Cost Accountant

We are looking for a Cost Accountant to join a manufacturing organization in Ventura County, California on a contract basis with the potential for a permanent opportunity. This role is ideal for an accounting specialist who brings strong experience in inventory valuation, product costing, and manufacturing finance within a fast-paced environment. The position will play a key part in maintaining accurate cost data, supporting financial analysis, and helping the business make informed operational decisions using ERP systems.

Responsibilities:

• Manage product and inventory costing activities, ensuring financial records accurately reflect manufacturing and inventory transactions.
• Review standard costs and analyze variances to identify trends, operational issues, and opportunities for improved cost control.
• Partner with accounting and operations teams to support month-end close activities related to inventory, cost of goods sold, and production reporting.
• Prepare cost analysis and reporting that supports budgeting, forecasting, and business performance reviews.
• Maintain and validate inventory-related data within ERP and MS Excel to support reliable financial reporting.
• Reconcile inventory balances and investigate discrepancies across systems, production records, and general ledger accounts.
• Support process improvements involving cost accounting workflows, including system-related updates or reporting enhancements when needed.
• Use advanced Excel tools to organize financial data, perform analysis, and present findings to stakeholders clearly and accurately.