Cost Accounting Manager (Hybrid)

Ardent Mills•Denver, CO

2d•$128,300 - $153,900•Hybrid

About The Position

The Cost Accounting Manager leads end-to-end ownership of inventory accounting, weigh-ups, valuation, commodity accounting, manufacturing financial reporting, and related control activities across assigned operations. The role mentors and coaches the Cost Accounting team, establishes consistent practices, and ensures accurate and timely financial reporting while maintaining a strong control environment. It partners closely with Operations, FP&A, and Finance leadership to identify risks, improve processes, validate outcomes, resolve issues, and provide recommendations and clarity around manufacturing and inventory-related financial results. The manager also helps transform and strengthen the Cost Accounting function through sound judgment, simplification, scalability, and execution of the strategic vision established by Finance leadership. The role oversees inventory, commodity, manufacturing, and related balance-sheet accounting close activities; commodity inventory and liability valuation; inventory accuracy and reconciliation monitoring; and compliance with GAAP, company policies, internal controls, and regulatory requirements. It evaluates control deficiencies, process risks, and accounting issues, recommends remediation, supports implementation, and coordinates external audit requests related to inventory and manufacturing accounting. The Cost Accounting Manager partners with Operations, FP&A, and Finance leaders to evaluate manufacturing performance, inventory risks, commodity market impacts, and financial results. The role drives standardization, simplification, scalability, and continuous improvement—including changes involving ERP, data, manufacturing execution, upstream plant processes, reporting, and accounting processes—with appropriate change management. It uses reporting tools, automation, self-service analytics, and emerging AI capabilities to improve data quality, control effectiveness, speed, and decision support. It communicates results, risks, opportunities, and recommended actions to leaders, aligns priorities across facilities, and develops team capability through documentation standards, cross-training, and succession depth. This is a hybrid position based in Denver, Colorado. The successful candidate is expected to work in person at the assigned office two days per week, Tuesday and Wednesday, except when traveling for business. Travel of up to 5% is required. The listed starting salary range is $128,300–$153,900, with additional earning potential and a targeted annual MIP bonus of 15%.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
At least 8 years of relevant experience.
Experience developing and implementing accounting processes, controls, and process improvements.
Advanced knowledge of inventory accounting, manufacturing accounting, commodity accounting, financial controls, and risk management.
Ability to assess risks and prioritize resources across multiple facilities, processes, and initiatives.
Ability to evaluate operational and financial performance trends across multiple facilities and identify enterprise risks, improvement opportunities, and emerging business issues.
Ability to develop teams through coaching, mentorship, and professional development.
Ability to lead change and drive adoption of improved processes and controls.
Ability to communicate complex financial and operational concepts to stakeholders at varying organizational levels.
Ability to build partnerships across Operations, Finance, FP&A, and related functions.
Strong leadership, organizational, and project management skills.
Ability to drive scalability, simplification, and continuous improvement within a growing accounting organization.
Experience delivering measurable outcomes such as cycle time, first-pass quality, recurring issue reduction, control performance, and realization of automation benefits.

Nice To Haves

CPA preferred; CMA considered for candidates with significant manufacturing accounting leadership experience.
Experience supporting complex ERP environments and process transformation initiatives preferred.

Responsibilities

Establish consistent execution of inventory accounting and valuation.
Oversee month-end and year-end close activities related to inventory, commodity accounting, manufacturing accounting, and related balance-sheet accounts.
Evaluate control deficiencies, process risks, and accounting issues; recommend remediation plans and lead implementation with Finance leadership.
Oversee valuation of commodity inventories and related liabilities and ensure consistent accounting practices across the organization.
Monitor inventory accuracy, adjustment activity, count results, and reconciliation differences to identify risks and improve financial integrity.
Partner with Operations, FP&A, and Finance leadership to evaluate manufacturing performance trends, inventory risks, commodity market impacts, and financial results, and help prioritize actions and continuous improvement opportunities.
Drive standardization, simplification, and scalability initiatives that improve reporting, controls, and organizational effectiveness.
Identify and support continuous improvement and transformational changes involving ERP, data, manufacturing execution, upstream plant processes, reporting, and accounting processes; prioritize and implement improvements with appropriate change management.
Ensure compliance with GAAP, company policies, internal controls, and regulatory requirements.
Support audit activities and coordinate external audit requests related to inventory and manufacturing accounting.
Use reporting tools, automation, self-service analytics, and emerging AI capabilities to improve data quality, control effectiveness, speed, and decision support.
Translate manufacturing, inventory, and commodity results into concise narratives, risks, opportunities, and recommended actions for Operations and Finance leaders.
Constructively challenge assumptions, align priorities across facilities, and connect Cost Accounting decisions to enterprise financial and operational outcomes.
Establish documentation standards, cross-training, and succession depth to reduce key-person dependency across the Cost Accounting team.
Mentor and coach the Cost Accounting team and support professional development.