Senior Cost Accountant

Hartzell Propeller•Piqua, OH

About The Position

Hartzell Propeller LLC is the global leader in advanced aircraft propeller design and manufacturing technology for general aviation applications – both piston and turboprop engines – as well as custom propulsion solutions for electric, hybrid-electric aircraft and advanced air mobility programs. Founded in 1917 through an early partnership between Orville Wright and Robert Hartzell, Hartzell Propeller is built on a legacy of innovation, craftsmanship, and trust. Our guiding principle—Built on Honor—continues to define how we operate, how we lead, and how we serve our customers worldwide. Our Culture We are a team that prides ourselves on a culture that supports shared values of empowerment, accountability, drive, integrity, and respect. Our team shares a deep commitment to safety and collaboration. We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support your well-being and professional growth including medical, dental, vision, paid time off, life insurance, 401(K) plans with employer match, company provided Growth Participation Units (GPU) and so much more. Our GPU benefit is unique to the industry and encourages all employees to think like owners and receive future financial reward for contributions to business growth. Join our team to be part of a culture that encourages growth and development and celebrates our success. Position Overview The Senior Cost Accountant plays a key role in supporting manufacturing cost visibility, margin analysis, and operational decision-making in a regulated aerospace manufacturing environment. This position partners closely with Operations, Supply Chain, and Engineering to ensure accurate product costing, meaningful variance analysis, and continuous improvement in financial and operational performance.

Requirements

Solid knowledge of GAAP and inventory accounting
Comprehensive understanding of standard costing in a manufacturing ERP system (experience in Infor XA a plus)
Strong understanding of BOMS, routings, labor standards and work order flows
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail and accuracy
Lean/Continuous improvement exposure (5S, Kaizen, Six Sigma)
Advanced Excel skills including pivot tables, lookups, and other advanced formulas. Experience with SQL or Power Query a plus.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to explain financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders
Thinks and acts like an owner
Uses company resources wisely & cost-effectively
Shows pride in the organization and a commitment to its long-term success
Takes full responsibility for their actions
Holds self to high standards of performance and integrity
Demonstrates high integrity
Consistently acts with honestly, transparency and high ethics
Makes decisions based on what is morally right
Owns their actions and holds self accountable
Puts team above self; in it together
Prioritizes team and company over personal gain
Collaborates with team members within the department and across all functions
Contributes to a positive work environment
Innovates and improves
Actively supports or initiates continuous improvement efforts
Shares ideas and suggests solutions that enhance team or business performance
Stays open to feedback and embraces changes
Demonstrates a bias towards action
Honors commitments
Consistently follows through on project timelines, meeting and deliverables
Takes ownership for responsibilities and delivers results
Communicates proactively when challenges arise and adjusts plans to stay on track

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting; experience in aerospace, defense, automotive or other high-mix manufacturing environment.
3-7 years of experience in cost accounting
Comprehensive understanding of standard costing in a manufacturing ERP system (experience in Infor XA a plus)
Advanced Excel skills including pivot tables, lookups, and other advanced formulas. Experience with SQL or Power Query a plus.

Responsibilities

Standard Costing & Product Cost Structure
Maintain and update standard costs for materials, labor and overhead in the ERP system
Review and validate BOMs and routings in partnership with Operations and Engineering
Support annual cost roll including overhead calculation, rate-setting and validation of cost assumptions
Analyze financial impact of make-buy decisions and production process changes
Manufacturing Variance Analysis
Detailed analysis of:
Material usage variance
Purchase price variance (PPV)
Labor efficiency and rate variances
Overhead absorption variances
Scrap and rework costs
Investigate root causes with operations, supply chain and engineering
Provide reporting and actionable insights to management
Inventory & Work Order Accounting
Ensure accurate accounting of WIP, raw materials and finished goods
Perform monthly inventory reconciliations and research discrepancies
Routinely manufacturing work orders for accuracy
Support inventory cycle counts and year end audits
Operational Support & Cross Functional Collaboration
Partner with Operations to drive cost improvements and throughput
Provide costing support for new products
Support Supply Chain with supplier cost analysis/PPV root cause reviews
Financial Reporting & Month-End Close
Prepare cost related journal entries (inventory adjustments, variance capitalization, absorption)
Support month-end close to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting
Maintain and document costing policies and procedures
Support the budgeting and forecasting processes though cost driver modeling