Cost Accountant

About the Opportunity

Our client is an established, privately owned North American manufacturer of consumer household products, with multiple manufacturing facilities and a strong reputation for quality and operational excellence.

We are looking for an accounting professional with strong analytical abilities to join their Finance team in Etobicoke.

This position combines accounting, financial analysis, product costing, inventory reporting and customer quotation support. It offers the opportunity to work closely with Finance, Sales, Purchasing and Operations while developing a deeper understanding of manufacturing costs and business performance.

You do not need to have previously held the title of Cost Accountant. We are interested in candidates with a solid accounting background, good analytical judgment and the ability to recognize discrepancies, investigate financial information and understand what the numbers are telling them who have worked in a manufacturing environment

Manufacturing experience is strongly preferred, and training will be provided in the company's specific costing processes and ERP system.

Key Responsibilities

Accounting and Financial Analysis

• Analyze financial and operational information to identify unusual costs, variances, discrepancies and opportunities for improvement.
• Review product margins, material costs, inventory information and manufacturing expenses.
• Compare actual results against standard costs, quotations and historical performance.
• Investigate financial discrepancies, identify potential causes and communicate findings to management.
• Assist with month-end accounting activities, journal entries, reconciliations and management reports.
• Prepare financial and operational analyses to support business decisions.

Manufacturing Costing and Quotations

• Prepare and review product cost sheets supporting customer quotations and pricing decisions.
• Work with raw material costs, packaging, labour, manufacturing overhead and production information.
• Support the development and maintenance of standard costs for existing and new products.
• Review cost calculations for accuracy, completeness and reasonableness.
• Work with Purchasing, Production, Sales and Finance to clarify information and resolve costing questions.
• Assist with costing changes arising from new products, packaging modifications and production requirements.

Systems and Continuous Improvement

• Maintain accurate costing and accounting information in the company's ERP system.
• Generate, review and interpret costing reports and supporting Excel worksheets.
• Identify errors and inconsistencies in financial or operational information.
• Support improvements in accounting accuracy, costing procedures and financial controls.
• Develop a practical understanding of how manufacturing operations influence costs and profitability.

Qualifications

• Approximately five years of professional experience in accounting, financial analysis or a related finance function.
• Postsecondary education in accounting, finance, business or a related discipline.
• Strong understanding of accounting principles, financial reporting, reconciliations and financial analysis.
• Demonstrated analytical ability, numerical reasoning and sound judgment.
• Experience reviewing financial results, analyzing variances or investigating discrepancies.
• Comfortable working with accounting software, ERP systems and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong organizational, communication and problem-solving skills.
• A practical, detail-oriented approach and willingness to learn.

Preferred Experience

Candidates with any of the following experience are particularly encouraged to apply:

• Manufacturing accounting or plant finance.
• Financial analysis within a manufacturing or distribution business.
• Cost accounting, inventory accounting or product costing.
• Budget-versus-actual analysis, margin analysis or expense analysis.
• Financial reporting involving purchasing, inventory, production or operating costs.
• Working with manufacturing, purchasing, production or supply chain teams.
• Accounting or finance experience combined with an engineering or technical education.
• CPA studies or progress toward an accounting designation.

These are preferred qualifications, not absolute requirements. We value analytical ability, accounting knowledge and the potential to grow into the role.

What Makes Someone Successful?

The ideal candidate is someone who looks at a financial report and asks questions when something doesn't make sense.

You enjoy investigating discrepancies, understanding why costs change and making sure information is accurate before it is used to make decisions.

You don't need to know everything about manufacturing costing on day one. You do need to have an analytical mind, a solid accounting foundation and the initiative to learn.

What the Company Offers

• Competitive annual salary of $80,000–$90,000.
• Permanent, full-time employment with an established manufacturer.
• Training in manufacturing cost accounting and the company's ERP system.
• A supportive Finance team with experienced colleagues.
• Exposure to manufacturing operations, product costing and commercial decision-making.
• Opportunities to build specialized accounting and financial analysis expertise.

Location and Application

This is a full-time, on-site position in Etobicoke, Ontario.

If you have a strong accounting background, enjoy analyzing financial information and are interested in developing your experience in manufacturing finance, we encourage you to apply.