Senior Cost Accountant

Sunny Sky Products is seeking a highly skilled and detail-oriented Senior Cost Accountant to join our Finance & Accounting team. This role owns the full financial reporting cycle for our two primary operating locations (Frostproof, FL and Chicago, IL), including Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss accountability, cost accounting, and inventory control. Additionally, this position carries corporate-level responsibility for fixed assets and lease accounting under ASC 842 across all 6 plant locations. The ideal candidate is based in Frostproof, FL (on-site); candidates based at our Chicago or Houston corporate offices will be considered and expected to travel frequently to Frostproof. The ideal candidate has strong SAP S/4HANA experience, thrives in a manufacturing/distribution environment, communicates effectively with operations. Detail oriented in a fast movement environment. Key Responsibilities Financial Reporting & P&L Ownership Own the full P&L and Balance Sheet for both the Frostproof, FL and Chicago, IL locations Lead and manage the full month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes, ensuring accuracy and timeliness Prepare and review journal entries, accruals, prepaid amortization, and recurring entries Perform balance sheet reconciliations and resolve aged reconciling items Prepare financial statements and reports with variance analysis and explanatory commentary for management Analyze and report on budget-to-actual variances; provide actionable insights to leadership Support the preparation of annual budgets and periodic forecasts Coordinate with external auditors and support annual audit requirements Cost Accounting Maintain and oversee the standard cost system; update and review standard costs periodically Analyze cost of goods sold (COGS), production costs, and manufacturing variances (labor, material, overhead) Perform margin analysis by product line, SKU, and customer to identify profitability drivers Partner with operations to understand cost drivers and identify cost-reduction opportunities Support pricing decisions by providing cost data and profitability modeling Review and improve cost allocation methodologies for overhead and shared services Inventory Control & Management Responsible of inventory accounting. Reconcile inventory subledger to general ledger monthly; investigate and resolve discrepancies Coordinate and oversee physical inventory counts and cycle count programs at both locations Analyze inventory obsolescence, slow-moving items, and reserve adequacy Work closely with the operations and warehouse teams to ensure accurate inventory tracking and reporting Monitor inventory valuation methods (FIFO/weighted average) and ensure compliance with GAAP Operations Collaboration & Cross-Functional Support Serve as a trusted financial partner to the operations team, translating financial data into operational insights Collaborate with plant managers and operations leaders on cost performance, labor efficiency, and throughput reporting Communicate financial results clearly and effectively to both finance and non-finance stakeholders Support ERP/system improvements and process automation initiatives in SAP S/4HANA Identify internal control gaps and implement process improvements to strengthen the financial control environment Assist with ad-hoc financial analysis, special projects, and due diligence as needed Lease Accounting – ASC 842 (ROU Assets) – Corporate Level, 6 Plants Own the complete lease accounting process under ASC 842 at the corporate level, covering all 6 plant locations Maintain the right‑of‑use (ROU) asset and lease liability schedules for all operating and finance leases across all 6 plants Process new leases, modifications, remeasurements, and terminations in accordance with ASC 842 Prepare required footnote disclosures and ensure completeness and accuracy of lease-related balances Liaise with legal, operations, and real estate teams to identify new or modified lease arrangements Fixed Assets – Corporate Level, 6 Plants Manage the fixed asset sub‑ledger at the corporate level across all 6 plant locations, including capitalization, depreciation, disposals, and transfers Ensure assets are properly classified and depreciated in accordance with company policy and GAAP Conduct periodic physical verification of assets across plant locations Coordinate with operations on capital expenditure tracking and project cost capitalization Prepare fixed asset roll forwards and related disclosures for financial reporting Qualifications & Requirements Education Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required CPA or CMA designation preferred Experience Minimum 5–7 years of progressive accounting experience, with a strong emphasis on cost accounting in a manufacturing or distribution environment Food and Beverage Industry experience is a plus Demonstrated hands‑on experience with full‑cycle month‑end close Prior experience managing multi‑location or multi‑entity accounting preferred Solid understanding of ASC 842 lease accounting and practical application experience Skills & Competencies Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, complex formulas, and data modeling Continuous Improvement mindset drive efficiency and accuracy Strong proficiency in SAP S/4HANA strongly preferred Power BI knowledge strongly preferred Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, including inventory valuation, fixed assets, and lease accounting Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and critical‑thinking skills Strong written and verbal communication skills with ability to present financial data to non‑finance audiences Highly organized, self‑motivated, and able to manage competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment Collaborative mindset with a proven track record of building relationships with operations and cross‑functional teams Willingness to travel between plant locations as needed; candidates based outside Frostproof should expect frequent travel to the Frostproof facility #J-18808-Ljbffr