Sr Cost Accountant

Posted 3 Days Ago
Be an Early Applicant
Auburn, WA, USA
In-Office
80K-100K Annually
Senior level
Other
The Role
Lead costing and inventory accounting for manufacturing plants: maintain standard costs, analyze variances and production efficiency, support month-end close, prepare reconciliations and journal entries, partner with plant management on cost savings, support budgets/forecasts, audits, and ERP costing initiatives to improve reporting and controls.
Summary Generated by Built In
Company Description

Cornerstone Building Brands is a leading manufacturer of exterior building products for residential and low-rise non-residential buildings in North America. Headquartered in Cary, N.C., we serve residential and commercial customers across the new construction and Repair & Remodel (R&R) markets. Our market-leading portfolio of products spans vinyl windows, vinyl siding, stone veneer, metal roofing, metal wall systems and metal accessories. Cornerstone Building Brands’ broad, multi-channel distribution platform and expansive national footprint includes more than 18,800 team members at manufacturing, distribution and office locations throughout North America. Corporate stewardship and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) responsibility are embedded in our culture. We are committed to contributing positively to the communities where we live, work and play. For more information, visit us at http://cornerstonebuildingbrands.com.

    Job Description

    The Senior Cost Accountant is responsible for providing accounting support to our US Apertures manufacturing plants. This role will play a key role in the finance department, providing expertise and leadership in various accounting and financial functions. With a strong background in accounting principles and experience in the manufacturing industry, you will be responsible for ensuring accurate inventory accounting, financial reporting, analyzing financial data, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to support business decisions.

    Primary Responsibilities:

    • Develop, maintain, and analyze standard costs for raw materials, labor, and manufacturing overhead.
    • Calculate and monitor product costs, manufacturing variances, and profitability by product line.
    • Perform monthly cost rollups and standard cost updates; monitor and explain variances.
    • Analyze cost trends and recommend actions to improve margins and reduce manufacturing costs.
    • Manage inventory accounting processes, including valuation, reserves, and reconciliation.
    • Ensure accurate accounting for raw materials, work-in-process (WIP), and finished goods inventory.
    • Assist physical inventory counts and cycle count programs.
    • Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies and inventory-related variances.
    • Analyze production efficiency (MPO), labor utilization, scrap, waste, yield, and overhead absorption.
    • Prepare and review manufacturing KPIs and operational performance metrics.
    • Partner with plant management to identify and monitor cost-saving opportunities and process improvements.
    • Support month-end close activities related to inventory, cost of sales, and manufacturing operations.
    • Prepare journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
    • Analyze and explain manufacturing variances including:
      • Material price and usage variances
      • Labor rate and efficiency variances
      • Overhead spending and volume variances
    • Ensure compliance with GAAP and company accounting policies
    • Support the preparation of financial data for audits and liaise with external auditors.
    • Support annual operating budgets and periodic forecasts for manufacturing operations.
    • Develop production cost forecasts and spending plans.
    • Monitor actual results against budget and explain significant variances.
    • Serve as a key finance resource for ERP systems related to inventory and costing.
    • Improve costing methodologies, reporting tools, and financial processes.
    • Participate in system implementations, upgrades, and automation initiatives.

    Qualifications

     

    • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
    • 3+ plus years of accounting experience in the manufacturing industry.
    • Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, and variance analysis.
    • Experience with ERP systems, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
    • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a keen eye for detail.
    • Ability to work independently and lead a project team in a fast-paced environment.
    • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
    • Professional certification (e.g., CPA) is a plus but not mandatory.
    • All Microsoft Office products proficiency desired.

    Additional Information

    The US base salary range for this full-time position is $80,000-$100,000 + bonus + medical, dental, vision benefits starting day 1 + 401k and PTO. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process. (Full-time is defined as regularly working 30+ hours per week.)

     

    All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

     

    Why work for Cornerstone Building Brands? 

