New

Sr. Cost Accountant

Vaco
$100,000.00 - $120,000.00 / yr
401(k), retirement plan
United States, North Carolina, Concord
Dec 17, 2025
Senior Cost & Inventory Accounting Specialist Location: Charlotte Metro Area Department: Corporate Finance Position Overview This role is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of product costing and inventory valuation across a high-volume production environment. The Senior Cost & Inventory Accounting Specialist acts as a financial partner to operations, providing clear visibility into material flows, manufacturing performance, and cost drivers. This individual plays a key part in the month-end close, supports leadership with meaningful analysis, and helps strengthen the company's internal processes as the business continues to scale. Primary Responsibilities Inventory & Cost Management Maintain accurate records for raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods, ensuring all inventory activity is properly recorded and reconciled. Verify the integrity of cost layers, labor rates, and overhead allocations used in product costing. Update and maintain cost models to reflect changes in purchasing strategies, production processes, or operational assumptions. Monthly Close & Reconciliations Prepare journal entries and supporting documentation related to inventory and manufacturing costs as part of the monthly close process. Reconcile inventory subledgers and operational reports to the general ledger, investigating and resolving variances in a timely manner. Support cost roll-ups and analyze month-over-month changes in material and manufacturing costs. Cost Analysis & Operational Support Analyze variances between standard and actual production costs, identifying key drivers and trends. Evaluate pricing changes, material usage, and manufacturing efficiency metrics to provide actionable insights to operations and finance leadership. Monitor excess, obsolete, or slow-moving inventory and recommend appropriate reserves or write-downs. Physical Inventory & Controls Participate in physical inventory counts and cycle count programs, ensuring accurate execution and reconciliation of results. Evaluate inventory-related internal controls and confirm compliance with established policies and procedures. Collaborate with warehouse and production teams to resolve discrepancies and promote best practices. Reporting & Business Insights Develop and maintain management reporting related to inventory levels, cost trends, risks, and improvement opportunities. Communicate clearly with finance and operational leaders regarding inventory performance and cost behavior. Support internal and external audits by providing timely analysis and supporting documentation. Process Improvement & Systems Identify opportunities to improve inventory and costing workflows and recommend practical process enhancements. Assist with ERP system enhancements and reporting tool improvements to increase data accuracy and visibility. Contribute to longer-term initiatives focused on improving costing methodologies and operational efficiency. Qualifications Required Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. 5-7+ years of experience in cost or inventory accounting within a manufacturing or production environment. Strong knowledge of product costing, inventory valuation methods, and cost analysis. Experience working within ERP systems, including complex inventory and costing modules. Advanced spreadsheet skills with the ability to analyze both financial and operational data. High attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and consistent follow-through. Preferred Experience in multi-step manufacturing or complex inventory environments. Exposure to process improvement methodologies such as LEAN or continuous improvement. Experience supporting audits or working within internal control frameworks. Familiarity with data visualization or business intelligence tools. Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual's skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products. Vaco by Highspring values a diverse workplace and strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, foreign-born residents, and veterans to apply. EEO Notice Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law. Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact HR@vaco.com . Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal. By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal. Privacy Notice Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies. California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here. Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here. Residents of all other states may access our policies here. Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here. Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here. Pay Transparency Notice Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to: the individual's skill sets, experience and training; licensure and certification requirements; office location and other geographic considerations; other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.