POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Cost Accountant will lead the daily cost accounting activities for MSD, providing analysis and support for inventory control, product costing, monthly financial close and analysis as well and budgeting and forecasting. The Senior Cost Accountant will support the Financial Operations team and be a key business partner with the manufacturing operations organization.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

•    Maintain company cost accounting and inventory management systems:
o    Analyze trends and develop tools to highlight and communicate significant changes in inventory valuation and/or cost of goods;
o    Research work order variances, purchase price variances and over/under absorption.  Partner with Operations to ensure manufacturing bill of materials (BOMs), routers and lot sizes are updated as needed;
o    Identify and propose solutions to potential costing and/or accounting issues;
o    Maintain a monthly Operations scorecard to track key performance indicators.
•    Provide insightful cost analysis and provide decision support to internal customers that includes identifying opportunities for cost savings/avoidances.  Educate cross-functional teams on financial implications.
•    Develop, plan and drive enhancements to ensure reliable product costs.  Work with Enterprise Systems team and Operations to evaluate and test process and/or system enhancements.  Partner with project teams during the new product configuration process.
•    Lead the annual standard cost roll process including planning and coordinating the revaluation with key stakeholders; 
o    Compile and analyze the relevant data needed to develop the labor and overhead rates;
o    Review and analyze purchased raw material costs;
o    Collaborate with Operations to ensure BOMs, routers and lot sizes are updated as needed.
•    Manage the cycle count program for Operations.  This includes recommending areas to expand the cycle count program, developing key performance metrics, performing cycle count audits, participating in the year-end physical inventory, reviewing metrics and root cause analysis. 
•    Perform month-end close activities including analyzing inventory transactions as well as operational spending.  Prepare journal entries, reserve entries and perform inventory account reconciliations. 
•    Support annual budgeting and quarterly reforecasting for the manufacturing operations groups. 
•    Assist with year-end audit schedules, ad hoc reporting, and financial analyses as required.
•    Execute policies and procedures for monitoring and reporting on business and/or financial performance. 
•    Implement internal control procedures that are reasonably designed to safeguard company assets.
•    Communicate frequently with the General Ledger Team to discuss accounting or other issues that may impact the timeliness and/or reliability of financial results.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

•    Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Accounting or related field
•    MBA and/or CPA preferred
•    Minimum of 8 years of cost accounting experience for manufacturing operations, preferably in a bioprocess industry preferred or minimum of 8 years manufacturing operations and 5 years cost accounting experience, preferably in a bioprocess industry. 

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
•    Strong knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting and product costing.
•    Strong analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to gather and evaluate complex data and information and develop a recommendation and plan of action.
•    Strong leadership skills with demonstrated knowledge and understanding of company policies and practices.  Establish and communicate accountabilities and expectations to achieve results. 
•    Ability to work independently, as an effective team member and with all levels of the organization. 
•    Ability to resolve complex problems and implement solutions that entail cross-functional collaboration.
•    Ability to build and foster relationships with all levels of the organization.
•    Demonstrated propensity to be collaborative, proactive, and self-motivated in the execution and completion of assigned accountabilities.  Attention to detail with demonstrated commitment to excellence and performance.
•    Excellent organizational, planning, and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple and often changing projects and priorities and issues of varying complexity, while meeting time-sensitive deadlines and deliverables.
•    Advanced proficiency in MS Office Suite (Excel, Access, Visio). Proficient in designing and maintaining complex spreadsheets. 
•    Advanced capabilities in ERP systems (JD Edwards preferred).  Systems implementation experience preferred.
•    Excellent communication skills with the ability to organize, present, and articulate ideas both verbally and in writing.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

While performing the duties of this job, the individual is frequently required to sit and stand for long periods. The individual is occasionally required to walk; use hands and fingers to operate, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms.
This position requires the ability to communicate and exchange information, utilize equipment necessary to perform the job, and move about the office.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position is performed in a traditional office environment.  Certain activities may require work to be performed in warehouse, laboratories, cold rooms and freezers.