Job Description

Cost Accountant
Rochester, New York

Insero Talent Solutions has partnered with a growing manufacturing company in Rochester in search of a Cost Accountant to join their team.

This role offers a strong blend of cost accounting and FP&A, supporting multiple manufacturing locations and working closely with both finance leadership and plant operations. Reporting directly to the CFO, the Cost Accountant will play a critical role in driving financial visibility, improving cost structures, and supporting operational decision-making across the business. More specifically, the Cost Accountant will own core cost accounting functions, including standard costing, inventory valuation, and detailed variance analysis across multiple sites. This individual will partner directly with production, procurement, and leadership teams to understand cost drivers, analyze performance, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.

Responsibilities:

• Own and maintain standard costing methodologies, including BOMs, labor routing, and overhead allocations across manufacturing locations
• Manage inventory valuation and partner with operations on inventory levels, turns, and controls
• Perform detailed variance analysis (material, labor, overhead), identifying root causes and driving corrective actions
• Lead monthly cost reviews with manufacturing leadership, providing insights into production performance and cost trends
• Support budgeting and forecasting for manufacturing operations, including cost modeling and financial projections
• Contribute to month-end and year-end close processes, including journal entries, reconciliations, and reporting
• Develop and track key manufacturing KPIs related to productivity, efficiency, quality, and cost control
• Partner cross-functionally to drive process improvements, including system enhancements, automation, and analytics initiatives (including exposure to AI-driven tools)
• Support system integrity and participate in ERP enhancements or implementations as needed
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (MBA/CPA/CMA a plus)
• 1–3+ years of cost accounting and/or financial analysis experience within a manufacturing environment
• Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, and variance analysis
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with ERP systems required (exposure to automation, data tools, or coding languages such as Python is a plus)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights
• Ability to operate both tactically (detail-oriented) and strategically (big-picture mindset)
• Collaborative, team-oriented approach with strong communication skills