Cost Accountant

Carhartt•Dearborn, MI

8d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Cost Accountant maintains and analyzes product cost data and inputs. The role maintains cost standards, gathers data, prepares analyses, and communicates cost information internally to support business decisions and analysis of financial metrics and performance. This hybrid position is based in Dearborn, Michigan, with regular on-site work as needed. It is an exempt, professional role in the Accounting department and reports to the Senior Manager, Financial Systems & Inventory Costing. Carhartt’s values of dependability, honesty, and trust are rooted in the legacy of its founder, Hamilton Carhartt. The company’s mission is to serve and protect hardworking people by building durable products.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
Minimum of 3 years of accounting or finance experience.
Solid knowledge of general ledger accounting, account reconciliations, journal entries, and month-end close processes.
Ability to analyze large data sets, investigate financial variances, identify root causes, and communicate clear, actionable conclusions.
Experience with enterprise resource planning systems.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills, with attention to detail and data integrity.
Effective written and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain financial information clearly to management and cross-functional partners.

Nice To Haves

At least 1 year of cost accounting experience.
SAP experience.
Apparel industry experience.
Experience supporting internal manufacturing and global sourcing environments.

Responsibilities

Prepare product cost estimates in collaboration with Engineering, Sourcing, and Global Product teams.
Analyze supplier and vendor prototype cost quotes and provide feedback on cost assumptions.
Maintain key master data and current and historical cost standards, including applicable freight, broker, royalty, raw material, duty, labor, overhead, tariff, laundry, and other rates.
Identify and input cost standards for new vendor setups.
Monitor and troubleshoot cost data, including validating and releasing new item costs.
Support standard cost and cost book updates by collecting inputs, validating rates and assumptions, testing costing results, documenting changes, auditing outputs, and confirming accurate implementation.
Assist with testing and validating costing-related system changes, enhancements, and master-data updates.
Perform ad hoc troubleshooting and analysis related to intercompany transfer pricing, make-versus-buy decisions, historical cost trends, margin impacts, and other product costing matters.
Perform assigned costing activities, including validating cost postings, supporting inventory revaluation, and analyzing the financial impact of cost changes.
Support month-end close by preparing journal entries, account analyses, supporting schedules, and documentation related to freight, duty, broker fees, harbor fees, and other assigned cost components.
Research and analyze actual-to-standard cost variances, document conclusions, and coordinate timely resolution.
Assist with the annual financial statement audit by preparing account reconciliations and gathering documentation, including clear explanations for inventory price testing.
Maintain effective cross-functional communication and follow costing, reconciliation, and financial close issues through timely resolution.
Identify and recommend improvements to processes, reports, systems, and controls.