Senior Cost & Inventory Accounting Specialist

Location: Charlotte Metro Area
Department: Corporate Finance

Position Overview

This role is responsible for ensuring the accuracy of product costing and inventory valuation across a high-volume production environment. The Senior Cost & Inventory Accounting Specialist acts as a financial partner to operations, providing clear visibility into material flows, manufacturing performance, and cost drivers. This individual plays a key part in the month-end close, supports leadership with meaningful analysis, and helps strengthen the company’s internal processes as the business continues to scale.

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Primary Responsibilities

Inventory & Cost Oversight

• Maintain detailed records of material, in-process, and finished goods inventory, ensuring all activity is properly captured.

• Validate the accuracy of cost layers, labor rates, and overhead components used in product costing.

• Review and update cost models when purchasing, production, or operational assumptions change.

Close Activities & Account Reconciliation

• Prepare financial entries and supporting schedules tied to inventory and production-related costs during each close cycle.

• Compare operational inventory reports to the general ledger and resolve differences promptly.

• Support cost roll-ups and perform analyses that explain manufacturing and material cost movements month over month.

Operational Cost Analysis

• Investigate deviations between expected and actual production costs, identifying underlying drivers.

• Review pricing fluctuations, usage trends, and manufacturing efficiency metrics to provide insights to operational leadership.

• Monitor items that are slow-moving or no longer needed and recommend reserve levels or adjustments as appropriate.

Physical Inventory & Internal Controls

• Participate in periodic inventory counts and cycle-count programs, ensuring accurate execution and reconciliation.

• Assess the adequacy of inventory-related controls and ensure transactions (receipts, transfers, adjustments) adhere to policies.

• Partner with warehouse and production teams to correct discrepancies and reinforce best practices.

Reporting & Insight Delivery

• Develop management reports that summarize cost trends, inventory activity, risks, and improvement opportunities.

• Provide clear communication to finance and operational leaders around cost behavior and inventory performance.

• Support internal and external audit requirements with timely reporting and supporting documentation.

Process & Systems Development

• Identify areas where cost or inventory workflows can be enhanced and propose practical improvements.

• Assist with enhancements to ERP modules or reporting tools that strengthen data accuracy and transparency.

• Contribute to long-term initiatives aimed at optimizing costing methodologies and operational efficiency.

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Required Experience & Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.

• 5–7 years of experience supporting cost or inventory accounting within a production or manufacturing environment.

• Strong understanding of product costing concepts, inventory valuation techniques, and cost analysis.

• Comfortable working in an ERP environment; able to navigate complex inventory and costing modules.

• High proficiency in spreadsheet analysis and ability to interpret both financial and operational data.

• Excellent attention to detail, strong organizational habits, and consistent follow-through.

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Preferred Background

• Experience with multi-step manufacturing processes or environments with complex inventory structures.

• Exposure to process-improvement methodologies (LEAN, continuous improvement, etc.).

• Audit support experience or familiarity with internal control frameworks.

• Ability to work with data visualization or reporting tools.

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual’s skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company’s 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.