Senior Cost Accountant

Overview

POSITION SUMMARY

The Senior Cost Accounting Manager owns the company's cost accounting, inventory valuation, cost of goods sold (COGS), manufacturing variance analysis, and related internal control processes. This role ensures the accuracy and integrity of inventory, work-in-process (WIP), consignment inventory, intercompany inventory, excess and obsolete inventory, warranty cost, and fixed asset accounting. The position partners closely with Finance, Operations, Production, Purchasing, Engineering, Sales/Application teams, Stockroom, Shipping, Quality, and IT to improve cost visibility, strengthen ERP data quality, and provide timely financial insight for operational and strategic decision-making. This role reports to the Director of Finance and Administration.

SUCCESS PROFILE

• Accurate, timely monthly close for inventory, COGS, manufacturing variances, fixed assets, and related balance sheet accounts.
• Reliable average costs, labor and overhead rates, inventory reserves, and job/project variance explanations.
• Strong internal controls, clean audit support, and well-documented inventory and fixed asset processes.
• Actionable financial reporting that helps Operations and Finance identify cost drivers, margin trends, and process improvement opportunities.

Responsibilities

Cost Accounting, Average Costing, and Inventory Valuation

• Develop, analyze, and update average costs for materials, labor, overhead, departmental allocations, and inventory absorption.
• Own inventory valuation for stock/raw materials, WIP, finished goods, consignment inventory, intercompany inventory, and excess or obsolete inventory reserves.
• Review and explain material usage, purchase price, labor, overhead, absorption, job/project, inventory adjustment, warranty, and COGS variances; partner with operations to resolve root causes.
• Lead job and project closing governance by ensuring variances are investigated, corrective actions are assigned, and jobs are closed accurately and on time.
• Coordinate physical inventory counts and document cycle-count activities for WIP, consignment, and other inventory categories; reconcile results and drive corrective actions for count variances.
• Review obsolete and slow-moving inventory monthly and facilitate quarterly management review of inventory reserves and disposition recommendations.

Financial Close, Reporting, and Compliance

• Own weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual close activities related to inventory, COGS, manufacturing variances, fixed assets, warranty, and assigned balance sheet accounts.
• Prepare and/or review journal entries, account reconciliations, flux analyses, depreciation forecasts, inventory reserve calculations, and supporting close schedules.
• Ensure compliance with U.S. GAAP, company accounting policies, SOX requirements, and internal controls related to inventory cost, fixed assets, and manufacturing accounting.
• Maintain inventory flow charts, fixed asset documentation, control evidence, and process narratives; respond to internal and external audit requests accurately and on time.
• Support tax reporting schedules for inventory and fixed assets and provide documentation for lease, fixed asset, and other accounting areas as assigned.
• Support ASC 606-related cost analysis for bill-only, bill-and-hold, contract, or order-specific transactions when applicable.

ERP, Data Integrity, and Process Improvement

• Serve as cost accounting business owner Epicor.
• Lead cost accounting data validation, application testing, scenario testing, report testing, master data review, and ERP change management for annual updates or system enhancements.
• Review ERP cost settings, suspense transactions, inventory transactions, and system exceptions; coordinate timely corrections with Finance, IT, and Operations.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to improve ERP workflows, automate reporting, reduce manual adjustments, and strengthen inventory and COGS accuracy.
• Document and standardize procedures, checklists, close calendars, and reporting packages to improve consistency, transparency, and scalability.

Business Partnership and Analysis

• Partner with Operations, Production, Purchasing, Engineering, Sales/Application teams, Stockroom, Shipping, Quality, FP&A, and leadership to translate cost data into business insight.
• Prepare margin, cost trend, inventory aging, reserve, profitability, and manufacturing performance analyses for management review and decision support.
• Identify cost savings, productivity opportunities, control gaps, and process improvements; recommend practical actions to improve financial accuracy and operational performance.
• Coordinate with Purchasing, Quality, and Supply Chain to resolve DMR/supplier return liabilities and inventory-related clearing items.

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop cost accounting team members where assigned; provide direction on priorities, close timelines, reconciliations, and issue resolution.
• Act as a trusted advisor to non-financial stakeholders by explaining complex cost accounting topics clearly and professionally.
• Promote a culture of accuracy, accountability, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related field.
• Seven or more years of progressive accounting experience, including significant cost accounting or manufacturing finance experience.
• Strong knowledge of average costing, inventory valuation, WIP, COGS, manufacturing variances, inventory reserves, fixed assets, and account reconciliations.
• Experience with month-end close, journal entries, financial reporting, internal controls, audit support, and U.S. GAAP.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skills; ability to work with large data sets and reporting tools.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, manage competing priorities, analyze complex issues, and communicate effectively with finance and non-finance stakeholders.

Preferred

• CPA, CMA, MBA, or other relevant professional certification.
• Epicor experience or experience serving as an ERP cost accounting super user.
• Experience with SOX/internal control documentation, process automation, ERP implementation or enhancement projects, and audit readiness.
• People leadership experience or demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience with consignment inventory, intercompany inventory, warranty accounting, ASC 606-related cost analysis, leases, tax support, or multi-site manufacturing operations.

Who is Kadant Solutions Division?

Kadant Solutions, based in Auburn, Massachusetts, develops, manufactures, and markets a wide range of doctoring, cleaning, filtration, and forming systems and related consumables used in process industries worldwide including construction roofing materials, food processing, metals processing, nonwovens, pulp and paper, textiles and fibers, and tissue.

Why consider joining the Kadant team?

• Kadant was named as one of America's Most Responsible Companies 2021-2026 by Newsweek
• Kadant was named as one of America's Greatest Companies 2025 by Newsweek
• Kadant was named as one of America's Greenest Companies 2025 by Newsweek
• Kadant was named to Newsweek's list of America's Greatest Workplaces for Parents & Families 2024
• 100% of Kadant's energy comes from renewable sources.
• Kadant serves the pulp and paper industry which has recycled 68% of everything produced and 82% of cardboard since 2009, the highest of any processing industry.
• Kadant serves several process industries including lithium-ion battery production, food processing, metals processing, carbon fiber, nonwovens, textiles, and construction roofing materials.
• At Kadant, our customer-focused innovation allows us to deliver Sustainable Industrial Processing™ engineering services and technologies to help our customers create more value with fewer inputs.

*Equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state and local laws.

*Diverse and inclusive workplace.

*Competitive wage.

*All benefits are effective upon date of hire.

Our comprehensive benefit package includes:

*Medical, Dental and Vision insurance with best-in-class premiums.

*10 ½ paid holidays.

*401k with match.

*Company paid life insurance benefit.

*Disability insurance.

*Aflac insurance.

*Lifelock insurance.

*MetLaw legal assistance.

*Employee assistance program.

*Flexible spending.

*Dependent care.

*Educational assistance.

*Employee stock purchase plan.

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