Cost Accountant Manager

Job Description: Position Summary The Cost Accounting Manager is responsible for owning and governing inventory and cost accounting policies across a multi‑plant manufacturing network. This role establishes and enforces standard costing methodologies, inventory controls, and plant‑level procedures to ensure accurate product costing, consistent policy application, and strong audit readiness across all manufacturing locations. Key Responsibilities Standard Costing Ownership (Multi‑Plant) Own the company’s standard costing framework across all manufacturing plants, ensuring consistent application and governance. Establish and maintain policies related to: Standard cost development, roll‑ups, and annual updates Bill of materials (BOM) and routing integrity Labor and overhead rate setting and absorption Inter‑plant costing consistency and transfer pricing treatment Review and approve standard cost changes, ensuring appropriate documentation, approvals, and system controls. Ensure standard costing policies are embedded consistently within ERP and manufacturing systems at all sites. Inventory Policy & Procedure Governance Develop, document, and maintain inventory accounting policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) applicable across a multi‑plant manufacturing environment. Define clear standards for: Raw materials, WIP, and finished goods accounting Production reporting, backflushing, and WIP cut‑off Scrap, rework, and yield accounting Obsolescence, excess, and slow‑moving inventory reserves Inventory adjustments, write‑offs, and inter‑plant transfers Act as the authoritative owner of inventory and cost accounting policy interpretation. Monitoring & Plant‑Level Compliance Monitor ongoing compliance with inventory and costing policies across all manufacturing locations. Review plant‑level inventory transactions, usage, adjustments, and variances to ensure adherence to established standards. Analyze material, labor, overhead, scrap, and yield variances to identify policy gaps, control issues, or execution weaknesses. Establish and track key performance and control metrics, including: Inventory accuracy and adjustment trends Cycle count effectiveness Variance thresholds and escalation compliance Reserve adequacy and consistency across plants Audit & Internal Controls Plan and perform periodic internal audits of inventory and cost accounting processes at manufacturing plants. Lead oversight of: Physical inventory observations and reconciliations Cycle count process design and execution Standard cost integrity (BOMs, routings, rates) WIP accuracy and period‑end cut‑off controls Serve as the primary finance liaison for internal and external audits related to inventory and manufacturing costs. Drive root‑cause analysis and corrective action plans for audit findings and control deficiencies. Cross‑Functional Leadership & Training Partner closely with Plant Controllers, Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and IT to enforce costing and inventory standards. Train plant finance and operational teams on standard costing methodology, inventory policies, and control expectations. Support new plant implementations, ERP rollouts, and manufacturing changes by ensuring inventory controls and costing standards are established upfront. Provide expert guidance on cost accounting treatment for new products, processes, and plant initiatives. Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field 7+ years of cost accounting experience in a multi‑plant manufacturing environment Deep expertise in standard costing, WIP accounting, and manufacturing inventory controls Proven experience developing and enforcing accounting policies and procedures Strong internal audit, compliance, or SOX control experience related to inventory Preferred CPA, CMA, or equivalent professional certification Experience supporting ERP environments (e.g., SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, NetSuite) Prior involvement in plant startups, acquisitions, or system conversions Key Competencies Enterprise‑level standard costing governance Strong internal control and compliance mindset Ability to balance operational partnership with policy enforcement Excellent analytical, documentation, and training skills Comfort working across multiple plants and senior plant leadership Travel Travel up to 50% as required Company Benefits: • 2 Medical Plan Options - Base HSA (High Deductible) and Buy-Up Medical Plans • Prescription (Rx) Insurance • Health Savings Account (HSA) • 2 Dental Plan Options - Base Dental and Buy-Up Dental Plans • Vision Insurance • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA’s) • Health Care FSA • Dependent Care FSA • Company Paid Base Life Insurance • Company Paid Accident, Death & Dismemberment Insurance • Company Paid Business Travel Accident Insurance • Company Paid Disability Insurance ▪ Short-Term Disability (STD) and Base Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance • Employee Assistance Program (EAP) • Voluntary Hospital, Accident & Critical Illness (Cancer) Insurance • 401(K) Retirement Plan with 50% Company Match • Voluntary Pet Insurance • Vacation and Personal/Sick Time • Paid Grandparent Leave • Paid Bonding Leave • Adoption Assistance • Education Assistance (Tuition Reimbursement) About Wastequip Wastequip got its start in 1989 with containers and compactors. But, today, we have evolved into so much more than just a manufacturer of high-quality steel containers and compactors. We are the waste industry’s only All-in-One solutions provider – from carts and containers to collect waste to hoists and trash trucks to move the waste to parts, service and technology to keep your operation running smoothly. While we’re proud to be North America’s leading manufacturer of waste handling equipment, we are equally proud to be a driving force for enhanced sustainability across the waste industry. We are consistently striving to improve our own operations while making it easier for our customers to do the right thing – building a brighter future for all. Join North America’s Largest Manufacturer of Waste Handling Systems! At Wastequip, we’re more than just a manufacturer—we’re the only all-in-one solutions provider in the waste industry. From carts and containers to hoists, trucks, parts, service, and cutting-edge technology, we power the entire waste management process. As North America’s leading waste-handling equipment manufacturer, we’re not just shaping the industry—we’re driving innovation and sustainability. With continuous growth and new opportunities, Wastequip is the perfect place to build a rewarding career and make a real impact. Come be part of a team that’s shaping the future of waste management! So Many Reasons to Join the Wastequip Team Wastequip strives to attract top talent through a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision plans. Here’s a brief overview of our benefits: Health Care. Our health care benefits include medical, dental and vision plans for all regular, full-time employees. Short- and Long-Term Disability. Wastequip pays for non-occupational illnesses and injuries at no cost to employees. This benefit is available to all regular, full-time employees. 401k Retirement Plan. Employees can contribute a percentage of their weekly gross wages, up to the annual IRS maximum, and Wastequip will provide a company match. Paid Time Off (PTO). Wastequip offers a flexible approach to time off. Our policy allows employees to set their own priorities and receive regular pay for vacation, illness, family emergencies, personal time, inclement weather, personally observed holidays and more. Holidays. Wastequip observes 10 paid company holidays during each calendar year. Tuition Reimbursement. Wastequip understands the importance of personal and professional development and encourages employees to continue their professional education. To support employee career development, we have established a reimbursement program that covers expenses for approved coursework. Wastequip’s internship program provides students and recent graduates with incredible career-related experiences. We strive to give our interns transferrable skills, networking opportunities and strong professional portfolios. We offer paid summer internships in the following departments: Research Marketing IT Operations Human Resources ... and more Wastequip is committed to developing our employees. We provide each individual with the resources and support necessary to grow personally and professionally. Our career growth tools include company training, off-site classes, cross-divisional experiences, collaborative projects and more. We offer our employees the opportunity to share their creativity in an open environment and encourage them to offer new ideas to improve efficiency, effectiveness and profitability in every area of the company. Because we invest in our employees, Wastequip is committed to promoting from within and identifying future leaders from our own workforce. Wastequip actively supports charitable activities across all divisions through employee time, monetary and product donations. Each division has the flexibility to identify and support the charitable causes that are most important to the employees and the communities in which they work. Employee-designed volunteer and charitable programs have a huge impact on smaller communities and organizations that might otherwise be overlooked. Our employees have participated in the following charitable activities: Community cleanups Charity runs/walks Local food bank donations School supplies donations Wastequip is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to diversity and inclusion in our workforce. All qualified applicants and employees are considered and evaluated for employment without regarding to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, military status, or any other class protected by applicable law. Wastequip will provide reasonable accommodations to allow an applicant to participate in the hiring process if requested.