Financial Cost Analyst Jobs in Shell Rock, IA (NOW HIRING)

Cost Accountant

Location: Waverly, Iowa

Salary: $85,000–$115,000 per year

Job Type: Full-Time

Are you an experienced Cost Accountant with a strong manufacturing background? We're looking for a detail-oriented accounting professional to join our team in Waverly, Iowa. This role offers the opportunity to work closely with Finance and Operations leadership while supporting cost analysis, inventory, financial reporting, and manufacturing performance.

If you have 5+ years of accounting/finance experience, cost accounting expertise, and strong ERP experience, we'd love to hear from you.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Cost Accountant to join our accounting and finance team in Waverly, Iowa. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in cost accounting within a manufacturing environment, along with hands-on experience working with ERP systems.

The Cost Accountant will be responsible for analyzing gross profit margins, supporting financial reporting and month-end close activities, balancing inventory, analyzing manufacturing costs and variances, and providing valuable financial data to support operational decision-making.

This position will work closely with the Corporate Controller, CFO, Finance team, and manufacturing operations to manage company costs, develop cost standards, assist with budgeting, and identify opportunities for improved financial and operational performance.

Key Responsibilities

Assist with month-end and year-end financial close activities, including inventory balancing, transfers, variances, and related journal entries.

Calculate and analyze gross profit margins and report results to Finance and Operations leadership.

Partner with manufacturing plants on cycle count processes, labor and overhead rates, bills of materials (BOMs), and routings.

Apply cost accounting and cost analysis principles to inventory management, gross profit analysis, and financial reporting.

Analyze manufacturing costs, labor absorption, and variances to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.

Assist in calculating work center rates for manufacturing facilities.

Review completed shop orders and investigate significant cost variances, including identifying potential process improvements.

Perform the annual cost roll process, including year-over-year and cost-change analysis, as well as additional cost roll activities as needed.

Support budgeting, cost standards, and operational cost analysis.

Provide financial and cost-related data to support business decisions.

Assist with special projects, reporting, and analysis as assigned.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; Accounting preferred.

5+ years of accounting and/or finance experience.

Manufacturing industry experience required.

Cost accounting experience required.

Strong understanding of manufacturing cost accounting, inventory, labor, overhead, and variance analysis.

Experience working with ERP systems; experience with SAP, Deacom, NetSuite, Epicor, or similar platforms preferred.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, Teams, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

Knowledge of QuickBooks preferred.

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.

Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Demonstrated ability to provide effective internal and external customer service.

Proactive self-starter who can work independently and collaboratively.

Ability to prioritize multiple projects and responsibilities while adapting to changing priorities and deadlines.

What We're Looking For

The successful candidate will be a detail-oriented and analytical accounting professional who understands how cost accounting impacts manufacturing operations and profitability. This individual should be comfortable working with ERP systems, analyzing financial and operational data, partnering with plant personnel, and communicating findings to Finance and Operations teams.