Analytical Cost Accountant

Analytical Cost Accountant 
Johnstown, OH
Starting salary: $90,000

The Cost Accountant is a key finance and accounting role that is responsible for supporting the plant operations in the U.S. The main objective and responsibilities of this role, is to gather and interpret data to estimate the cost of product and services and who will also be responsible but not limited to maintaining the cost system, perpetual inventory reconciliations and associated controls, variance analysis and reporting as well as process engineering for costing and inventory management. This role will report directly to the Manager of Finance.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintains the standard cost system including, but not limited to, setting material standards, calculating labor and overhead rates, and periodic reporting.
• Understands production variances in detail. Identifies root cause analysis for variances and collaborates with the Operations team for resolution.
• Understands leading indicators for potential variances by mining data daily for trends and opportunities to improve.
• Reconciles the perpetual inventory balance to the GL timely and accurately.
• Provides relevant metrics to operations management to help drive lower manufacturing costs and improve the turnaround of inventory.
• Analyzes product gross margins and identifies opportunities for improvement.
• Assists in the preparation of the annual operating plan for the US production and distribution functions.
• Collaborates with the Engineering department to update operational master data, such as bills of materials and routings.
• Generates and provides analytical data reports as needed in support of product costing and other analysis.
• Identifies, analyzes, champions and tracks productivity initiatives in the manufacturing and distribution environment.
• Tracks excess and obsolete (E&O) inventory and calculates the required provision based on company policy and works with operations to help reduce E&O balances.
• Oversees the accounting for spot counts, cycle counts, and year-end physical inventory.
• Supports the general accounting function to close the books in a timely fashion.
• Works with external auditors to answer questions about the company’s cost processes and control environment.
• Adheres and maintains records in accordance with standard compliance regulations set forth by US GAAP and internal company accounting policies.
• Drives systems and process improvements across the finance organization, including design and implementation of key controls regarding financial reporting and implements best practices wherever possible.
• Effectively communicates and coordinates best practices for costing with other production sites.
• Responsible for keeping financial information and plans confidential.
• Leads BOM and routing analysis and provide written analysis of changes to stake holders
• Analyze work center costs, standards, and actuals. Provides suggestions and insight to operations teams.
• Develop and implement strategic reporting tactics to resolve problematic scenarios in an evolving manufacturing environment
• In addition to the specific tasks listed the employee may be required to perform other tasks and all duties as assigned listed, the employee may be required to perform other task as needed by their supervisor or Manager
  
  

Leadership Responsibilities
While this role does not have any direct reports, it’s a position which requires the ability to influence an outcome and to work and communicate effectively in cross functional teams. Given the importance of business initiatives, it’s critical that the Cost Accountant has the capability to be a strategic thinker to overcome obstacles and to drive projects to completion. In this capacity, the Cost Accountant will need to collaborate with local leadership as well as finance and operational leaders in other business entities on a global scale.

Qualifications
Education and Experience: A bachelor's degree in accounting or finance is required and two to four years of experience in a manufacturing environment within a multi-national or global structure is strongly preferred;
 Technical Skills: Advanced skills using Microsoft office products, particularly Excel. Deep knowledge of costing and ERP systems is highly preferred and critical for this role. Knowledge of lean manufacturing is not required highly preferred.
Language Skills: must be able to communicate effectively both written and verbally. English is a required language in this position. While there is not a foreign language policy requirement, cultural awareness is very important and bi-lingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

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