Senior Inventory Cost Analyst - Hybrid & Growth Prospects

Lube-Tech; Minneapolis (MN); Hybrid; USD 84,000 - 107,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Plan

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

FSA/HSA

Parental Leave

Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

Supplemental Insurances

401(k) match

Pet Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Paid Time Off

Paid Holidays

Short-Term Incentive Plan (STIP)

Dress For Your Day

Hybrid work (3 days on site)

On-the-job training

Phone provided

Computer provided

Career advancement

Job summary

Ascentek seeks a Senior Inventory Cost Analyst to partner with manufacturing and operations leadership, ensuring accurate inventory costing and insightful variance analysis to drive profitability.

You will oversee standard costs, support month-end close, and collaborate across supply chain and accounting to improve inventory accuracy and reporting. A strong foundation in cost accounting and ERP systems is essential.

Qualifications

• 4-year bachelor's degree in accounting/finance or related field.
• 4+ years of progressive experience in cost accounting, operations finance, manufacturing finance, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience analyzing manufacturing variances, supporting operational budgets and forecasts, and communicating financial results to nonfinancial business partners.

Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee inventory costing processes, including standard costing and inventory valuation.
• Develop, maintain, and update standard costs for materials, labor, and overhead.
• Review and maintain overhead rates and ensure accurate cost allocation.
• Evaluate the reasonableness of standard costs by comparing standards to actual material consumption, labor performance, production activity, purchasing trends, and expected operating conditions.
• Analyze inventory transactions, discrepancies, and adjustments to ensure accuracy.
• Oversight of cycle counts and support yearend physical inventories.
• Monitor inventory levels, aging, slow-moving items, and valuation.
• Strengthen internal controls over inventory movement and reporting.
• Develop and maintain regular inventory-related financial reports and analysis of manufacturing costs, operational performance, and key financial metrics.
• Analyze material, labor, and overhead variances regularly.
• Investigate significant variances and partner with operations to resolve issues.
• Collaborate with supply chain and operations teams to improve inventory accuracy and costing.
• Coordinate and reconcile physical inventory counts with financial records.
• Conduct time studies to validate labor and machine standards.
• Analyze monthly manufacturing performance and investigate significant variances to determine their underlying operational and financial drivers.
• Partner with accounting and operations to communicate financial results, explain cost performance, and develop actionable plans to address unfavorable trends and improve operating results.
• Support month-end close by providing manufacturing cost analysis, explaining significant variances, and preparing a limited number of journal entries related to manufacturing.
• Support close activities related to inventory, WIP, and COGS.
• Support the annual budgeting and periodic forecasting processes for manufacturing operations, specifically for work center costs, labor rates, overhead spending and cost absorption.
• Develop and document SOPs for inventory control and costing processes.
• Implement improvements to enhance inventory accuracy and efficiency.
• Support special projects and other financial analysis requested by finance and business leadership.

Skills

Cost accounting

Inventory accounting

Variance analysis

Advanced Excel

ERP systems

JD Edwards

Cross-functional communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance

Tools

JD Edwards

Excel

Microsoft Office

Job description

Ascentek seeks a Senior Inventory Cost Analyst to partner with manufacturing and operations leadership, ensuring accurate inventory costing and insightful variance analysis to drive profitability.

You will oversee standard costs, support month-end close, and collaborate across supply chain and accounting to improve inventory accuracy and reporting. A strong foundation in cost accounting and ERP systems is essential.