Sr. Cost Accountant/Cost Accounting Manager

The Morning Star Company; Los Banos (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health plan

Job summary

The Morning Star Company in Los Banos, CA is seeking a Senior Cost Accountant or Cost Accounting Manager to own plant costing, inventory accounting, budgeting and related controls at Liberty Packing. In this fast-paced role you will collect and analyze cost data, maintain ERP records, and collaborate with finance, operations, logistics and quality teams to meet production goals and customer commitments.

Strong analytical skills, a GAAP background, and ERP experience are essential, with a focus

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of cost accounting and GAAP; CPA, CMA or MBA a plus.
• Experience with ERP systems; Sage 300 is a plus; data entry and reporting.
• Experience leading a plant standard-cost roll or manufacturing close.
• Familiarity with labeling, BOMs, and bills of lading.

Responsibilities

• Collect and analyze financial data to determine standard costs.
• Provide weekly actual vs. standard yield and cost analyses.
• Enter, audit, and maintain ERP data for purchases, inventory, and production.
• Maintain BOMs and lot-level inventory records for traceability.
• Assist with period-end close, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Collaborate with supply chain, operations, and quality teams.
• Support continuous improve­ment to enhance production efficiency and profit.
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness in a fast-paced environment.

Skills

Cost accounting

GAAP

ERP systems

Excel

English communication

Education

CPA

CMA

MBA

Tools

Sage 300

Job description

The Morning Star Company

The Morning Star Company is the largest independent producer of bulk tomato ingredient products (tomato paste and diced tomatoes) in the world. We also produce canned tomatoes, tomato products, and specialty sauces in pouches for customers in the retail and food service markets. The company is known worldwide for its innovation and integrity.

Mission Focused Self-Management

We are organizationally structured through a system we term Mission Focused Self-Management™. Our company is operated by colleagues without titles or an appointed hierarchy of authority. Authority relative to other colleagues’ activities is lateral, with our Mission as our guiding principle of action, and respect, influence, and success built based on each colleague’s integrity, competency, effort, persistence, and straightforward persuasiveness. Although we have grown significantly, we intend to maintain a culture of individual responsibility and Mission Focused Self-Management™.

Mission

The Mission of the individual will be to provide accurate, timely and actionable cost, productivity, and performance information that enables Liberty Packing colleagues to understand operating results, improve manufacturing performance, protect inventory integrity, and make economically sound decisions.

We are open to hiring this colleague at either the Senior Cost Accountant or Cost Accounting Manager level, depending on the successful candidate’s experience, demonstrated capabilities, and readiness to assume full functional ownership. A developing candidate hired as Senior Cost Accountant will be expected to grow into broader responsibility for the Liberty Packing cost‑accounting function. A more experienced candidate may be hired directly as Cost Accounting Manager and assume immediate ownership of plant costing, inventory accounting, manufacturing analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and related financial controls. The successful candidate would likely have a meaningful, formal education in mission‑related disciplines, such as business administration with a focus on finance and accounting. They will be expected to anticipate and resolve transactional issues, maintain accurate ERP data, and work collaboratively with finance, operations, maintenance, logistics, and quality colleagues to meet production goals and customer commitments. This colleague will be based at Liberty Packing in Los Banos.

Responsibilities

1. Collect and analyze financial data to determine standard costs of manufactured goods.
2. Provide weekly analysis comparing actual vs. standard yield and cost.
3. Compile cost-volume-profit analysis based on financial data for sales price determination and contract negotiations and true‑ups.
4. Enter, maintain, and audit data in the ERP system, ensuring accurate reflection of material purchases and receipts, inventory counts, production runs, materials usage, and finished goods receipts.
5. Ensure inventory and production transactions provide accurate lot‑level information in support of the company’s traceability and recall program.
6. Implement and maintain accurate and current records for bills of materials (BOMs).
7. Implement and maintain accurate and current inventory counts by lot number for all warehouses. Perform inventory analysis and reconciliation.
8. Assist with period‑end close.
9. Assist with budgeting, forecasting and business unit analysis.
10. Communicate effectively with supply chain, logistics, sales and quality colleagues regarding changes in production plans or delivery timing.
11. Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance production efficiency, accuracy and profit.
12. Maintain high standards of accuracy, organization, and follow‑through in a fast‑paced environment.

Knowledge and Experience

• Works independently, with broadly defined work objectives and limited review of overall results.
• Strong knowledge of cost accounting and has a working knowledge of GAAP. CPA, CMA or MBA a plus.
• Familiarity with production planning and manufacturing processes, preferably in food or beverage operations. Experience leading a plant standard‑cost roll or manufacturing close. Prior experience in canning, packaging, or process manufacturing is desirable but not required.
• Experience with ERP systems (Sage 300 is a plus) and related production data entry. Understanding of labeling, BOMs, and bills of lading. Strong analytical and organizational skills. Excellent computer skills, particularly Excel and data management. Effective written and verbal communication in English.

Personal Characteristics

• Rock solid integrity.
• Leads by doing; willing to work long hours and “do any task” regardless how small.
• Hands‑on versus directive.
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and solutions-focused. Quick learner who thrives on troubleshooting and problem-solving. Honest, forthright, and trustworthy — not political. Persistent and reliable under pressure. Collaborative and adaptable to changing priorities. Thrives in a fast‑paced, team‑driven production environment.

Compensation

$110,000-$150,000

Benefits

Morning Star offers a top-tier, comprehensive health plan, including medical, dental, and vision, and we pay the full monthly premiums for the Colleague and all eligible family members. The company also contributes to Colleagues’ Health Savings Accounts. Year‑round Colleagues are eligible to enroll in our 401K plan, with 4% match.