Description
Senior Accountant - Manufacturing
Position Summary
We are seeking a highly skilled Senior Accountant to support our manufacturing operations by ensuring accurate financial reporting, strong cost accounting oversight, and effective financial controls. This role plays a key part in month-end close, inventory and cost accounting, tax compliance activities, and financial analysis that supports production, operations, and leadership decision-making. The ideal candidate has manufacturing accounting experience and strong analytical skills.
Key Responsibilities
General & Financial Accounting
- Manage general ledger activities including journal entries, accruals, reconciliations, and variance analysis.
- Lead month-end and year-end closing processes to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting.
- Prepare and analyze financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
Manufacturing & Cost Accounting
- Maintain and analyze standard costs, bills of materials (BOMs), and routings.
- Monitor inventory transactions and maintain accurate reporting for raw materials, WIP, and finished goods.
- Conduct manufacturing variance analysis, including PPV, labor and overhead absorption, scrap, and cycle counts.
- Support product costing, margin analysis, and cost improvement initiatives.
Tax Accounting & Compliance
- Prepare and file sales and use tax returns, property tax filings, and other required state/local tax documents.
- Ensure manufacturing-related tax compliance, including exemption certificates, resale certificates, and vendor documentation.
- Assist with federal and state income tax preparation and supporting schedules.
- Maintain tax records, reconcile tax accounts, and ensure timely payments.
- Monitor tax law changes that may impact manufacturing operations, inventory valuation, or capital expenditures.
- Coordinate with external tax advisors as needed.
Operational & Cross-Functional Support
- Partner with plant leadership, supply chain, and operations to interpret financial results and support decision-making.
- Assist with annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting, and production-related financial modeling.
- Identify opportunities to improve processes, internal controls, and reporting efficiencies.
Audit & Compliance
- Support external audits by preparing schedules and responding to auditor inquiries.
- Participate in inventory audits and physical counts.
- Ensure compliance with internal controls, company policies, and accounting standards.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- Minimum of two (2) years of accounting experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
- Solid understanding of GAAP and foundational tax principles.
- Proficiency with ERP/accounting systems and Microsoft Excel.
- Strong analytical skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
- Effective communication skills and ability to work cross-functionally.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with cost accounting or manufacturing finance.
- Exposure to tax accounting (sales/use tax, property tax, income tax support).
- CPA or CMA certification (or progress toward certification).
- Experience with manufacturing ERP systems (Infor XA, Syteline, JD Edwards).
Working Conditions
- Full-time position with standard business hours.
- Occasional extended hours during month-end close, audit periods, or tax deadlines.
- Regular interaction with plant and operations teams.