Cost Accounting Manager

Position Summary: 

The Cost Accounting Manager is a key member of the accounting and finance team responsible for driving operational transparency, financial discipline, and performance improvement across the company’s activated carbon manufacturing operations. This role partners closely with plant leadership, corporate finance, and the supply chain team to optimize cost management, standardize financial processes, and ensure alignment with strategic and operational goals by providing financial insight and helping tie operational decisions to financial results.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Lead financial oversight of manufacturing operations, including cost of goods sold (COGS), inventory valuation, production variances and capital spending.
• Partner with Plant Controller to ensure timely and accurate plant-level reporting, standard costing, and financial controls.
• Analyze manufacturing performance and provide insight into key drivers of cost, efficiency, and margin improvement.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for operations that help drive better control, forecasting and operational improvement.
• Prepare monthly operations financial packages and support FP&A with forecasting, annual budget, and long-range planning related to operations.
• Evaluate and refine standard cost models, BOMs, and routings in partnership with engineering and operations.
• Oversee physical inventory counts and cycle count programs to ensure accurate financial reporting.
• Ensure internal controls are implemented and followed in compliance with SOX and company policies.
• Support capital investment analysis, ROI modeling, and project tracking for operational initiatives.
• Act as a strategic advisor to the CAO, CFO and operations leadership on cost optimization, financial risk, and performance trends.
• Partner with plant leaders to create aligned operational and financial Budgets and forecast updates.
• Perform financial cost scenario analyses in partnership with operational leadership to evaluate business growth and cost optimization opportunities.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities: 

• Strong understanding of standard costing, variance analysis, and inventory accounting.
• Proficient in ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Oracle) and financial modeling in Excel.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and present to executive leadership.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a hands-on, collaborative leadership style.
• Strong understanding of cost management in capital intensive, continuous production operations.

Education and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA or CMA preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive finance or accounting experience, including plant or operations finance.
• Experience in manufacturing, ideally in chemicals, industrials, or process industries.

Physical Requirements:

• Ability to sit or stand for extended periods while working at a computer or attending meetings
• Ability to walk throughout a large industrial facility, including climbing stairs and navigating uneven surfaces.
• Must be able to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE) in designated plant areas, including hard hats, safety glasses, steel-toed shoes, hearing protection, and flame-resistant clothing, as applicable.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry materials or equipment up to 25 pounds.
• Comfortable working in environments with exposure to noise, dust, odors, temperature fluctuations, and industrial equipment.
• Ability to travel between office and production areas regularly and travel at least quarterly to other company locations.