Senior Cost Accountant

Connect Search, LLC; Menomonee Falls (WI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Bonus opportunity

Onboarding onsite with potential one-<

Job summary

Connect Search, LLC is seeking a Senior Cost Accountant in Wisconsin to enhance cost accounting practices, improve financial visibility, and support growth. You will partner with Finance and Operations to ensure accurate inventory valuation and meaningful manufacturing analysis.

The role requires strong manufacturing accounting skills, process improvements, and collaboration across functions. Onsite work with potential for a remote day after training is offered.

Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing cost accounting and inventory valuation.
• Ability to analyze financial data and translate into business insights.
• Proven track record of improving processes and controls.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and variance reporting.
• Strong communication across Finance and Operations.

Responsibilities

• Oversee inventory accounting activities and ensure accurate valuation and reporting.
• Lead development and maintenance of manufacturing cost calculations and absorption methods.
• Prepare and review financials, reconciliations, journals, and schedules.
• Analyze results vs budgets/forecasts and present findings to leadership.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasts, cash flow, and working capital initiatives.
• Collaborate with operations to improve cost visibility and financial performance.
• Identify and implement process improvements for accuracy and efficiency.
• Serve as a finance resource for ERP optimization and system improvements.
• Maintain internal controls and ensure compliance with accounting standards.
• Contribute to multi-site financial initiatives during growth.

Skills

Manufacturing environment experience

Cost accounting

Inventory accounting

Budgeting

Forecasting

Variance reporting

Process improvement

Financial analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

A growing, multi-site manufacturing organization is seeking a Senior Cost Accountant to strengthen its cost accounting practices, improve financial visibility, and support continued operational expansion. This position will partner closely with Finance and Operations to ensure accurate inventory valuation, reliable financial reporting, and meaningful analysis of manufacturing performance. The ideal candidate combines a strong accounting foundation with a practical understanding of manufacturing operations and a desire to improve systems, processes, and financial controls.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee inventory accounting activities, ensuring accurate valuation, appropriate controls, and reliable financial reporting.
• Lead the development and maintenance of manufacturing cost calculations, including absorption methodologies and related analyses.
• Prepare and review financial reports, account reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting schedules.
• Analyze financial results, identify variances against budgets and forecasts, and communicate findings to Finance and Operations leadership.
• Support annual budgeting, periodic forecasting, cash flow analysis, and working capital initiatives.
• Partner with operational teams to evaluate inventory levels, improve cost visibility, and identify opportunities to strengthen financial performance.
• Assess existing accounting workflows and implement process improvements that enhance accuracy, consistency, and efficiency.
• Serve as a key finance resource for ERP optimization, reporting enhancements, and future system standardization initiatives.
• Maintain effective internal controls and support compliance with applicable accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Contribute to multi-site financial initiatives, including integration efforts and process improvements associated with business growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance
• Previous experience in a manufacturing environment is required.
• Strong understanding of cost accounting, inventory accounting, and general accounting principles.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, and variance reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to identify process gaps and implement practical improvements.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate financial data into actionable business insights.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across Finance and Operations.
• Progressive accounting experience with increasing responsibility for cost accounting, financial reporting, or operational finance.
• Experience supporting ERP implementations, system conversions, or broader financial systems improvements.
• Familiarity with sales and use tax a plus

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Visible impact: Work directly with Finance and Operations leadership on meaningful business initiatives.
• Growth and expansion: Join an organization investing in its manufacturing footprint and long-term scalability.
• Systems involvement: Play a key role in improving ERP capabilities and standardizing processes across the business.
• Competitive rewards: Base compensation of $90,000-$110,000, depending on experience, plus a 10% bonus opportunity. Comprehensive benefits package.
• Work-life balance: Generally consistent weekday hours, with additional time occasionally needed during month-end and year-end close.
• Flexibility: Primarily onsite during onboarding, with the potential for one remote day per week after training.