Cost Accountant
Overview
Join a growing manufacturing organization as a Cost Accountant and play a key role in maintaining accurate inventory valuations, strengthening cost controls, and supporting informed financial decisions. This role will contribute to standard costing, inventory analysis, manufacturing variance review, month-end close, and financial reporting while partnering with Procurement, Accounting, and operational teams.
This is a contract-to-hire opportunity for an accounting professional who is ready to make an immediate impact in an onsite environment and expand their general accounting experience.
Required Skills
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field
- Two to three years of cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment
- Experience with standard costing, inventory accounting, and manufacturing variance analysis
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret inventory, production, labor, and overhead data
- Experience preparing journal entries and performing account and inventory reconciliations
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Word, and Windows-based software
- Ability to review data for accuracy, identify discrepancies, and communicate findings clearly
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
- Ability to collaborate effectively with Procurement, Accounting, and cross-functional teams
Nice to Have Skills
- Experience with Oracle, NetSuite, SAP, or another enterprise resource planning system
- Familiarity with JSOX or similar internal control procedures
- Experience reviewing work-in-process inventory and manufacturing job closures
- Knowledge of cycle count programs and inventory control processes
- Experience analyzing gross margins, absorption, and production variances
- General ledger accounting experience
- Interest in process improvement and developing or enhancing accounting procedures
Preferred Education and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related discipline
- Two to three years of relevant cost accounting experience, preferably in a standard-cost manufacturing environment
- Experience supporting month-end close, inventory reporting, and financial reconciliations
Key Responsibilities
- Maintain the accuracy and integrity of inventory and production data
- Assist with monthly standard cost updates in partnership with Procurement
- Review last-receipt data and support cost-related discussions with Procurement
- Monitor inventory movement and provide analysis for management review
- Assist with the annual review of labor and overhead rates
- Analyze over- and under-absorption to support accurate inventory valuation
- Review work-in-process inventory and manufacturing jobs for completeness and timely closure
- Analyze manufacturing variances, including material usage and labor variances
- Prepare month-end cost accounting journal entries
- Reconcile perpetual inventory records to the General Ledger
- Perform inventory reconciliations and prepare inventory-related reports
- Prepare monthly gross margin reports and investigate low or negative margins
- Support periodic cycle counts and evaluate the adequacy of cycle count processes
- Assist with JSOX internal controls
- Support Senior Accountants with journal entries, reconciliations, and other accounting activities
Other Requirements
- Full-time, onsite position in Bedford, NH; remote work is not available
- Standard hours are 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, with flexibility in the daily schedule
- Must be able to participate in periodic cycle counts and collaborate with onsite teams
- Business-casual dress environment
- Contract-to-hire opportunity
