Cost Analyst

Henderson Products•Milwaukee, WI

22d

About The Position

The Cost Analyst is responsible for owning cost accounting for our engineered-to-order (ETO) manufacturing operations, including job costing, standard cost maintenance, variance analysis, and inventory valuation. This position requires strong analytical skills along with an in-depth understanding of job-order costing and manufacturing accounting practices. Reporting to the Controller, this role partners closely with estimating, engineering, and operations to ensure the cost data driving quoting, margin visibility, and management reporting is accurate and timely. Strong analytical and communication skills are critical in this role to translate detailed cost data into insight the business can act on. Lead by example and promote Winning Behaviors across all teams.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required
3-6 years of cost accounting or manufacturing accounting experience, ideally in a job-shop, custom, or ETO environment
Ability to work independently on job costing, variance analysis, and inventory reconciliation with minimal supervision
Experience with ERP systems supporting job costing and inventory management (Epicor experience a plus)
CMA or CPA a plus
Working knowledge of standard costing, BOMs, routings, and overhead allocation
Results-driven mindset, focused on delivering accurate, timely cost data to support quoting and margin decisions.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Ability to analyze problems; categorize & simplify complex issues to deliver incremental improvement.
Accuracy and detail focused.
Team oriented, working with other employees across the company to effectively accomplish daily tasks
Strong analytical and communication skills to partner with estimating, engineering, and operations
Competent computer skills with ERP systems, Microsoft Excel, and other technical resources as require

Nice To Haves

Epicor experience a plus
CMA or CPA a plus

Responsibilities

Maintain and update job costing and standard cost records.
Perform monthly inventory reconciliation and support accurate inventory and cost-of-goods-sold reporting.
Analyze and report on job-level cost variances (material, labor, overhead) versus quoted/estimated cost; investigate and document root causes.
Partner with estimating and engineering to refine standard costs, labor routings, and overhead rates based on actual job experience.
Support month-end close activities related to cost accounting, including journal entries, accruals, and account reconciliations.
Maintain the standard cost system (BOMs, routings, overhead rates) and coordinate periodic standard cost updates.
Provide ad hoc cost analysis to support quoting, make-vs-buy decisions, and margin reviews for management.
Serve as a key support contact for annual physical inventory and external audit requests related to cost accounting and inventory valuation.
Support cost-related workstreams of the ERP upgrade (e.g., validating costing data conversion, testing job costing and WIP functionality).
Assist in process improvement of finance functions.