Financial Analyst / Cost Accountant

An established manufacturing facility in La Porte, Indiana is seeking a Cost Accountant to support plant financial operations and drive accurate cost accounting, inventory management, financial reporting, and operational analysis. This role partners closely with Finance, Operations, and Supply Chain teams to ensure accurate product costing, inventory valuation, variance analysis, budgeting, and forecasting activities.

The Cost Accountant will play a key role in monitoring manufacturing costs, maintaining standard costs, analyzing production variances, supporting month-end close activities, and providing financial insights to improve operational performance and profitability.

This role is on-site in La Porte, IN, 5 days/week.

Key Responsibilities:

Cost Accounting & Inventory Management

• Analyze and maintain manufacturing inventory costs and inventory valuation.
• Monitor inventory transactions and reconcile inventory accounts.
• Investigate and explain standard cost, labor, material, and overhead variances.
• Review and maintain standard cost structures, including periodic cost updates and revisions.
• Support cycle counts and physical inventory processes, including inventory reconciliation.
• Perform inventory reserve analysis and inventory accuracy reviews.

Financial Analysis & Reporting

• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly financial reports.
• Assist with monthly financial close activities, including journal entries and account reconciliations.
• Support preparation of monthly business review packages and management reporting.
• Analyze manufacturing performance and operational cost drivers.
• Respond to management requests for financial analysis and reporting.
• Provide detailed financial support for business planning and decision-making initiatives.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Assist in the preparation of annual budgets and periodic forecasts.
• Monitor operating expenses and provide variance analysis against budget and forecast.
• Support cost reduction initiatives through financial modeling and performance tracking.
• Partner with operations teams to identify opportunities for efficiency improvements and cost savings.

Fixed Assets & Capital Accounting

• Maintain fixed asset records and depreciation schedules.
• Administer capital expenditure tracking and reporting.
• Support fixed asset audits and physical asset verification activities.
• Monitor capital projects and ensure proper accounting treatment.

Process Improvement & Business Support

• Analyze business processes and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Conduct research, process mapping, observations, and data analysis to support operational enhancements.
• Develop financial models, reports, spreadsheets, and tools to improve productivity and decision-making.
• Prepare process documentation and support end-user training on financial systems and reporting tools.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve financial controls and operational effectiveness.

Compliance & Internal Controls

• Support adherence to internal accounting policies, procedures, and controls.
• Assist with internal and external audit requirements.
• Ensure compliance with applicable financial reporting standards and company policies.
• Promote a safe work environment and comply with all environmental, health, and safety requirements.

Qualifications:

Top Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, Finance, or a related field; Accounting or Finance concentration strongly preferred.
• 1-3+ years of cost accounting or finance experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and financial data analysis.
• Demonstrated experience with Cost Accounting, including standard costing, inventory accounting, and variance analysis.

Additional Requirements

• Strong understanding of manufacturing accounting principles and inventory valuation.
• Experience supporting month-end close, account reconciliations, and financial reporting activities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret financial data and provide actionable recommendations.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Authorization to work in the United States without current or future visa sponsorship.
• Ability to meet applicable export control requirements where required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing, aerospace, industrial, automotive, or other high-volume production environments.
• Experience with Tableau, Power BI, or other business intelligence/reporting tools.
• Experience working with ERP systems such as SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, QAD, or similar.
• Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes.
• Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
• High attention to detail and accuracy.
• Experience supporting audits, inventory counts, and fixed asset management.