Cost Accountant (Kaukauna, WI)

Ahlstrom•Kaukauna, WI

11d

About The Position

The Cost Accountant provides cost and inventory accounting support for the Rhinelander plant. The role prepares internal financial statements, participates in the monthly close, assists with budgeting, and supplies manufacturing personnel with data to develop operating budgets and understand operating costs. The position also helps maximize the efficiency of financial systems and supports applicable manufacturing, hygiene, safety, quality, and regulatory-compliance processes. Responsibilities include accounting for inventory, utilities, accruals, fixed assets, work orders, and purchase price variance caps; analyzing work order and inventory variances; maintaining cost standards and plant locations; preparing production reports; leading physical inventory counts; reconciling balance sheet accounts; tracking fixed assets and depreciation; supporting annual standard revisions and operating-plan development; maintaining internal controls; participating in audits; identifying cost-saving opportunities; and communicating cost analysis to manufacturing management. Other assignments may be provided by management.

Requirements

Must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
At least 3 years of business analysis, cost accounting, and general accounting experience.

Nice To Haves

Manufacturing or paper-industry experience.
Knowledge of financial tools and systems, including HFM, JDE, SAP, Optimill, and Microsoft Office tools.
Advanced Excel skills.

Responsibilities

Follow applicable manufacturing and hygiene processes, procedures, and policies to meet safety, quality, and regulatory-compliance requirements.
Perform month-end close duties and prepare related journal entries for inventories, utilities, accruals, fixed assets, work orders, and PPV Caps.
Monitor and analyze work order variances, diagnose production variance causes, and troubleshoot and correct discrepancies.
Develop and analyze inventory reports and variances, oversee transactions for proper accounting, and troubleshoot discrepancies.
Implement and update cost standards.
Maintain and test new branch plant locations.
Prepare and analyze daily production reports.
Lead plant physical inventory counts, including monthly cycle counts and year-end physical inventories.
Reconcile balance sheet accounts to the general ledger.
Record, monitor, and track fixed assets in the fixed asset systems; track project costs, close accounts timely, account for asset dispositions, calculate depreciation, and conduct requested analyses.
Assist with the annual standard revision process and support portions of annual operating-plan development.
Adhere to internal controls and participate in audits.
Analyze and propose potential cost-saving opportunities.
Communicate cost information and analysis to manufacturing management.
Complete other assignments from management.