Cost Accounting Manager

Job Description

Job Description

We are looking for an experienced Cost Accounting Manager to lead plant-focused financial analysis and cost oversight for a multi-site manufacturing environment in Charleston, Illinois. This role partners closely with operations leadership to improve cost visibility, strengthen inventory accuracy, and support sound business decisions across production facilities. The ideal candidate brings deep knowledge of manufacturing accounting, a strong command of standard costing, and the ability to translate complex financial data into practical operational insight.

Responsibilities:
• Direct cost accounting activities for multiple manufacturing locations, ensuring consistent practices, accurate reporting, and alignment with company financial policies.
• Act as a key business partner to plant and operations leaders by interpreting cost trends, explaining variances, and identifying opportunities to improve financial performance.
• Travel to operating sites to review plant results, confirm inventory records, and build strong coordination between finance and manufacturing teams.
• Maintain and refine standard costing structures, including product costing inputs, bills of materials accuracy, labor assumptions, overhead calculations, and cost rollups.
• Lead recurring month-end cost reviews by evaluating manufacturing variances related to material usage, labor performance, and overhead absorption.
• Work with operations, supply chain, and production teams to assess scrap, yield, cycle time, and other drivers that influence manufacturing efficiency and profitability.
• Oversee inventory valuation and control processes, including cycle count programs and physical inventory activities, while reinforcing strong controls over raw materials, work in process, and finished goods.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, capital analysis, product profitability reviews, and reporting improvements, including data quality and system-related enhancements tied to manufacturing finance.
• Partner with engineering and product development teams to estimate costs for new products and evaluate the financial effects of production methods, energy usage, batch variation, and kiln performance within refractory manufacturing.• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
• At least 7 years of progressive experience in cost accounting or financial analysis within a manufacturing setting.
• Demonstrated success supporting financial operations across more than one manufacturing site.
• Prior experience leading or supervising team members in an accounting or finance function.
• Strong expertise in standard costing, variance analysis, inventory accounting, and manufacturing performance measurement.
• Background in refractories, ceramics, minerals, or other heavy industrial manufacturing environments is strongly preferred.
• Proficiency with ERP platforms such as SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, or comparable systems.
• Ability to communicate effectively across finance, operations, supply chain, and engineering teams, with willingness to travel regularly to plant locations.