Senior Cost Accountant

Quanex is looking for a Senior Cost Accountant to join our team located in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The Senior Cost Accountant is responsible for cost accounting and financial analysis across 11 manufacturing plants, ensuring accurate, timely, and GAAP-compliant production cost reporting.This role serves as a key business partner to plant controllers and operations leadership, providing clear insight into absorption, manufacturing performance, and variances to standard. The Senior Cost Accountant plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the standard cost system, supporting the monthly close process, and driving improvements in cost visibility, inventory accuracy, and financial reporting.We Offer You!Competitive SalaryExcellent Bonus PotentialMedical, Dental & Vision PlansPaid Time Off, Training & HolidaysCharitable Contribution Match ProgramTuition AssistanceWellness/Fitness ResourcesTraining & Professional Development401K Match w/ 2-year Vesting PeriodEmployee Stock Purchase PlanDynamic Culture & People - just to name a few!What’s attractive about the Assistant Controller position? Ongoing interaction with multiple levels of the organizationCollaborative and Team-Oriented environmentWhat Success Looks LikeOwn and oversee cost accounting processes across 11 manufacturing plants, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and alignment with corporate standardsPartner closely with plant controllers and operations leaders to explain absorption, cost behavior, and variances to standard (labor, material, overhead, and PPV) in a clear and actionable mannerAnalyze and interpret manufacturing variances, identify root causes, and collaborate with operations to drive corrective actions and improve performanceLead cost-related month-end close activities, including inventory valuation, accruals, allocations, journal entries, and account reconciliationsAnalyze monthly sales, cost of goods manufactured, and book-to-physical inventory results to ensure the integrity of financial reportingEnsure accurate inventory valuation (Raw, WIP, FG), including development and review of reserves for obsolete, slow-moving, and lower of cost or market (LCM) inventoryLead and approve standard cost updates within the ERP system, including BOMs, routings, labor standards, and overhead rates; communicate financial impacts to plant leadershipPerform and coordinate quarterly updates to labor and overhead rates across all facilitiesEvaluate production capacity and ensure accurate accounting for excess capacity and under/over absorption of fixed overheadSupport and improve cycle count programs and physical inventories; analyze variances and partner with operations to enhance inventory accuracy and turnsStandardize and review KPI reports and operational metrics to ensure consistency and comparability across plantsSupport budgeting and forecasting processes by developing cost models, including materials, labor, overhead, and staffing-related fringe costsParticipate in continuous improvement initiatives to drive cost reduction and operational efficiencyEnsure proper cost center and profit center structures are maintained and consistently applied within the ERP systemDrive process improvements and standardization across plants to enhance data accuracy, transparency, and reporting effectivenessEnsure compliance with SOX requirements and support internal and external audit activitiesProvide guidance and support to plant controllers and finance teams on cost accounting principles and best practicesWhat You BringBachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field5+ years of progressive experience in cost accounting within a manufacturing environmentMulti-site manufacturing experience preferredStrong understanding of standard costing, absorption accounting, and manufacturing variance analysisExperience working closely with plant controllers and operations leadershipProficiency in ERP systems (E21 and Netsuite preferred) and financial reporting toolsAbility to translate complex financial data into clear, actionable insightsStrong analytical, problem-solving, and process improvement skillsExcellent communication and interpersonal skillsAbility to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environmentThe salary range for this position is $80,000 to $100,000 with bonus potential.About Quanex, A Part Of Something BiggerQuanex (NYSE: NX) is a global, publicly traded manufacturing company primarily serving OEMs in the fenestration, cabinetry, solar, refrigeration and outdoor products markets. We are A Part of Something Bigger by improving the performance and aesthetics of end products through continuous innovation, helping customers achieve greater production efficiencies, dedication to giving back to communities where we operate, producing shareholder value and helping our employees learn, grow, and thrive. Learn more at Quanex.com.