Cost Accountant

Outform Group • Chicago, IL

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Cost Accountant supports the controllership function by ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting and maintaining strong internal controls over financial reporting. The position serves as a liaison between Finance and Operations, helping improve cost transparency, support strategic decisions, and drive continuous improvement in a manufacturing and project-based environment. The role works closely with Operational Finance to validate its revenue analysis and provide an independent check and balance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• At least 6 years of cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment with project-based costing.
• At least 3 years of general accounting experience and a deep understanding of GAAP and financial reporting principles.
• Demonstrated experience with input-based cost accounting methods and inventory valuation.
• Proficiency with large-scale ERP systems, such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 or SAP.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and communicate complex financial concepts effectively to non-financial stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including analyzing large datasets, creating dashboards, performing reconciliations, and automating reports with advanced formulas.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, stakeholder-management, organizational, and interpersonal skills; ability to adhere to deadlines and drive decision-making.
• Strategic and innovative thinking, autonomy, proactive problem-solving, strong work ethic, and a results-oriented approach.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the Operational Finance team to validate revenue analysis and provide an independent check and balance.
• Analyze inventory across two North American divisions to ensure project costs are appropriately recognized.
• Maintain accurate and consistent inventory costing across U.S. facilities.
• Maintain appropriate net inventory value and perform inventory reconciliations and work-in-progress analysis.
• Analyze manufacturing and purchasing variances to identify cost-reduction and production-efficiency opportunities.
• Perform absorption variance and absorption-rate analysis.
• Manage production-order closing and detailed cost allocations within the ERP system.
• Develop, implement, and maintain product-costing methodologies, including labor and overhead rate structures.
• Evaluate inventory movements and valuation impacts and provide related financial analysis and recommendations.
• Prepare and reconcile freight costs and revenue by project.
• Collaborate with operations teams on operational-efficiency and cost-performance initiatives.
• Serve as a finance liaison to operational departments, translating production workflows into accounting impacts to support financial accuracy and alignment.
• Drive automation and process improvements in cost accounting and inventory-reconciliation workflows.
• Assist with preparing and reviewing audit schedules related to inventory, project costing, and capitalization.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures related to inventory and cost reporting.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior