Inventory & Cost Accountant

Description

Dan-O's Seasoning is seeking an Inventory & Cost Accountant to serve as a key link between Accounting, Operations, and Supply Chain. This role is responsible for maintaining accurate inventory costing, supporting inventory accounting processes, and helping ensure cost of goods sold is accurately reflected in the company's financial reporting.

The Inventory & Cost Accountant will work closely with Operations and Supply Chain to understand changes impacting product costs and inventory while partnering with Accounting to ensure those activities are properly captured and reflected in financial records. This position plays an important role in maintaining visibility into product costs, inventory balances, and gross margin performance as the business continues to grow.

This is a hands-on accounting role ideal for someone who enjoys working with both financial data and operational information in a fast-paced, inventory-driven environment.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities

Inventory Accounting & Reconciliations

• Support monthly inventory accounting and reconciliation processes
• Investigate inventory variances and partner with Operations to identify root causes
• Assist with inventory adjustments, reserve analysis, and inventory-related journal entries
• Support physical inventory counts and cycle count review processes
• Ensure inventory transactions are accurately reflected in financial records
• Maintain supporting schedules and documentation for inventory-related accounts

Product Costing & COGS

• Maintain and update SKU-level cost information using inputs from Operations and Supply Chain
• Ensure ingredient, packaging, freight, co-manufacturing, and other cost components are accurately captured
• Support ongoing maintenance of product costing methodologies
• Assist with COGS reconciliations and variance analysis
• Investigate and explain significant changes in product costs and gross margin performance
• Help maintain accurate cost assumptions across the product portfolio

Cross-Functional Partnership

• Serve as a primary accounting partner to Operations and Supply Chain on inventory and costing matters
• Collaborate with Operations to understand operational changes impacting product costs
• Work with Accounting leadership to ensure inventory and COGS are accurately reported
• Assist in identifying and resolving discrepancies between operational and financial records
• Support communication between departments regarding inventory, costing, and margin-related issues

Gross Margin & Reporting

• Prepare and maintain SKU-level margin reporting
• Support analysis of profitability drivers and cost trends
• Assist with reporting related to inventory valuation and product costs
• Support month-end and year-end close activities related to inventory and COGS
• Provide ad hoc reporting and analysis as requested

New Product Costing

• Assist with cost estimates for new product launches
• Support maintenance of cost assumptions for new and existing SKUs
• Compare actual costs to initial assumptions and identify significant variances
• Help maintain visibility into expected product margins

Process Improvement

• Support ongoing improvements to costing, inventory, and reporting processes
• Identify opportunities to improve data accuracy and reduce manual effort
• Assist with implementation of new reporting and operational processes as needed

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• 3+ years of accounting experience
• Experience working in an inventory-based, manufacturing, distribution, logistics, construction, or similar operational environment
• Strong understanding of accounting principles and month-end close processes
• Experience performing account reconciliations and journal entries
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
• Experience working with ERP or accounting systems
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities

Preferred

• Experience with inventory accounting, cost accounting, or COGS reporting
• Experience in consumer packaged goods (CPG), food manufacturing, manufacturing, or distribution
• Experience supporting inventory reconciliations and inventory valuation
• Experience working closely with Operations or Supply Chain teams
• Understanding of product costing and gross margin analysis

What Success Looks Like

• Inventory balances and cost data are accurate and reliable
• Inventory and COGS-related reconciliations are completed accurately and on time
• Operational changes are appropriately reflected in product costing and financial reporting
• Inventory variances are identified and resolved promptly
• Leadership has confidence in inventory, costing, and margin-related reporting
• Accounting and Operations maintain strong alignment on inventory and product cost information