Senior Cost Accountant

AMETEK · Bedford

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The Senior Cost Accountant is responsible for leading and managing cost accounting activities while supporting key financial responsibilities within the business unit. This role maintains a cost control environment that complies with internal control policies and Sarbanes-Oxley requirements, provides financial analysis, investigates variances and anomalies, and supports operational and strategic decision-making through accurate costing and reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Cost Accounting & Manufacturing Finance

• Apply finance and cost accounting principles to financial and operational planning, reporting, and analysis.
• Maintain the manufacturing plant's cost accounting systems, cost controls, and data integrity.
• Coordinate, administer, and analyze manufacturing operations, including: sales and cost of sales analysis, labor reporting, product costing, material usage variance analysis, inventory adjustments used for pricing reviews
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of cost flows, including machine and labor hours, overhead allocations, and material costs to ensure proper costing.

Inventory Management & Controls

• Lead the planning, coordination, execution, and analysis of physical inventory activities.
• Reconcile financial inventory records to perpetual inventory records on a monthly basis.
• Coordinate inventory processes across production departments, outside stockrooms, and vendors.
• Oversee and manage the annual Fixed Asset Physical Inventory process and annual 4-Wall Inventory.
• Review, analyze, and report on: inventory levels, inventory reserves, including excess and obsolete (E&O) inventory, slow-moving inventory, obsolete inventory, scrap activity, intercompany transfers
• Monitor cycle count performance and compliance with corporate cycle count procedures.
• Issue monthly cycle count reports and analysis.

Standard Costing

• Ensure accurate product costing through review of bills of materials (BOMs), overhead rates, routings, and related cost drivers.
• Review and load material standard costs into the ERP system.
• Perform assembly cost rollups.
• Analyze cost changes, margin impacts, and inventory valuation adjustments.
• Conduct make-versus-buy analyses.
• Execute standard cost update processes.
• Develop and monitor labor and overhead rates by department and cost center.
• Partner with manufacturing engineering to ensure cost and rate accuracy.
• Review cost routings and BOMs for reasonableness and accuracy.
• Drive, prepare, and analyze information required for annual standard cost updates.
• Perform quarterly LIFO calculations and reporting.
• Review and close manufacturing work orders.

Variance Analysis & Reporting

• Analyze and validate monthly labor utilization and efficiency results.
• Review and investigate purchase price variances and material usage variances.
• Collaborate with marketing and purchasing to establish appropriate costs for new parts and assemblies.
• Prepare monthly manufacturing performance reports and analyze results against forecasts and budgets.
• Monitor weekly MMC reports for fluctuations, abnormalities, margin concerns, or other potential issues.
• Research and explain financial variances, anomalies, and operational performance trends.

Financial Accounting & Capital Management

• Prepare recurring monthly journal entries related to inventory, labor reporting, cost of sales, and other assigned areas.
• Complete account reconciliations supporting monthly journal entries.
• Track capital project spending and maintain the Capital Roll-forward.
• Create and monitor accounting for special projects.
• Assist in the preparation of annual operating and capital budgets.

Systems, Analytics & Process Improvement

• Develop computer-driven reports, dashboards, and operational metrics to support manufacturing and business operations.
• Analyze and interpret data to support decision-making and operational improvements.
• Identify and implement process improvements that enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness of cost accounting and financial reporting processes.
• Create, maintain, and update documentation for: cost accounting processes, internal controls, standard operating procedures, compliance and knowledge retention purposes

Collaboration, Compliance & Audit Support

• Work closely with manufacturing personnel, production planners, engineering, purchasing, and marketing teams.
• Support planning and scheduling efforts to improve inventory controls and internal programs.
• Assist with internal and external audits.
• Maintain compliance with company internal control requirements and SOX regulations.
• Perform ad hoc reporting, analysis, special projects, and other related duties as assigned.

Requirements 

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting.

• Minimum of 5 years of manufacturing cost accounting experience in a standard cost environment.
• Experience supporting manufacturing operations through costing, inventory management, and financial analysis.
• SOX Section 404 internal control assessment experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA designation or active CPA candidate strongly preferred.
• MBA or CMA is a plus.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central (formerly Navision) preferred.
• Experience with HFM preferred.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office with advanced Excel skills.
• Strong understanding of accounting principles and manufacturing cost accounting concepts.
• Excellent analytical and financial analysis capabilities.
• Ability to develop reports, dashboards, and metrics and interpret resulting data effectively.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to use AI tools to improve productivity, decision-making, work quality, and cost efficiency.
• Ability to identify appropriate AI use cases and critically evaluate AI-generated outputs.

Professional Skills

• Highly productive self-starter with a strong work ethic and commitment to excellence.
• Detail-oriented with strong accountability and the ability to produce accurate, timely work.
• Strong communication, presentation, leadership, interpersonal, planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively across functions and at all levels of the organization.
• Well organized, self-directed, and capable of managing multiple priorities.
• Team player with high energy and a collaborative approach.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Fluent English communication skills, both written and verbal.

About the Business Unit

Amptek, an AMETEK company, is a global leader in the design and manufacture of advanced X-ray and gamma-ray detection systems, X-ray sources, and analytical instrumentation. Its innovative technologies support a wide range of applications, including scientific research, industrial inspection, medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, and aerospace missions. As part of AMETEK, a worldwide provider of industrial technology solutions, Amptek combines cutting-edge innovation with a strong commitment to quality, customer collaboration, and continuous improvement. 

For more information, visit www.ametek.com/ and www.amptek.com

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