Cost Accountant I

Job Description

Job Description

SUMMARY OF JOB PURPOSE:

The Cost Accountant will provide support to Manufacturing Operations Management by developing, reporting, and analyzing operating results in areas such as plant profitability and inventory management.  The cost accountant will work with Operations Management to understand cost drivers and develop meaningful metrics.  In addition, the person in this position will play a key role in ensuring compliance with internal controls at the manufacturing facility by reinforcing expectations and the reasons for the controls.  The person will participate in month-end accounting activities, will play a key role in physical inventory counts, and will support quarterly reviews and the year-end audit by our independent accounting firm.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Accurate and timely monthly reporting of revenue, backlog, and tonnage for assigned plants.
• Water Transmission plant responsibilities may include (but are not limited to) the following unique responsibilities:
• • Calculation of over time (percentage of completion) revenue recognition under ASC 606.
  • Calculation of project COGS – including allocations from Corporate, variances between standard to actual, and over/under absorption of overhead rates.
  • Accurately calculate profit margin and required loss contingency reserve when appropriate.
  • Perform applicable balance sheet calculations, including overbill and under bill.
  • Prepare Actual vs. Estimate analysis, including understanding changes in estimates.
• Weekly revenue and performance forecasting for assigned plants.
• Ownership over the monthly close process for the assigned plants, ensuring a timely and accurate GL close, including related journal entries and reconciliations as assigned.
• Provide information and support to the plant employees, as well as be the financial liaison for the Operations Managers.
• Analysis of costs at assigned plants, verifying GL coding accuracy and expense reasonableness as compared to plan and forecast.
• Prepare monthly financial forecast and annual budget for assigned plants, including detailed analysis of actual cost, cost drivers, margin variances and other factors.
• Lead the monthly Forecast meetings for assigned plants, which includes plant personnel, the plant Operations Manager, VP of Operations and others deemed necessary for decision making.
• Participate and be plant liaison with external audit firm for annual physical inventory.
• Actively participate in audit support preparation, which includes items requested by the external audit firm as well as internal support required by the financial reporting team.
• Understand and adhere to internal control procedures related to areas managed and participate in controls documentation and evaluation.
• Perform selected internal control procedures and document performance.
• Streamline and document department processes and procedures with the objective of following LEAN principles while also maintaining strong internal controls.
• Help refine accounting policies and procedures as appropriate.
• Ad Hoc analysis and special projects as assigned.

SECONDARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Provide backup for other team members as required.
• Other duties may be assigned.

JOB SCOPE:

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• There are no supervisory responsibilities in this position.

INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS:

• Daily interaction in person and/or remotely with plant personnel, Operations management, and other members of the Corporate Finance department.
• Work frequently with Sales and Project Management to evaluate and maintain appropriate contract documentation to validate Contract Assets.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• A keen sense of detail/accuracy as well as the ability to see the larger picture.
• Superior organizational skills, including an ability to multi-task and re-prioritize to meet critical deadlines and project timelines.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and strong interpersonal skills.
• Capable of regularly using good judgment and discretion to accomplish goals and work requirements.
• Self-starter with proven ability to manage schedule, priorities, deadlines with minimal direction.
• Ability to perform essential job duties with or without reasonable accommodation and without posing a direct threat to safety or health of employee or others.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or relevant field, plus at least 4 years of relevant work experience. A combination of relevant education and work experience is acceptable.
• Previous work experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in product costing/profitability analysis.
• Experience in the application of GAAP and an understanding of internal controls.
• Experience with the monthly accounting close process (including journal entries and account reconciliations).
• Experience working with SAP or other major enterprise-wide application.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• None required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS/WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position may (on occasion) require travel to a production facility. All employees are expected to be familiar with and comply with all applicable safety and compliance requirements (i.e. PPE, OSHA requirements) when in a production area.

Physical Activity

Over 2/3 of the time

• Standing/Sit:  Remaining upright in a stationary position, particularly for sustained periods.
• Fingering:  Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling to complete computer work.

Up to 2/3 of the time:

• Talking: Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; those activities where detailed or important spoken instructions must be conveyed to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
• Communicating: Expressing or exchanging ideas and information accurately, in written or diagram form.
• Hearing:  Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, and having the ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and making fine discriminations in sound.

Less than 1/3 of the time:

• Reaching:  Grabbing things from a distance above or from the side.

Physical Requirements

• Sedentary work:  Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling or otherwise moving objects, including the human body

Visual Acuity

• The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading; and visual inspection involving small defects at distances close to the eyes.
• For over 2/3 of the amount of time, the worker is required to have close vision (clear vision at 20 inches or less).
• For less than 1/3 of the amount of time, the worker is required to have color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors).

Weather Conditions

• The worker is not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions (as in typical office or administrative work)

Noise Levels

Over 2/3 of the time

• Quiet conditions (examples: library, private office)
• Moderate noise (examples: business office with computers and printers, light traffic)

Northwest Pipe Company is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of welded steel and precast water infrastructure products, employing over 900 skilled workers in locations across North America. With positions ranging from the manufacturing floor to sales, and from engineering to administration and management, Northwest Pipe offers rewarding work experiences and opportunities to grow your career. We know our success depends on the unique contributions of our diverse employees, and we're committed to promoting and valuing diversity and inclusion as we continue to grow our team.

Company Description

Northwest Pipe Company is one of the nation’s leading manufacturers of welded steel and precast water infrastructure products, employing over 900 skilled workers in locations across North America. With positions ranging from the manufacturing floor to sales, and from engineering to administration and management, Northwest Pipe offers rewarding work experiences and opportunities to grow your career. We know our success depends on the unique contributions of our diverse employees, and we're committed to promoting and valuing diversity and inclusion as we continue to grow our team.