Cost Accountant

Pernod Ricard•Fort Smith, AR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Cost Accountant will support the Finance team at Pernod Ricard USA’s Fort Smith site by providing cost analysis, operational financial reporting, inventory support, and insight into production and distribution improvement opportunities. This role works closely with the Controller, Cost Accounting Manager, Operations leaders, Plant Management, Procurement, and Finance leadership to improve reporting accuracy, analyze spending and variances, support budgeting and forecasting, and identify opportunities to streamline processes. This is a strong opportunity for someone who enjoys working close to the business, translating operational activity into financial insight, and helping teams make informed decisions in a manufacturing environment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
5+ years of accounting experience, preferably within a manufacturing, plant, supply chain, or cost management environment.
Experience with cost analysis, budgeting, forecasting, inventory, financial reporting, standard costing, variance analysis, reconciliations, or operational finance.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial and operational data, quantify financial impact, identify risks, and provide practical recommendations.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
Ability to work cross-functionally with Operations, Finance, Procurement, Plant Management, and Cost Accounting teams.
Strong attention to detail, communication skills, and ability to manage recurring deadlines and monthly reporting cycles.
Comfort working with confidential financial information.
Commitment to quality, safety, operational excellence, sustainability, and good manufacturing practices.

Nice To Haves

Experience with SAP, enterprise resource planning systems, financial information systems, or similar reporting tools is a plus.
Experience supporting supplier complaints, debit memos, inventory write-offs, quality holds, product disposal authorizations, quality loss reporting, or continuous improvement initiatives is a plus.

Responsibilities

Prepare bi-monthly and monthly Operations financial reports, including plant financial reporting, corporate finance reporting, spending analysis, and recommendations for improvement.
Partner with Operations Directors, Plant Management, and Finance leadership to support budgeting and latest forecast processes.
Lead or support meetings with Operations Directors and Plant Management to review spending, analyze results, and identify areas for improvement.
Analyze financial system reporting related to supplier complaints, quarantined inventory, quality loss reporting, debit memos, product disposal authorizations, and other inventory-related issues.
Review supplier complaints, quantify financial impact, collect required documentation, and prepare supplier debit memos.
Coordinate with Operations to prepare product disposal authorization forms for write-offs of finished goods and raw materials.
Conduct monthly quality loss reporting meetings with Operations to support timely and accurate reporting of inventory on quality holds.
Maintain related reporting for Plant Management and the Vice President of Procurement, including risk identification and reporting.
Collaborate with the Cost Accounting Manager and Cost Accountant to maintain accurate standard costs in the company’s enterprise resource planning system and prepare analytical reviews for financial planning and analysis.
Support monthly analysis, reconciliations, and reporting tied to plant performance, inventory, cost control, and operational improvement.
Participate in special projects as assigned, including serving as an active member of the Fort Smith Continuous Improvement Team.
Support Fort Smith quality, safety, and environmental management practices, including safe work practices, quality standards, sustainability, waste reduction, and responsible use of natural resources.