Cost Accountant - Food Manufacturing

Cost Analyst - Manufacturing & Commercial Finance

Location: Collingswood, NJ
Salary: $80,000-$100,000 per year
Travel: Approximately 15%, including regular visits to manufacturing facilities

The Opportunity

We are seeking a highly analytical Cost Analyst to support manufacturing operations across North America. This role sits at the intersection of finance, plant operations, and commercial activity, providing visibility into product costs, margins, pricing, and operational performance.

You will work closely with plant leadership, finance, sales, and senior management to improve costing accuracy, strengthen reporting, and identify opportunities to improve profitability. The position offers broad exposure to both the financial and operational sides of a food manufacturing business.

Key Responsibilities

Costing & Commercial Analysis

• Build, maintain, and update standard and actual costs across multiple products and product categories.

• Evaluate the impact of raw materials, direct labor, manufacturing overhead, and other cost inputs on product profitability.

• Support pricing decisions by developing cost-based recommendations aligned with target margins.

• Conduct regular cost and margin variance analysis, investigating the factors behind changes in profitability.

• Partner directly with sales teams on costing, pricing, margin analysis, and customer-related requests.

• Contribute to the ongoing review of pricing and margin performance.

Manufacturing & Plant Support

• Work alongside production and operations teams to develop a strong understanding of manufacturing processes and their associated cost drivers.

• Visit two manufacturing facilities regularly to validate costing assumptions and gain firsthand insight into production activities.

• Provide plant leadership with financial analysis, reporting, and actionable recommendations.

• Develop a practical understanding of how changes in production, materials, labor, and processes affect overall product costs.

Process Improvement & Analysis

• Help design and implement improved costing methodologies and processes.

• Identify gaps, inefficiencies, and opportunities to improve the accuracy and consistency of cost information.

• Develop analytical tools and reporting that improve visibility into operational and financial performance.

• Support management with ad hoc financial and operational analysis as required.

• Contribute to broader initiatives supporting the integration and consolidation of North American operations.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.

• 3-5 years of relevant experience in cost accounting, cost analysis, or manufacturing finance.

• Experience within food manufacturing or another manufacturing environment is highly desirable.

• Advanced Excel capabilities, including complex formulas, pivot tables, data analysis, and financial modeling.

• Strong analytical ability with a structured approach to investigating costs and variances.

• Demonstrated ability to identify problems and develop practical process improvements.

• Strong attention to detail and a high level of accuracy.

• Excellent organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities independently.

• Strong communication skills and confidence working with both finance and non-finance stakeholders.

• Comfortable spending time within a manufacturing/production environment and engaging directly with plant personnel.

Working Environment

This is a hands-on role combining financial analysis with regular interaction with manufacturing operations.

• Based in Collingswood, New Jersey.

• Regular presence at the primary manufacturing facility, with travel to a second plant in Sutton, Massachusetts.

• Approximately 15% travel expected, with occasional travel to Canada.

• Combination of office-based analytical work and on-site engagement with manufacturing teams.

• Close collaboration with a manager based in Canada.

• Fast-moving environment with an emphasis on operational improvement and continuous development.

Benefits

• 401(k) and company matching

• Health insurance

• Dental and vision insurance

• Life insurance

• Paid time off

• Employee discount

• Tuition reimbursement

• Employee referral program

Employment Type: Full-time
Work Location: In person