Plant Staff Accountant

Position Summary

The Plant Accountant is responsible for the financial integrity of manufacturing operations at the Mills River facility. This role owns cost accounting, inventory valuation, month-end close, and variance analysis, and serves as the financial business partner to plant operations leadership. The Plant Accountant translates shop-floor activity into accurate financial results, identifies cost-saving and margin-improvement opportunities, and ensures compliance with internal controls and accounting standards.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Accounting & Inventory

• Maintain and analyze standard costs; lead the annual standard cost roll and review cost updates throughout the year.
• Value raw material, work-in-process, and finished goods inventory; ensure accuracy of inventory records in the ERP system.
• Analyze and explain manufacturing variances (purchase price, material usage, labor, overhead absorption, and yield).
• Coordinate and reconcile physical inventory counts and cycle counts; investigate and resolve discrepancies.
• Monitor and analyze scrap, obsolescence, and excess inventory reserves.

Month-End Close & Reporting

• Own the plant’s month-end close activities, including journal entries, accruals, and account reconciliations.
• Prepare and analyze the plant P&L; deliver clear variance commentary against budget, forecast, and prior periods.
• Report on key operational and financial metrics (cost per unit, absorption, labor efficiency, overhead spend).
• Support consolidation and reporting requirements from corporate finance.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Analysis

• Partner with plant leadership to build the annual operating budget and periodic forecasts.
• Provide cost analysis to support pricing, make-vs-buy decisions, capital projects, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and maintain financial models for production planning and capacity decisions.

Capital & Fixed Assets

• Track capital expenditures against approved budgets; prepare capital appropriation requests and post-completion reviews.
• Maintain the fixed asset ledger, including additions, disposals, transfers, and depreciation.

Controls & Compliance

• Ensure adherence to internal controls, company policies, and applicable accounting standards (GAAP).
• Support internal and external audits.
• Identify and implement process improvements that strengthen control and efficiency.

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 3+ years of accounting experience, preferably in a manufacturing or cost accounting environment.
• Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory valuation, and manufacturing variance analysis.
• Proficiency with ERP systems and advanced Excel skills.
• Solid grasp of GAAP and internal control principles.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate financial data into actionable insight for non-finance partners.

Preferred

• Experience with Epicor.
• CPA, CMA, or progress toward certification.
• Experience in a contract manufacturing setting.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies.

Competencies

• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to manage deadlines and prioritize during the close cycle.
• Effective communication and partnership across finance and operations.
• Self-starter who proactively investigates and resolves issues.

Working Conditions

• 100% onsite work location.
• Combination of office and plant-floor environments.
• May require occasional time on the production floor; appropriate PPE provided.
• Periodic extended hours during month-end close, physical inventory, and budget cycles.