    Our teams are at the heart of our purpose to positively contribute to the communities where we live, work and play. Full-time* team members receive** medical, dental and vision benefits starting day 1. Other benefits include PTO, paid holidays, FSA, life insurance, LTD, STD, 401k, EAP, discount programs, tuition reimbursement, training, and professional development. 

    *Full-time is defined as regularly working 30+ hours per week. **Union programs may vary depending on the collective bargaining agreement.

     

    Cornerstone Building Brands is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 

    All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, or status as a protected veteran. You can find the Equal Employment Opportunity Poster here. You can also view Your Right to Work Poster here along with This Organizations Participation in E-Verify Poster here. If you'd like to view a copy of the company's affirmative action plan for protected veterans or individuals with disabilities or policy statement, please contact Human Resources at 281-897-7788 or [email protected]. If you have a disability and you believe that you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please contact Human Resources at 281-897-7788 or [email protected]. This email is used exclusively to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Only emails received for this purpose will be returned. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or technical issues not related to a disability, will not receive a response.

     

    All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

     

    California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) of 2018

     

    Must be at least 18 years of age to apply.

     

    Note to External Recruiters

    Cornerstone Building Brands does not accept unsolicited resumes and will not pay fees for any candidate submissions that were not expressly authorized.

     

    Notice of Recruitment Fraud

    We have been made aware of multiple scams whereby unauthorized individuals are using Cornerstone Building Brand's name and logo to solicit potential job-seekers for employment. In some cases, job-seekers are being contacted directly, both by phone and e-mail. In other instances, these unauthorized individuals are placing advertisements for fake positions with both legitimate websites and fabricated ones. These individuals are typically promising high-paying jobs with the requirement that the job-seeker send money to pay for things such as visa applications or processing fees. Please be advised that Cornerstone Building Brands will never ask potential job-seekers for any sort of advance payment or bank account information as part of the recruiting or hiring process.

    Skills Required

    • Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
    • 3+ years of accounting experience in the manufacturing industry
    • Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, and variance analysis
    • Experience with ERP systems (preferably in a manufacturing environment)
    • Knowledge of GAAP and company accounting policies
    • Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with attention to detail
    • Ability to work independently and lead a project team in a fast-paced environment
    • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for cross-functional collaboration
    • Professional certification (e.g., CPA)
    • Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (including Excel)

    Cornerstone Building Brands Compensation & Benefits Highlights

    The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Cornerstone Building Brands and has not been reviewed or approved by Cornerstone Building Brands.

    • Leave & Time Off Breadth PTO and paid holidays are emphasized, with vacation programs that recognize prior professional tenure and, in many roles, immediate usability from day one. This accessibility to time off elevates the overall value of the package.
    • Retirement Support A 401(k) plan with employer match is consistently presented as a strong component of total rewards. This support for retirement savings complements base pay across roles.
    • Inclusive Benefits Coverage Medical, dental, and vision coverage begin on the first day for most full‑time employees, alongside EAP, tuition reimbursement, discounts, and training resources. The breadth and immediacy of eligibility are positioned as key strengths.

    Cornerstone Building Brands Insights

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    The Company
    HQ: Cary, North Carolina

    What We Do

    Cornerstone Building Brands is the largest manufacturer of exterior building products in North America. Our comprehensive portfolio spans the breadth of the residential and commercial markets, while our expansive footprint enables us to serve customers and communities across North America. Our relentless focus on excellence combined with our ongoing commitment to innovation and R&D has driven us to become the #1 manufacturer of windows, vinyl siding, insulated metal panels, metal roofing and wall systems, and metal accessories. We believe every building we create, and every part of that building, positively contributes to communities where people live, work and play. DISCLAIMER Cornerstone Building Brands’ social media channels share information about our company, our products and our people. We welcome commentary expressing all points of view – positive and negative – but reserve the right to remove posts that are off-topic, offensive, promotional or illegal or contain inappropriate language, hate speech, proprietary information, personal data or personal attacks.

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