Job Description: Cost & Inventory Accountant – Entry Level

Department: Finance & Accounting
Reports To: Plant Controller
Location: Jesup, Georgia
Employment Type: Full-Time

Position Summary

The Cost & Inventory Accountant supports the Finance and Accounting team by maintaining accurate inventory records, assisting with manufacturing cost analysis, reconciling inventory transactions, and preparing financial and operational reports. This position works closely with Production, Warehouse, Purchasing, and Supply Chain teams to ensure inventory movements, material usage, production costs, and finished goods are accurately recorded.

This is an excellent opportunity for an entry-level accounting professional to develop expertise in manufacturing cost accounting, inventory management, financial reporting, and internal controls.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing Cost Accounting

Cost Accountants perform a range of tasks to ensure accurate cost analysis and financial oversight, which include:

· Cost Data Collection and Analysis: Gather and analyze expenses for raw materials, labor, shipping, and overhead. Develop and maintain cost accounting systems to track these expenses 

· Standard Cost Management: Set, review, and update standard costs of products or services, and 

· Budgeting and Forecasting: Assist management with budgeting, forecasting, and cost-related decision-making; prepare expense reports and financial projections 

· Reporting and Auditing: Prepare detailed reports on cost, profitability, and margins; participate in internal and external audits and maintain compliance with GAAP or other relevant standards 

· Process Improvement: Identify opportunities to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and optimize business operations; collaborate with non-financial departments for operational insights 

· Support for Management Decisions: Provide actionable insights on product pricing, cost reductions, and financial strategies; assist in evaluating new products, capital projects, and operational improvements

· Monitor Cost control measures to ensure that the organization operates efficiently and within budget constraints

Inventory Accounting & Reconciliation

• Maintain      accurate inventory records for raw materials, work-in-process, packaging      materials, and finished goods.
• Reconcile      inventory subledger balances to the general ledger and investigate      discrepancies.
• Assist with      cycle counts, physical inventory counts, and inventory adjustments.
• Review      inventory transactions, including receipts, transfers, production      consumption, finished goods, and shipments.
• Research      inventory variances and coordinate with Warehouse and Production teams to      identify root causes.
• Monitor      inventory adjustments, obsolete materials, damaged goods, and excess inventory.
• Help ensure      inventory transactions are recorded accurately and in a timely manner.

Reporting & Financial Analysis

• Prepare      recurring inventory, production cost, and variance reports.
• Maintain      spreadsheets and supporting schedules used for financial analysis.
• Assist with      gathering data for monthly financial statements, audits, and management      reports.
• Track key      performance indicators, including inventory accuracy, scrap rates, material usage, and production costs.
• Identify      unusual trends or inconsistencies and communicate findings to the      Accounting Manager.
• Maintain      organized documentation to support accounting entries, reconciliations, and audit requests.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Internal Controls

• Partner with      Production, Warehouse, Purchasing, and Supply Chain teams to validate      inventory and production data.
• Help improve      inventory tracking, transaction accuracy, and cost-reporting processes.
• Follow      established accounting procedures, company policies, and internal      controls.
• Maintain      confidentiality and integrity of financial and operational information.
• Perform      other accounting and analytical duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Required

• Associate      degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related      field; a bachelor's degree is preferred.
• Foundational      understanding of accounting principles, including debits and credits, reconciliations, and financial statements.
• Proficiency      in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, sorting, filtering, and basic data      analysis.
• Strong      attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to      investigate discrepancies, analyze data, and solve problems.
• Strong      written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to      manage multiple priorities and meet reporting deadlines.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.
• Internship, coursework, or up to two years of experience in accounting, inventory      control, manufacturing, or finance.
• Exposure to an ERP, inventory management, or accounting system.
• Familiarity with inventory valuation, standard costing, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience with pivot tables, lookup formulas, and spreadsheet-based reporting.

Core Competencies

• Analytical      Thinking:      Identifies trends, investigates variances, and uses data to support      decisions.
• Accuracy      & Attention to Detail: Maintains reliable financial records and      inventory data.
• Accountability: Takes      ownership of assigned reconciliations, reporting deadlines, and follow-up      activities.
• Collaboration: Works      effectively with Finance, Production, Warehouse, and Supply Chain.
• Continuous      Improvement:      Identifies opportunities to improve reporting, controls, and transaction      accuracy.
• Integrity: Handles      financial information responsibly and follows established procedures.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be evaluated based on:

• Timely and      accurate completion of assigned reconciliations and reports.
• Inventory      record accuracy and resolution of discrepancies.
• Quality and      reliability of manufacturing cost and variance reporting.
• Adherence to      month-end close schedules and accounting procedures.
• Effective      communication with cross-functional partners.
• Consistent      compliance with internal controls and documentation requirements.

Work Environment

This position is primarily office-based within a manufacturing environment. Periodic visits to production and warehouse areas may be required to validate inventory activity, observe operational processes, or participate in physical inventory counts. Appropriate personal protective equipment and site safety procedures must be followed.

Career Development

This position offers an opportunity to build foundational expertise in manufacturing accounting, inventory valuation, cost analysis, and financial reporting, with potential for future growth into Cost Accountant, Senior Cost Accountant, or broader financial analysis roles as experience and business needs allow.