Cost Accountant in Brunswick, Maine at STARC Systems Inc

STARC Systems is seeking a highly motivated, hands-on Cost Accountant to join our finance team and support a growing manufacturing operation. This role is designed for someone who is proactive, analytical, detail-oriented, and eager to learn. The right candidate will bring both accounting discipline and business curiosity, with the ability to turn cost and operational data into insights that support smart decisions.

This position plays a key role in inventory accounting, standard costing and variance analysis while serving as a strong business partner to Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and Finance. This is not a passive reporting role. It is an opportunity to help strengthen processes, improve visibility into cost drivers, support margin performance, and build a more scalable manufacturing finance function.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:

Cost Accounting and Inventory:

• Support and maintain the company’s cost accounting structure, including inventory valuation, standard costing, and related manufacturing accounting processes.
• Assist with standard cost updates and cost roll processes, including validation of material, labor, overhead, BOM, and routing assumptions.
• Analyze and explain manufacturing variances, including material usage, purchase price variance, labor efficiency, overhead absorption, scrap, rework, and inventory-related variances.
• Prepare and review inventory reconciliations for raw materials, work in process, finished goods, reserves, and other key balance sheet accounts.
• Support inventory accuracy through cycle count analysis, physical inventory support, adjustment review, and follow-up on root cause issues.
• Monitor inventory transactions and costing data to help ensure completeness, accuracy, and proper financial reporting.

Month-End Close and Financial Reporting:

• Support month-end and year-end close activities related to inventory, cost of goods sold, accruals, and manufacturing-related account reconciliations.
• Prepare journal entries, schedules, and supporting analysis with a strong focus on accuracy, documentation, and timeliness.
• Develop and maintain recurring reporting on gross margin, manufacturing cost, operational KPIs, and other management reporting needs.
• Assist in analyzing financial results and explaining period-over-period and actual-to-standard variances to management.

Analysis and Business Partnering:

• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, and other stakeholders to understand cost drivers, investigate issues, and support better business decisions.
• Translate financial and operational data into practical, actionable insights for non-finance partners.
• Support profitability, pricing, and margin analysis by providing clear and reliable cost information.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and ad hoc analysis related to manufacturing costs, inventory, and operational performance.

Systems, Controls, and Continuous Improvement:

• Leverage ERP and reporting tools to improve data integrity, reporting efficiency, and visibility into cost and inventory performance.
• Identify and help drive process improvements that reduce manual work, strengthen controls, and support a more efficient close and reporting cycle.
• Support internal and external audit requests by preparing schedules, documentation, and explanations related to inventory and cost accounting.
• Help strengthen finance documentation, process consistency, and internal controls across the manufacturing accounting cycle.
• Supports and models STARC Systems' values and mission.
• Other duties as assigned, relevant to the role and in support of the needs of the company.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 3+ years of relevant experience in cost accounting, manufacturing finance, financial analysis, or closely related accounting roles.
• Strong understanding of inventory accounting, standard costing, variance analysis, and U.S. GAAP within a manufacturing environment.
• Hands-on experience working with an ERP system in a manufacturing setting. Acumatica experience is a plus.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivots, lookups, data analysis, and financial modeling.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work through detail while keeping the broader business picture in mind.
• Clear and effective communication skills, with the ability to collaborate across finance and non-finance teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in a manufacturing environment with exposure to inventory, BOMs, routings, cost rolls, and operational reporting.
• Experience supporting standard cost reviews, physical inventories, cycle counts, and inventory control processes.
• Experience with ERP upgrades, implementations, process automation, or reporting enhancements.
• Experience developing KPI dashboards, management reporting, or data visualization tools such as Power BI.

Leadership and Management:

• Demonstrates ownership and accountability for assigned responsibilities and follows through on commitments.
• Works independently with sound judgment while collaborating effectively with cross-functional partners.
• Builds strong working relationships across Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, and Engineering.
• Supports a culture of continuous improvement, discipline, and teamwork.

Values and Traits:

• Go-getter mindset with strong initiative and follow-through.
• Highly motivated, eager to learn, and willing to roll up sleeves to solve problems.
• Proactive, detail-oriented, and analytical, with a strong sense of ownership.
• Independent thinker who embraces new ideas and pushes boundaries.
• Strong alignment with STARC’s core values: Innovation, Adaptability, Commitment, Team Alignment, Spirit, Optimism, and Humble Confidence.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills to evaluate challenges and implement practical solutions.
• Goal-oriented, focused on creating great products and supporting company growth.
• Strong communication skills, visual, written, and oral, capable of articulating insights and recommendations clearly.
• Perspective-driven, able to balance business needs, operational realities, and financial discipline while fostering a positive team environment.

Summary Pay Range: $75,000.00 - $95,000.00

Compensation and benefits offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, job level, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, individual performance and experience. Please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at STARC Systems.

Benefits and Work Schedule:

STARC Systems offers a competitive benefits package designed to support employees and their families. The benefits listed below are intended to provide a general summary and are not intended to be a complete list of all benefits, programs, eligibility requirements, plan terms, conditions, or limitations.

• Hybrid work schedule

• Medical insurance plan options

• Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Account options

• Employer HSA contribution for eligible employees enrolled in an HSA-compatible plan

• Dental insurance

• Vision insurance

• Basic life and AD&D insurance

• Voluntary life and AD&D insurance options

• Short-term and long-term disability insurance

• Voluntary accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity insurance options

• Employee Assistance Program resources

• Virtual care resources

• Paid time off and company holidays

• 401(k) retirement plan

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions. While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to use hands or fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually low to high. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds.