Cost Accountant

Job Description

As a Cost Accountant at PWI, you will play a key role in maintaining accurate costing, inventory valuation, and financial reporting for the organization. This position is hands-on and detail-driven, supporting both daily accounting tasks and broader controller-level responsibilities. You will partner with operations, supply chain, engineering, and leadership to ensure cost accuracy, support pricing decisions, and provide financial insights that strengthen profitability and operational efficiency. As PWI continues to grow, this role offers the opportunity to expand into higher-level financial management responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Maintain accurate actual costing for materials, labor, and overhead.

• Monitor and adjust inventory reorder points to support availability and control carrying costs.

• Ensure accurate inventory valuation and participate in cycle counts or physical inventory activities.

• Prepare cost reports, margin analysis, and variance analysis and share findings with leadership.

• Provide accurate costing information to support quoting, pricing, and profitability analysis.

• Assist with budgeting and forecasting; track and report variances to budget.

• Support the month-end close process and contribute to the preparation of accurate financial statements.

• Help develop improved costing processes and systems, including potential future standard costing.

• Assist with cash flow monitoring, general ledger postings, and account reconciliations.

• Collaborate with operations, supply chain, engineering, and other departments to align financial and operational goals.

• Provide financial analysis and recommendations to leadership to support data-driven decisions.

Requirements

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Character

• Analytical and detail-oriented

• Curious and eager to improve systems and processes

• Strong communicator and collaborator across departments

• High integrity and confidentiality in handling financial information

Education or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (CPA or CMA a plus).

• 3–7 years of experience in cost accounting, general accounting, or related roles preferred.

• Manufacturing or production accounting experience preferred.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• No specific licenses required; CPA or CMA certification is beneficial but not required.

Other Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of GAAP and cost accounting principles.

• Proficient in QuickBooks; experience with other ERP or accounting systems is valuable.

• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, data validation, and dashboard/report building.

• Proficient in general computer skills and office software for reporting and communication.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, especially with numerical data and trends.

Physical Abilities

While performing the duties of this job, the employee will primarily work in an office setting. The employee is:

• Regularly required to sit, use a computer, and communicate by phone and email.

• Occasionally required to walk to shop or warehouse areas for inventory counts or cost-related review.

• Occasionally required to lift or move files, binders, or small inventory items up to 20 lbs.

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision needed for reading documents, spreadsheets, and computer screens.

Cognitive and Communication Abilities

• Able to interpret, analyze, and explain financial and costing information.

• Able to communicate and present information in one-on-one and small group situations to leadership, operations staff, and other employees in both verbal and written forms.

• Able to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.

Location

• Willing to work on-site at PWI in Nappanee, Indiana

Job Details and Benefits

• Positive work environment where culture and Core Values are highest priority

• Full-Time status with potential for occasional additional hours during month-end or year-end close as needed

• On-the-job training will be provided on PWI’s accounting systems, costing processes, inventory practices, and financial reporting expectations.

• Paid time off, with up to 3 weeks paid vacation with tenure

• 401k retirement plan with up to 4% company match

• Employer-sponsored individual health insurance, with options for dental and vision

• Health reimbursement account (HRA)

• Wellness Reimbursement

• Paid birthdays off and 7-years employed all-inclusive vacation package

QUESTIONS?

Contact:
Austin Beachy | Human Resources Director
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (574) 646-2015