Cost Accountant

Kranz Consulting•Baxter Springs, KS

1d•$90,000 - $116,000

About The Position

The Sr Cost Accountant is a key member of the accounting team supporting the Baxter Springs, Kansas facility, the organization’s largest manufacturing operation and the production site for ultrahigh-pressure pumps and spare parts for waterjet cutting systems. Reporting to the Controller, this role manages day-to-day cost accounting activities and partners with operations and finance leadership to provide feedback on manufacturing performance, reporting, corrections, and variances. The position also offers opportunities to improve processes, leverage technology, and contribute to the facility’s growth. The role analyzes manufacturing costs and gross margins, supports accurate quoting, maintains standard product costs and cost accounting records, and helps drive inventory accuracy. It conducts recurring manufacturing reports, investigates work order and labor reporting issues, reviews production and price variances, completes month-end accounting processes, maintains obsolete inventory calculations, and supports annual cost updates and other accounting needs. Travel is not required.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Accounting or equivalent work experience.
Proven background in a high-volume, multi-component manufacturing environment, managing complex bills of materials across thousands of SKUs.
Knowledge and understanding of manufacturing input costs, including material, labor, overhead, and outside processing.
Solid understanding of integrated ERP systems in a standard-cost environment.
Intermediate to advanced Excel skills.

Responsibilities

Study and collect data with the manufacturing operations team to identify and drive improvements.
Analyze the cost effects of changes in product design, raw materials, manufacturing methods, or services, and support McCartney and ETO business quoting.
Prepare, analyze, and report monthly gross margin analysis by customer, part number, and production jobs.
Analyze manufacturing costs and prepare reports comparing standard costs with actual production costs.
Drive inventory accuracy by monitoring adjustments and cycle counts, coaching and training on counting techniques, and ensuring proper processes are used in inventory-impact areas.
Control and maintain the cost accounting system, inputs, and records to ensure accurate standard product costs.
Research and investigate work order and labor reporting issues and work with supervisors to implement corrective actions.
Complete daily, weekly, and monthly reporting on manufacturing activity.
Review daily production and price variances, identify discrepancies, and make adjustments as needed.
Update costs accurately and promptly for new products and ECR change notices.
Conduct month-end processes and journal entries, including balancing perpetual inventory to the general ledger, reconciliations, management reports, and audit support; verify income statement and balance sheet entries.
Maintain obsolete inventory calculations and conduct disposal programs.
Develop updates for material, labor, overhead, and material burden rates, and conduct the annual cost roll.
Assist with other accounting support as needed.