Cost Accountant

Job summary

The Cost Accountant will analyze manufacturing and financial data to support cost management, inventory reporting, and operational decision-making. They will collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve cost visibility and automate recurring financial reports.

Job details

A leading transportation organization is seeking a Cost Accountant to join its Finance team. This is an excellent opportunity for an analytical accounting professional who enjoys working with data, understanding operational performance, and turning complex information into insights that support better business decisions. About the Role Reporting to a senior finance leader, you will combine accounting expertise with advanced data analysis to support cost management, inventory reporting, financial planning, and operational decision-making. You'll work closely with Finance, Production, Supply Chain, Operations, and senior leadership to improve visibility into costs and business performance. What You'll Do Analyze manufacturing, inventory, and financial data to identify trends, variances, risks, and opportunities Develop and maintain dashboards and management reports that track financial and operational KPIs Perform detailed margin and profitability analysis across products, customers, and projects Monitor production activity and identify potential cost or profitability risks Analyze inventory, cost of goods sold, manufacturing overhead, and other key cost components Reconcile inventory-related accounts and investigate discrepancies to maintain data integrity Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and longer-term financial planning through historical and forward-looking analysis Build and automate recurring financial and operational reports to improve efficiency and consistency Analyze the financial impact of changes to product specifications, materials, production methods, and manufacturing processes Support month-end and year-end activities through financial analysis, data validation, and reporting Partner with operational teams to improve cost visibility and help translate financial results into actionable business insights Develop and monitor performance indicators that support operational and financial decision-making Serve as a key resource for finance-related data, reporting, and analytical processes Identify opportunities to improve systems, automate manual work, and enhance reporting capabilities What You Bring CPA designation or equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred 5-10 years of experience in accounting, financial analysis, audit, or cost accounting, ideally within a manufacturing environment Strong understanding of cost accounting, inventory valuation, and manufacturing cost structures Advanced Excel capabilities, including data analysis, modeling, and reporting Experience with business intelligence, data visualization, or database tools is an asset Experience working with ERP and accounting systems Knowledge of Canadian accounting standards, with exposure to U.S. or international accounting frameworks considered an asset Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with excellent attention to detail Ability to work with large and complex datasets and identify meaningful financial trends Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain financial and operational information clearly to non-finance stakeholders A proactive, data-driven mindset with an interest in continuous improvement and automation Why Join This is an opportunity to take on a highly visible role within a collaborative manufacturing environment where financial analysis directly supports operational performance. You'll gain broad exposure to Finance, Production, Supply Chain, and senior leadership while developing your expertise across cost accounting, financial planning, data analytics, and business intelligence.

What you’ll do

The Cost Accountant will analyze manufacturing and financial data to support cost management, inventory reporting, and operational decision-making. They will collaborate with cross-functional teams to improve cost visibility and automate recurring financial reports.

Requirements

Candidates should have 5-10 years of experience in accounting or financial analysis, preferably within a manufacturing environment. A CPA designation is preferred, along with advanced Excel skills and proficiency in ERP systems.

Listed skills

• Data visualization · Preferred
• ERP systems · Preferred
• Problem solving · Preferred
• Budgeting · Preferred
• Data analysis · Preferred
• Microsoft Excel · Preferred
• Communication · Preferred
• Reporting · Preferred
• Financial planning · Preferred
• Financial analysis · Preferred
• Forecasting · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Cost accounting
• Financial analysis
• Data analysis
• Inventory valuation
• Manufacturing cost structures
• Excel
• Financial planning
• Budgeting
• Forecasting
• ERP systems
• Data visualization
• Business intelligence
• Reporting
• Reconciliation
• Communication
• Problem-solving

Job areas

• Finance & Accounting
• Manufacturing
• Data & Analytics
• Transportation