Sr. Cost Accountant

Or client, a respected manufacturing company in Chicago's western suburbs, is looking for a Sr. Cost Accountant to join their team. This role offers great cross-functional exposure while focused on driving the accurate implementation and maintenance of standard costs across the business. Ideal candidates will possess a good understanding of standard cost development, as well as strong organizational and analytical skills. Duties/Responsibilities: Lead the cost accounting function by managing, refining and documenting the cost accounting process in collaboration with the Operational Accounting team. Develop and manage product costing methodologies, including labor and overhead rates, and ensure they are applied correctly and consistently. Own process of annual standard cost validation and updates Analyze inventory movement and valuation and provide information and recommendations on financial impacts related to changes in inventory Identify opportunities to streamline cost accounting processes and improve the efficiency, accuracy, and timeliness of financial reporting. Support budgeting and forecasting process by providing and validating accuracy of cost data Build estimates of new and proposed product costs and integrate with product pricing estimating process. Oversee month-end close related to production costing and inventory including the review of journal entries and focus on balance sheet reconciliations. Support operations personnel in their objectives to increase efficiency and reduce costs. Act as a liaison between finance and operations to quantify and drive understanding of impacts of operational changes to financial performance, especially as compared to standard cost Comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for financial statements. Other duties as requested. Required Skills/Abilities: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, engineering, analytics or related field 5-7 years of cost accounting experience in manufacturing environment with strong understanding of manufacturing process, inventory and cost methodology Experience developing and implementing standard costs Analytical thinker with strong conceptual and critical thinking skills Strong communication skills and comfort collaborating with operators across all levels of the organization with focus on building and fostering relationships In depth understanding of P&L and standard financial statements. Experience in developing and maintaining labor and overhead standards. Meticulous attention to detail with superb organizational skills. Ability to create and analyze data to help the business make decisions. Ability to work independently and as part of a team. Excellent report-writing skills. High proficiency in Microsoft Excel. Proficiency in ERP with strong ability to navigate subledger activity, reporting and other queries. Self-motivated and demonstrates initiative and strong work ethic