Cost Accounting Manager, Heil Environmental

Operating Company: Environmental Solutions Group – Heil Environmental

Location: Fort Payne, AL

Reports to: Director, FP&A Operations

Department:  Accounting

Do you have a strong cost accounting background with a desire to take the next step in your career? We are seeking an experienced Cost Accountant to join our team as Cost Accounting Manager. This role is the costing and operational finance leader for the Division across multiple sites in the United States.  This position manages all aspects of costing and variance reporting, product margin analysis, operational forecasting (demand versus planning and absorption), supply chain analytics, inventory controls and analytics and Kaizen/LEAN project analytics. To be successful in this role, you should be someone who wants to lead by example with a strong costing background in a manufacturing environment, with a history and mindset that continuously improves processes and challenges how things are done.  You will need to demonstrate strong leadership, good accounting skills and business acumen with ambition and potential to move upward within the organization

Job Summary:

The Cost Accounting Manager will help to drive working capital initiatives to minimize inventory at a level that supports customer needs and manufacturing lead times.  You will support the Operations and Supply Chain leaders to drive process improvements, establish rigor and action with operational scorecard/metrics and reduce costs.  You will support procurement strategies and logistic initiatives to reduce supplier costs and assess on time delivery performance. The position will also be involved in all operational and supply chain Kaizen/LEAN activities and measure the results of these events.  You will also establish a common approach to costing across Environmental Solutions Group (ESG) and drive variance analysis in margins and costs to improve business performance and profitability across the sites.  You will support make/buy and process improvement initiatives to assess cost impact. This role manages one seasoned Cost Analyst as well as indirectly coordinates across teams and functions.

About the Company:

Heil Environmental, part of Environmental Solutions Group, is the industry leader in garbage truck body design and specialized refuse body manufacturing. Environmental Solutions Group encompasses industry-leading brands like Heil Environmental, Marathon, Bayne, The Curotto-Can, 3rd Eye, and Soft-Pak, to create a premier, fully integrated equipment group serving the solid waste and recycling industry. For more information, visit www.doveresg.com. ESG is a Dover Corporation operating company. Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of approximately $7 billion. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach, our team of over 23,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible.

What you will do as Cost Accounting Manager:

• Develop and utilize robust analytical tools to identify areas for operational efficiency improvements and cost savings.
• Manage inventory processes across the sites. This includes setting standard costs, cycle and physical counts, variance analysis, routings are established correctly, scrap, etc. ensuring that the financial statements are accurately stated. Work with business to reduce inventory, while meeting production needs.
• Analyze and correct any identified inventory variances.
• Monitor job closings and shipments through the ERP system to ensure Cost of Sales are properly matched with associated revenue.
• Prepare monthly journal entries, when needed, to accurately reflect inventory values and product margins.
• Establish and maintain labor and overhead rates for all manufacturing departments.
• Evaluate costing and analytics for proposed value streams to improve performance quality, on time delivery, efficiency, etc.
• Support planning to understand capacity versus demand in forecast process.
• Partner with plant leadership to identify opportunities that will increase productivity and deliver cost savings.
• Perform month end close responsibilities. This includes preparing and entering month end journal entries, performing variance analysis, and preparing balance sheet reconciliations.
• Manage reporting to analyze and communicate critical business drivers, such as expense trends, order completion status, inventory tracking, scrap reporting, etc.
• Participate in Lean Manufacturing events, Gemba walks and other cost reduction support.
• Complete analysis and track commitments resulting from LEAN/Kaizen activities.

What you need to be successful as Cost Accounting Manager:

• Bachelor’s Degree preferably in accounting or equivalent experience.
• 5 years or more of accounting experience with strong cost accounting knowledge.
• Past experience using JDEdwards, Oracle or similar ERP software.
• Strong Excel skills and demonstrated experience.
• Experience in a vertically integrated manufacturing environment with complex bill of materials and labor routings.
• Independent thinker, problem solver, someone who questions and seeks to continuously improve.
• Good interpersonal skills and ability to be a strong team player.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as accounting procedures and safety rules.
• Intellectual curiosity and a passion for getting involved in all aspects of the business.
• Have the potential to develop career and progress beyond this position.
• Excellent analytical skills to question and improve financial operations and processes.
• High degree of initiative and results orientation with a track record to show successful continuous improvement.

Why join our team?

We’re not just interviewing you; you’re interviewing us to ensure a good fit. Here’s a glimpse into some of our employees’ favorite things about working here: 

• Collaborative work environment that is family friendly and community oriented
• Strong compensation plan based on experience and added value to the organization
• We’re making the world a better place with our products
• Keeping our employees and their families healthy with day 1 health benefits (medical, dental & vision)
• Opportunities are endless for those that show initiative and want to grow with the organization
• Planning for the future with an HSA plan or 401k savings plan with company match