Cost Accountant

We're a leading Northeast family-owned food, agricultural products, and agricultural services organization headquartered in Pennsylvania. We provide animal nutrition and feeds; specialty protein production, processing, and marketing; on-farm protein production services; and grain, fertilizer, and ingredient procurement. Leidy's is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Wenger Group since 2022. Leidy's is a 130-year-old pork company located on the family farm in Pennsylvania, where Jacob Leidy was deeded the original land grant by William Penn in 1753.

We're a stable company with strong core values, great benefits, competitive wage structure, and a safe and healthy work environment. With over 1000 team members, we're a growing company in an essential sector - agriculture!Learn more here: /

Summary

The Cost Accountant develops, reviews, and maintains the cost accounting models and systems for the company. Works directly with production management concerning product costs, production variances, and production improvements. Assists the accounting team with various tasks.


Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.
• Responsible for inventory reporting and accuracy for the company
• Works closely with Industrial Engineer to ensure product cost standards are accurate, and manages and updates the cost accounting sections of the CSB ERP system
• Works closely with the Controller and TWG Financial Shared Services to support the period financial closing process
• Responsible for all cost and production reporting
• Assist production management and FP&A in capital expenditure justification (ROI) and in the analysis of production efficiency/effectiveness
• Monitor, research, and reports on expense variances to budget and prior periods on a weekly, monthly, year-to-date and TTM basis
• Responsible for reviewing and updating labor and overhead rates utilized in bills of materials (BOM)
• Possesses a continuous improvement mindset and makes recommendations to streamline processes/improve accuracy throughout the company
• Responsible for product line analysis, including product line profitability
• Performs ad-hoc operations analysis as required utilizing Excel, ODBC connections to CSB ERP system data, and other software tools
• Responsible for developing, producing and maintaining management reports for operations utilizing Excel, Power BI, and other software tools
• Assists FP&A with the compilation of the manufacturing costs included in the annual budget and periodic reforecasts Develops and compiles the annual operating and capital budgets, as well as periodic forecasts
• Accepts assignments varying in size and scope as well as other duties as assigned

Skills an d Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

Analytical skills - Able to structure and process qualitative or quantitative data and draw insightful conclusions from it. Skilled in developing complex PC models to assist in analytical process. Exhibits a probing mind and achieves penetrating insights.

Attention to Detail/Quality - Does not let important details slip through the cracks and carefully checks own work for accuracy and completeness. Looks for ways to improve and promote quality and controls in processes.

Problem Solving - Learns quickly. Demonstrates ability to quickly and proficiently understand and absorb new information. Able to resolve complex problems/issues independently, involving others only when necessary. Ability to work independently and complete projects with little direction from manager.

Efficiency - Able to produce significant output with minimal wasted effort. Meets assigned target dates and notifies appropriate staff in advance when dates might be missed.

Communication - Speaks and writes clearly and articulately without being overly verbose or talkative. Maintains this standard in all forms of written communication, including e-mail. Ability to summarize and present complex information clearly both verbally and in writing. Edits work for spelling and grammar. Listens well and gets clarification if communication is not understood. Presents findings from completed analyses in a clear, easy to follow format.

Teamwork - Reaches out to peers and cooperates with managers to establish an overall collaborative working relationship. Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views. Puts success of team above own interests.

Flexibility/adaptability - Adjusts quickly to changing priorities and conditions. Copes effectively with complexity and change. Manages and prioritizes competing demands effectively.

Persistence - Demonstrates tenacity and willingness to go the distance to get something done.


Assertiveness - Willing to defend his/her point of view and take a stand using fact-based data without being abrasive.

Work Ethic - Possesses a strong willingness to work hard and sometimes long hours to get the job done. Has a track record of working hard.

Planning/Organizing - Sets goals and objectives; Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelors Degree in Accounting. 5+ years working knowledge of standard costing in a high-volume manufacturing environment, preferably within the food industry. Experience building complex PC models for analytical and reporting purposes.


Mathematical Skills

Ability to create complex mathematical formulas, and utilize statistical analysis and finance principals in order to create financial models and reach conclusions for projects presented. Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money, weight measurement, and volume. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent.


Reasoning Ability

Ability to use logic and reason to develop complex analyses independently - the variables used in these analyses might not always be readily available, so another means of getting to the end result sometimes needs to be created; Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in oral and written form; Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.

Computer Skills

To perform this job successfully, an individual must have advanced knowledge of MS Excel and experience with mining and manipulating data using Pivot Tables, Power Pivot and advanced Excel functions. Experience working with ERP systems with integrated business intelligence (BI) systems. Knowledge of MS Outlook and intermediate knowledge of Word and Power Point. Must have ability to type 45+ wpm.