Cost Accountant

Working at Watlow

Watlow is a global technology and manufacturing leader who provides world class engineering expertise through innovative thermal products and systems, enabling our customers to thrive. We are making a positive impact every day as our solutions enrich the lives of people everywhere. We have been providing breakthrough thermal solutions for over 100 years! Our corporate values guide us uncompromisingly to always do the right thing, continually learn and improve, respect everyone, and lead with service and humility.

At Watlow's global headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, our Finance team partners with operations, engineering, and supply chain leaders across our global manufacturing sites. Part of a global thermal solutions leader founded in 1922, our heaters, sensors, and controls power industries like semiconductor, aerospace, energy, and industrial equipment.

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We are hiring a: Cost Accountant

St. Louis, Missouri

Watlow is seeking a Cost Accountant who will help keep product cost data accurate across our global manufacturing sites. This role is a great fit for someone early in their career who is curious, takes initiative, and enjoys figuring out why a number doesn't look right. You will investigate and resolve costing issues, serve as a go-to resource for site Finance and Operations teams, and help build consistent cost accounting practices across the company.

You will partner with Finance, Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, and IT to trace issues to their root cause and get them fixed. The ideal candidate brings 1 to 3 years of accounting experience, strong Excel skills, and a real interest in learning manufacturing costing. Cost accounting and Oracle experience are a plus, but neither is required.

What you'll do:

• Costing issue resolution: Investigate costing errors and unusual balances, trace them to the root cause, coordinate corrections, and follow them through to resolution.
• Site support: Serve as a go-to contact for costing questions from site Finance and Operations teams, working with IT and other functions to find answers.
• Standard costs: Support standard cost maintenance and annual cost rolls, partnering with plant teams to review bills of material, routings, purchase costs, and labor and overhead inputs.
• Variance analysis: Analyze purchase price, material usage, labor, scrap, and overhead variances, explain what is driving them, and work with business partners on corrective actions.
• Month-end close: Prepare journal entries, reconciliations, and supporting schedules for inventory, manufacturing costs, and cost of goods sold, and resolve open items on time.
• Inventory accounting: Reconcile raw materials, work in process, and finished goods to the general ledger, and support cycle counts, physical inventories, and excess and obsolete analysis.
• Global costing guidance: Help develop and roll out consistent costing practices across sites by gathering input and documenting common issues and solutions.
• Procedures and training: Draft procedures, work instructions, templates, and training materials so site teams can apply consistent practices and prevent repeat errors.
• Reporting and process improvement: Improve cost reporting, data quality, and recurring processes, and support budget and forecast inputs.
• Audit and controls: Maintain documentation for entries and costing changes, follow approval requirements, and prepare support for internal and external audits.

What you'll need to succeed:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 1 to 3 years of accounting or finance experience, ideally including month-end close and reconciliations; public accounting experience is welcome
• Strong Excel skills and attention to detail
• Ability to trace transactions, investigate differences, and clearly explain what you find
• A self-starter who researches unfamiliar problems, works through them independently, and knows when to ask for guidance
• Ownership of your work and follow-through on open issues while meeting close deadlines
• Clear written and verbal communication and the ability to work with colleagues across functions and global sites

Preferred qualifications:

• Cost accounting, inventory accounting, or manufacturing experience
• Audit experience with manufacturing clients, especially inventory or cost testing
• Experience with Oracle Cloud ERP or another ERP system
• Exposure to Power Query or Power BI
• Experience with process documentation or continuous improvement projects

Benefits: The Watlow Total Compensation Plan

The health, well-being and financial stability of you and your family is a high priority to us.The Watlow Total Rewards Plan includes competitive compensation and a full range of life and career enhancing benefits:

• Annual Incentive Program 
• 401(k) plan that includes a company match on your contribution and an annual company contribution that is tied to company performance
• Wellness incentives
• Employee Personal Assistance Program
• Dental, medical, vision and short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Paid holidays, personal time, and vacation
• Parental leave
• Tuition reimbursement

Diversity & Inclusion

We proactively embrace diversity in all its dimensions across our company and cultivate a culture of inclusion and forward thinking that respects and reflects each team member’s individual strengths, views, and experiences. Watlow takes pride in being an inclusive equal opportunity employer and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

Please let us know confidentially if you need or require any special accommodations to participate in our recruiting process by emailing us at [email protected].