Operations Accounting Manager Jobs in Chicago, IL

Join Reynolds Consumer Products...and Drive Your Career across a world of opportunities! We are passionate about achieving results and have fun winning as a team!

We provide amazing job opportunities for growth with competitive pay and benefits in an exciting, dynamic, fast-paced, and fun workplace environment. Are you looking to build a strong career? Then we have an opportunity for you! We currently have an opportunity for a Senior Manager, Operations Accounting at our Corporate Headquarters in Lake Forest, IL.

Your Role: 

The Senior Manager, Operations Accounting plays a critical leadership role within Corporate Finance, responsible for ensuring accurate, insightful, and forward-looking accounting and financial reporting across manufacturing operations. This role goes beyond traditional cost accounting oversight-serving as a catalyst for continuous improvement, intellectual curiosity, and technology-enabled efficiency across operations accounting processes.

The ideal candidate is a strong problem solver who asks the right questions, challenges legacy approaches, and applies data, systems, and emerging technologies to improve transparency, controls, and decision-making. This leader partners closely with Operations, Business Unit Finance, Supply Chain, and IT to translate complex manufacturing and cost data into actionable insights.

You Will Have the Opportunity To Make Great Things Happen!

Operational & Technical Accounting Leadership

• Oversee operations accounting activities including standard costing, inventory valuation, cost of sales, and manufacturing variances (materials, labor, and overhead).
• Ensure accurate and timely financial close, reconciliations, and analysis in compliance with U.S. GAAP.
• Provide high-quality schedules, analyses, and explanations to support internal and external reporting requirements.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on standard costing methodologies and manufacturing accounting.

Problem Solving & Continuous Improvement (Most Valuable Behaviors)

• Demonstrate intellectual curiosity by deeply understanding end-to-end manufacturing and costing processes and continuously seeking opportunities to improve them.
• Lead complex problem-solving efforts related to cost transparency, inventory accuracy, and operational performance.
• Challenge assumptions and legacy processes using data-driven analysis and critical thinking.
• Identify root causes of variances and inefficiencies and partner with stakeholders to drive sustainable solutions.

Technology & Process Innovation

• Drive the application of technology to improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability of operations accounting processes.
• Lead enhancements and optimizations within SAP (ECC/S/4), including cost objects, allocations, variance reporting, and inventory controls.
• Leverage advanced Excel, reporting tools, and analytics platforms (e.g., SAP reporting, Power BI, or similar) to automate analysis and improve insight.
• Partner with IT and Finance Transformation teams on system upgrades, process redesigns, and data governance initiatives.

Business Partnership

• Collaborate with Business Unit Finance and Operations leaders to explain manufacturing costs, trends, and drivers in a clear and actionable manner.
• Support decision-making through scenario analysis, cost modeling, and operational insights.
• Inluence outcomes through strong communication, credibility, and fact-based recommendations.

People Leadership

• Lead, develop, and mentor a team of operations accounting professionals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and learning.
• Model curiosity, collaboration, and adaptability while holding high standards for quality and results.

What Success Looks Like

• Clear, reliable, and timely visibility into manufacturing costs and inventory.
• Reduced manual effort and improved efficiency through automation and process simplification.
• Strong partnership with Operations and Finance stakeholders who rely on your insights.
• A high-performing team that continuously improves skills, processes, and outcomes.

Education

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance required.
• MBA or other advanced degree preferred.
• CPA or CMA strongly preferred.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including significant cost and/or plant accounting.
• 5+ years of people leadership experience with a proven ability to develop and retain talent.
• Hands-on experience in complex manufacturing environments.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Deep understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, and cost of sales under U.S. GAAP.
• Strong systems aptitude with experience in large ERP environments (SAP strongly preferred).
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to synthesize complex data into clear conclusions.
• Demonstrated ability to apply technology and automation to improve finance processes.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across all organizational levels.
• Self-directed, adaptable, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Most Valuable Behaviors (MVBs)

• Intellectual Curiosity: Seeks to understand the "why" behind results, systems, and processes.
• Problem Solving: Approaches ambiguity with structure, logic, and persistence.
• Continuous Improvement: Regularly challenges the status quo and drives meaningful change.
• Technology Mindset: Embraces digital tools, automation, and data to improve outcomes.
• Ownership & Accountability: Takes responsibility for results and follows through on commitments.

Want to know more? Check out our website or connect with us on LinkedIn!

Apply today to join a fast-growing innovative company!

Not a good fit but know someone who is? Please refer them!

Local candidates only, no relocation assistance available

Join Reynolds Consumer Products and Drive Your Career across a world of opportunities!

For applicants or employees who are disabled or require a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, you may request assistance by emailing us at Recruitment@ReynoldsBrands.com.

No recruiter calls or emails please.

RCP affords equal employment opportunities to applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, disability status, sex, marital status, protected veteran status, pregnancy, national origin, genetics, genetic information, parental status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. RCP conforms to the spirit as well as to the letter of all applicable laws and regulations.