Cost Accountant
Location: Orlando, FL 32824 (Near Orlando International Airport)
Schedule: Monday – Friday | Flexible Start Time (7:00 AM – 9:00 AM)
Compensation: $85,000 – $100,000 + Comprehensive Benefits
Employment Type: Direct Hire
Work Environment: Fully Onsite
Why This Opportunity?
We are seeking an experienced Cost Accountant to join a growing manufacturing organization. This is an excellent opportunity for an accounting professional who enjoys being hands-on with inventory, manufacturing operations, and cost analysis while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Unlike many manufacturing accounting roles, this position offers a true 40-hour work week with no regular after-hours expectations. The company operates on a 5-day monthly close process, eliminating the excessive overtime often associated with month-end and year-end close activities.
This role reports directly to the Controller and serves as a key contributor within the Finance and Accounting team.
What You'll Be Doing
Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Analysis
- Analyze manufacturing costs including raw materials, labor, and overhead
- Prepare cost analysis, gross margin reports, and manufacturing KPI reporting
- Review job cost variance reports and identify efficiency opportunities
- Monitor inventory shrinkage, scrap, and obsolescence trends
- Track direct and indirect labor hours by manufacturing job and work center
- Collaborate with production and engineering teams to maintain accurate Bills of Material (BOMs)
- Support cost reduction and process improvement initiatives
- Review capital expenditure requests and evaluate financial impact
- Assist with annual overhead rate calculations
Inventory Management
- Monitor inventory levels, valuation, and accuracy
- Reconcile physical inventory counts and investigate discrepancies
- Support and oversee cycle count programs and inventory compliance
- Analyze inventory turnover and days-of-supply metrics
- Reconcile off-site warehouse and Amazon inventory activity
- Support annual physical inventory processes
- Maintain inventory-related ERP system data and controls
Financial Planning & Forecasting
- Assist with budgeting and forecasting related to manufacturing costs and cost of goods sold
- Support labor planning and manufacturing expense forecasting
- Assist with capital expenditure budgeting
- Develop inventory-related forecasting metrics, including shrinkage, scrap, and obsolescence
General Accounting Responsibilities
- Prepare monthly journal entries related to inventory and cost accounting
- Reconcile inventory-related general ledger accounts, including Raw Materials, WIP, and Finished Goods
- Maintain fixed asset records and depreciation schedules
- Support monthly business reviews and financial reporting
- Assist with annual audits and balance sheet reconciliations
What We're Looking For
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
- 3–5+ years of Cost Accounting experience within a manufacturing environment
- Strong understanding of inventory accounting and manufacturing cost structures
- Experience with ERP systems such as Infor Syteline, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or similar platforms
- Advanced Excel and financial analysis skills
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication abilities
- Ability to work independently while partnering with cross-functional teams
Manufacturing Experience is Required
Candidates must come from a manufacturing environment. Experience from banking, financial services, distribution, or inventory-only environments will not provide the necessary background for this role.
Successful candidates will have experience with concepts such as:
- Bill of Materials (BOM)
- Raw Materials, Work-in-Process (WIP), and Finished Goods
- Labor and Overhead Absorption
- Inventory Valuation
- Cycle Counting
- Manufacturing Variance Analysis
- Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)
What You'll Enjoy
- Competitive salary of $85,000 – $100,000
- Comprehensive benefits package
- Flexible start times
- Stable 40-hour work week
- No routine after-hours expectations
- Collaborative team environment
- Opportunity to make a direct impact on manufacturing operations and financial performance
If you're a manufacturing-focused Cost Accountant looking for a role that combines meaningful work, operational visibility, and exceptional work-life balance, we'd love to hear from you.