Senior Cost Accountant

Sr Cost Accountant

Aston Carter is partnering with a growing manufacturing organization in the Chattanooga, TN area to hire a Sr Cost Accountant responsible for leading all aspects of cost accounting, inventory valuation, and manufacturing financial analysis. This position serves as a critical business partner to Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Sourcing, and Executive Leadership by providing accurate cost information, profitability analysis, and financial insights that support strategic business decisions.

This role will own standard costing, manufacturing variance analysis, inventory accounting, and cost forecasting within a dynamic make-to-order and make-to-stock manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate will have a strong manufacturing accounting experience, advanced analytical skills, and the ability to translate financial data into actionable recommendations that improve operational performance and profitability. Candidates with experience in cost accounting, inventory management, manufacturing finance, or related accounting functions who are eager to contribute to a growing organization are encouraged to apply.

Position Summary

The Sr Cost Accountant is responsible for overseeing the cost accounting function for the manufacturing operation. This role manages standard costing, inventory valuation, manufacturing variance analysis, and cost-related reporting while partnering closely with operations and engineering teams to improve profitability and enhance financial visibility across the organization. The position plays a key role in budgeting, forecasting, inventory controls, pricing support, and strategic decision-making.

Job Responsibilities

• Own and maintain standard costs, including material, labor, and overhead rates.

• Lead annual standard cost updates and periodic cost reviews to ensure accurate product costing.

• Maintain the integrity of bills of material (BOMs) and routings in partnership with Engineering and Operations.

• Investigate and resolve product cost discrepancies and system inaccuracies.

• Manage month-end close responsibilities related to inventory and cost of goods sold, including journal entries, reconciliations, and account analysis.

• Analyze and report manufacturing variances, including purchase price, material usage, labor efficiency, and overhead absorption variances.

• Identify root causes of variances and provide recommendations for corrective action and process improvements.

• Reconcile and validate raw material, work-in-process, and finished goods inventory balances.

• Support inventory reserve analysis and ensure appropriate accounting treatment for excess and obsolete inventory.

• Participate in and support physical inventories and cycle count programs while helping strengthen inventory controls.

• Prepare product line, customer, and job-level profitability analysis to support pricing and business decisions.

• Develop gross margin reporting, bridge analysis, and trend analysis for leadership review.

• Model cost scenarios related to engineering changes, sourcing decisions, and supplier changes to evaluate financial impact.

• Partner with manufacturing leadership to identify cost reduction opportunities and quantify savings initiatives.

• Assist with budgeting and forecasting activities related to inventory, cost of goods sold, and gross margin.

• Provide financial analysis and support for capital expenditure projects and operational investments.

• Serve as the primary finance resource for Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Sourcing regarding cost-related matters.

• Support internal and external audits by providing financial analysis, inventory support, and required documentation.

• Develop and maintain reporting tools, dashboards, and performance metrics that provide timely visibility into manufacturing costs and profitability.

• Utilize ERP and financial systems to manage cost data, analyze performance trends, and support business initiatives.

• Build strong relationships with cross-functional teams and communicate financial information effectively to both financial and non-financial stakeholders.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.

• Five or more years of accounting experience, including cost accounting within a manufacturing environment.

• Strong understanding of standard costing methodologies, inventory accounting, and manufacturing variance analysis.

• Working knowledge of U.S. GAAP, particularly as it relates to inventory valuation and cost of goods sold.

• Experience working with ERP/MRP systems and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and work independently with minimal supervision.

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present financial information clearly and effectively.

• High level of attention to detail and accuracy.

• Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and build strong working relationships.

• Comfortable spending time on the manufacturing floor to understand operational processes and validate costing assumptions.

• Team-oriented mindset with a commitment to continuous improvement and operational excellence.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in make-to-order, engineer-to-order, or custom manufacturing environments.

• Familiarity with BOM structures, routing methodologies, and shop-floor data collection processes.

• Experience accounting for duty, tariff, and import-related costs.

• ERP implementation, conversion, or system migration experience.

• CPA, CMA, or progress toward professional certification preferred.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Chattanooga, TN.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $27.00 - $30.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Workplace Type

This is a fully onsite position in Chattanooga,TN.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 18, 2026.

About Aston Carter

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on click.appcast.io (%View email address on click.appcast.io) for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.