Senior Plant Cost Analyst

Johns Manville•Waterville, OH

2d•$98,600 - $135,500•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Plant Cost Analyst is a highly visible business partner who helps drive financial performance and operational excellence across our manufacturing operation. This individual works side-by-side with plant leadership, operations teams, and corporate finance to identify opportunities, solve problems, and improve profitability. Success in this role requires more than strong accounting and analytical skills. The ideal candidate is an effective communicator who can build credibility at all levels of the organization, from production associates on the manufacturing floor to senior corporate leaders. They are curious, proactive, comfortable challenging assumptions, and willing to spend time in the plant understanding how operations truly work. This role serves as a financial advisor to the business, translating operational performance into actionable insights that drive better decision-making, cost control, productivity improvements, and long-term growth.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, or related field.
8+ years of finance or accounting experience, including manufacturing cost accounting experience.
Strong knowledge of cost accounting, inventory management, standard costing, forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and experience with financial modeling.
Experience supporting annual operating plans, financial forecasts, and strategic analysis.
Working knowledge of SAP and/or ERP systems.
Demonstrated ability to influence and partner with stakeholders across multiple levels of an organization.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting complex manufacturing operations.
Continuous improvement mindset with a track record of driving process enhancements.

Responsibilities

Partner with plant leadership to identify, quantify, and execute cost savings and productivity initiatives.
Analyze financial and operational results to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
Provide recommendations that improve profitability, operational efficiency, and resource utilization.
Support strategic business decisions through financial modeling, scenario analysis, and investment evaluations.
Collaborate with leaders across Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Corporate Finance.
Communicate complex financial information in a way that is meaningful and actionable for non-financial stakeholders.
Influence decision-making through data-driven insights and strong business acumen.
Build strong working relationships across all levels of the organization.
Support development of annual operating plans, budgets, and monthly forecasts.
Monitor and communicate operational and financial performance against established targets.
Analyze and explain manufacturing variances, inventory movements, labor performance, and overhead spending.
Assist with month-end and year-end close processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
Develop and maintain product BOMs, routings, and standard costs.
Ensure the integrity of manufacturing cost data and inventory valuation.
Reconcile assigned general ledger accounts and support financial compliance activities.
Evaluate capital project spending and provide financial analysis on investment opportunities.
Create and improve financial processes, reporting tools, and business procedures.
Participate in procurement and spending reviews, including invoice resolution, general ledger coding, and related controls.
Provide mentorship and guidance to Associate Plant Cost Analysts and other developing finance team members.
Regularly engage with manufacturing teams on the production floor to understand processes, challenges, and opportunities firsthand.
Participate in physical inventories, audits, and operational reviews.
Translate operational realities into financial insights and recommendations.