Senior Cost Analyst

Position Type: Direct Hire/Full Time

Location: Robinson Township, PA

Work Arrangement: Hybrid; remote flexibility may be considered for qualified professionals residing outside the Pittsburgh area

Travel: Approximately 50% to manufacturing facilities

POSITION SUMMARY

Our client is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Analyst to support product costing, margin analysis, inventory management, and operational financial analysis across multiple manufacturing facilities.

This position will partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and plant leadership to improve cost visibility, strengthen inventory controls, identify margin improvement opportunities, and provide actionable financial insights to the business.

The Senior Cost Analyst will have significant interaction with manufacturing operations and will be expected to travel regularly to manufacturing facilities. The ideal candidate will bring strong manufacturing cost accounting experience, advanced analytical capabilities, and the ability to translate financial and operational data into recommendations that drive business performance.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop, maintain, and validate product costs, including material, labor, and manufacturing overhead.
• Analyze manufacturing cost variances, including material usage, labor efficiency, and overhead absorption, and provide actionable insights to Operations and Finance leadership.
• Support new product introductions, product changes, and manufacturing process improvements through accurate cost modeling and financial analysis.
• Partner with Operations and plant leadership to identify cost reduction and continuous improvement opportunities.
• Perform detailed margin and profitability analysis by product, customer, and manufacturing facility.
• Identify key drivers of margin improvement or erosion and communicate findings to business leaders.
• Support pricing decisions, profitability reviews, budgeting, forecasting, and other strategic initiatives through fact-based financial analysis.
• Prepare and present cost, margin, and operational performance analysis to management.
• Oversee and analyze inventory valuation, including raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods.
• Monitor inventory levels, turns, obsolescence, reserves, scrap, and other inventory-related metrics.
• Partner with Supply Chain and Operations to improve inventory accuracy, cycle counting, and physical inventory processes.
• Strengthen inventory controls and ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards and internal control requirements.
• Travel regularly to manufacturing facilities to understand production processes, validate cost drivers, and partner directly with operational teams.
• Collaborate with plant leadership to improve cost transparency, financial accountability, and operational decision-making.
• Support monthly close activities related to manufacturing costs, inventory, cost of goods sold, and related account reconciliations.
• Assist with process improvements designed to enhance the accuracy, timeliness, and usefulness of manufacturing financial information.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or a related discipline.
• Approximately 7–10 years of progressive cost accounting, cost analysis, or related financial experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong knowledge of standard costing, product costing, manufacturing variance analysis, inventory accounting, and cost of goods sold.
• Demonstrated experience partnering directly with manufacturing operations and plant leadership.
• Strong understanding of inventory management, including raw materials, work-in-process, finished goods, physical inventories, cycle counts, reserves, and obsolescence.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience working with ERP systems and manufacturing costing modules.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a high level of attention to detail.
• Ability to translate complex financial and operational data into clear, actionable business recommendations.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work effectively across Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and senior leadership.
• Hands-on, results-oriented approach with the ability to operate effectively in manufacturing and plant environments.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 50% to manufacturing facilities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• CPA, CMA, MBA, or other advanced professional certification or degree.
• Experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Experience improving cost accounting, inventory control, or manufacturing financial reporting processes.