Accounting Manager

Position Summary 

JPS Composite Materials is seeking an Accounting Manager to provide leadership for accounting operations, cost accounting, and inventory accounting for a $100 million textile manufacturing organization. This role owns the monthly close and plant financial reporting cadence, ensures GAAP-compliant results, strengthens internal controls, and partners with plant and corporate leadership to drive accurate product costing, inventory valuation, and actionable margin and variance insights.

The ideal candidate is a hands-on leader with strong manufacturing accounting experience who can coach a team, set expectations, and improve processes while maintaining excellent attention to detail. Success in this role requires the ability to translate operational activity into financial outcomes, influence cross-functional partners, and uphold disciplined inventory and cost controls in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting & Close Management 

• Own the month-end and year-end close, establishing timelines, deliverables, and review standards to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Oversee general accounting activities including journal entries, accruals, balance sheet reconciliations, and account analysis; provide review and approval as appropriate.
• Maintain accuracy and integrity of the general ledger, ensure audit-ready support, and resolve complex accounting issues in partnership with corporate finance.

Leadership & Collaboration 

• Lead, coach, and develop the accounting team through clear goals, regular feedback, and cross-training to build bench strength and continuity.
• Establish a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and strong controls.
• Serve as a key financial partner to plant leadership, operations, supply chain, and purchasing, driving understanding of cost drivers, inventory discipline, and margin performance.

Systems & Process Improvement 

• Ensure data integrity across ERP (AS400) and reporting systems. Drive improvements in reporting efficiency, automation, and standardization of financial and accounting processes. 

Financial Analysis & Business Support 

• Provide analytical leadership for operational and financial performance, including margin bridge reporting, cost-driver analysis, and trend and variance analysis.
• Develop and maintain routine reporting to support plant performance reviews and decision-making.
• Support capital expenditure analysis including ROI assessments and post-implementation reviews.

Cost Accounting & Inventory 

• Provide oversight and guidance to the Senior Cost Analyst on product costing (standard and/or actual) and inventory accounting processes, ensuring BOMs/routings, absorption, and valuation methodologies are accurate and compliant with GAAP and company policy.
• Review and challenge manufacturing variance analyses (materials, labor, and overhead), support interpretation of results, and partner with operations leadership to drive root‑cause analysis and corrective actions.
• Oversee inventory control processes for physical inventories, inventory reconciliations and the evaluation of reserves and obsolescence.
• Ensure the Senior Cost Analyst has the direction, tools, and support needed to deliver accurate financial reporting and maintain working capital discipline.

Controls, Compliance & Audit 

• Support strong internal controls and ensure compliance with company policies and regulatory requirements.
• Serve as liaison for internal and external audits and lead corrective actions for control or reporting issues. 

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Vision
• Company provided life insurance and short-term disability
• 401K with company match
• Flex Spending Account / Health Savings Account
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Corporate Discount Program
• Growth opportunities 
• Annual bonus
• Referral bonuses
• Sports Sponsorship for youth athletic coaches

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required.
• CPA, CMA, or MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment, including demonstrated ownership of close, costing, and inventory processes.
• Strong GAAP knowledge.
• Prior leadership experience (direct supervision or team lead) with a track record of developing staff and improving processes.
• Manufacturing cost accounting experience, including standard costing, inventory valuation, and variance analysis; ability to explain results to non-financial partners.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• ERP experience required.