The Role
The Cost Accountant will analyze manufacturing costs, update costs in ERP, and identify cost-saving opportunities while implementing SAP and driving process improvements.
Summary Generated by Built In
Title: Cost Accountant
Location: Huntsville, AL (4 Days in Office, 1 Remote)
Reports To: North America Controller
Company & Position Overview
At Lakeland Industries, we’re more than just a leader in the PPE sector—we’re a team of innovators, collaborators, and problem-solvers committed to protecting people around the world. Our mission is to deliver exceptional products and services that elevate safety and customer experience. If you’re looking for a workplace that values creativity, teamwork, and purpose, you’ve found it.
Scope:
As Cost Accountant, you will be responsible for planning, studying, and collecting data to determine costs of inventory activities such as raw material purchases, labor and overhead costs. This role requires ability to compile and analyze large volumes of data from multiple sources and provide management level insight. This position will be responsible for reviewing and calculating product costs from our manufacturing facilities, with a focus on identifying cost-saving opportunities. This newly created position will work to streamline processes and drive improvements that help us achieve our target pricing and overall margin optimization. In addition, you will be supporting the implementation of SAP.
Job Summary – Responsibilities:
Essential Functions & Accountabilities:
Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Experience:
3 – 4 years’ experience in Cost position or similar role.
.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field required.
Title: Cost Accountant
Location: Huntsville, AL (4 Days in Office, 1 Remote)
Reports To: North America Controller
Company & Position Overview
At Lakeland Industries, we’re more than just a leader in the PPE sector—we’re a team of innovators, collaborators, and problem-solvers committed to protecting people around the world. Our mission is to deliver exceptional products and services that elevate safety and customer experience. If you’re looking for a workplace that values creativity, teamwork, and purpose, you’ve found it.
Scope:
As Cost Accountant, you will be responsible for planning, studying, and collecting data to determine costs of inventory activities such as raw material purchases, labor and overhead costs. This role requires ability to compile and analyze large volumes of data from multiple sources and provide management level insight. This position will be responsible for reviewing and calculating product costs from our manufacturing facilities, with a focus on identifying cost-saving opportunities. This newly created position will work to streamline processes and drive improvements that help us achieve our target pricing and overall margin optimization. In addition, you will be supporting the implementation of SAP.
Job Summary – Responsibilities:
- Analyzing actual manufacturing costs and preparing periodic reports comparing standard costs to actual production costs.
- Recording cost information and responsible for updating costs within ERP.
- Analyzing changes in product design, raw materials, manufacturing methods or services provided, to determine effects on cost.
- Analyzing costs and preparing reports.
- Making estimates of new and proposed product costs.
- Providing management with reports specifying and comparing factors affecting prices and profitability of products or services.
- Interface with internal and external auditors.
- Review standard and actual costs for inaccuracies.
- Validate the cost of goods sold as part of the month-end close.
- Analysis PPVs and any other cost variances.
- Prepare monthly product cost analysis for use in determining cost of sales and inventoriable cost.
- Driving analytics and processes to evaluate product cost, identifying cost reductions, and tracking to realization seasonally, annually, and for strategic plans.
- Maintaining accurate and up-to-date data in our systems to ensure consistent, reliable information.
- Conducting cost analysis to improve margin performance and deliver measurable results.
- Participates in strategic projects and initiatives, often cross-functional and across multiple geographies.
- Completes analysis on operations specific aspects of the finance operating cycle (Cost of Sales, Other Cost of Sales, and Inventory) and other manufacturing topics to provide meaningful insight into the company’s financial performance.
- Analyzing and identifying opportunities for cost savings and process optimization across various facets of the business.
- Other ad hoc projects as assigned.
Essential Functions & Accountabilities:
- Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy in reviewing inventory costs
- Excellent organizational and time management skills to handle multiple deliverables and deadlines.
- Advanced skills in using MS Office applications, particularly Excel, for data analysis and reporting.
- Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and resolve inventory-related issues.
- Continuous learning mindset.
- Ability to adapt quickly to a complex environment.
Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Experience in a Manufacturing Environment, preferably at an international public company.
- Experience working with manufacturing personnel on development and analysis of cost standards is a plus.
- Ability to communicate with all levels of the organization effectively and professionally and with international (global) team members as well.
- Excellent technical, analytical and communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, great team player, attention to detail, organized and thorough with the desire for continuous improvement
- Ability to meet assigned deadlines and strong organizational and critical thinking skills.
- At least 3 years of solid experience in data analysis, preferably in the apparel or footwear industry.
- Proficient in MS Office, particularly Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP) and PowerPoint. Experience with SAP and Sage X3 is a plus.
- Strong work ethic with a positive continuous improvement mindset.
- Strong quantitative abilities, process oriented and attention to detail combined with ability to understand the bigger picture.
Experience:
3 – 4 years’ experience in Cost position or similar role.
.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field required.
Top Skills
Excel
MS Office
PowerPoint
Sage X3
SAP
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The Company
What We Do
Lakeland Industries Inc. is a multidivisional, publicly-held producer of quality, high-performance protective garments for industry in both domestic and worldwide markets. Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Decatur, AL its more than $100 million in sales last year is hard evidence of growth and recognition, factors attributable directly to its ongoing research and development programs.
Lakeland's protective clothing products are proven on-the-job every day, and are specified routinely for workers in the chemical petrochemical, healthcare, automotive, glass, cement, and other industries in which hazardous materials must be handled. These reliable and, therefore, popular lines are widely diversified, yet stand prominently on the common foundation of quality for which the Company is well-known and respected, and to which it continues to pledge its efforts.
Lakeland is proven around the world. Prove it to yourself. Call us today at 1-800-645-9291. Give your people, and your company, the assurance of our Protective Clothing Products
