize to meet deadlines
Experience working with manufacturing personnel on various accounting topics

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting; Advanced certification (CPA/CMA) preferred

Pay Range: $77,000 - $100,000

The salary range for this position is determined by considering a variety of factors such as skills, experience, qualifications, and the location of the position.

At Stepan Company our comprehensive benefits package includes:

Discretionary Bonus
Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
401K with Match
Profit Sharing

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (STD / LTD)

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Adoption Assistance

Reactions – Recognition Program

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Established in 1932, Stepan Company is a major manufacturer of basic and intermediate chemicals including surfactants, polymers, as well as specialty ingredients that go into consumer, household, and institutional products such as laundry detergents, shampoos, and surface cleaners. Stepan Company currently has 19 global manufacturing locations and over 2,400 employees. We have a strong record of growth. Our growth allows us to provide meaningful career opportunities and stability to our team members. We have big goals at Stepan and know every team member will be crucial to achieving our objectives. Regardless of function, we are looking for team members who bring with them a growth mindset, an entrepreneurial spirit, and the ability to thrive in an evolving environment.

We celebrate diversity at Stepan and are committed to creating a diverse, inclusive environment. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetic information, disability, age, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Stepan is a global specialty and intermediate chemical manufacturer that has been serving a broad range of industries for over 90years. Today, Stepan is a $2.7 billion revenue company. Our continued success is driven by the passion and commitment of our 2,500+ employees around the world.

Why Work At Stepan?