Cost Accountant

We are looking for a detail-oriented Cost Accountant to join our team in Lancaster, New York. This role focuses on strengthening manufacturing cost visibility, supporting inventory accuracy, and delivering financial insights that help improve operational performance. The ideal candidate will work closely with finance and operations leaders to evaluate results, explain cost drivers, and help guide practical process improvements.

Responsibilities:
• Analyze standard costing results across inventory, production activity, and plant performance to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
• Coordinate annual standard cost updates in partnership with cross-functional teams to ensure accurate product costing.
• Review manufacturing and operational results, translate findings into actionable recommendations, and support follow-through on corrective measures.
• Collaborate with plant and management teams to better understand production performance and enhance cost efficiency.
• Maintain costing data, including product structures and routing information, to support reliable financial reporting and operational analysis.
• Reconcile inventory-related accounts and manufacturing variances while working with operations to reduce inefficiencies and improve absorption performance.
• Prepare accounting entries related to inventory activity, reserves, and period-end accruals with a high level of accuracy.
• Investigate labor, overhead, and purchase price variances and communicate key drivers and conclusions to leadership.
• Support physical inventory activities and cycle count programs while partnering with operations to improve inventory accuracy and costing processes.
• Assist management with internal control activities, including testing, documentation, and ongoing compliance support.

Qualifications:

• Experience in cost accounting within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong working knowledge of standard costing principles, inventory valuation, and manufacturing variance analysis.
• Ability to evaluate labor, overhead, and material cost performance and explain findings clearly to stakeholders.
• Proficiency in account reconciliations, journal entry preparation, and month-end costing activities.
• Skilled at partnering with operations and finance teams to improve processes and support business decisions.
• Familiarity with bills of materials, routing structures, and production cost drivers.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with close attention to detail.

Compensation

$90,000.00-$100,000.00 Yearly

About Us

Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles.

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All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan. Visit roberthalf.gobenefits.net for more information.

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