Finance Estimator

The Cost Accountant supports the integrity of inventory accounting, valuation, and manufacturing financial results for assigned production facilities. This role provides financial oversight of inventory transactions and control execution performed at manufacturing locations to ensure accurate inventory balances, valuation, and financial reporting. The Cost Accountant partners with Operations and cross-functional teams to investigate discrepancies, evaluate risks, review plant expenses, and support month-end close activities, including accruals and financial analysis. This role will lean in to question whether results make business sense, connect operational activity to financial outcomes, and bring a recommended next step with identified issues. Through strong analytical skills, professional skepticism, and a growing understanding of manufacturing, commodity, and supply chain processes, the role contributes to a scalable and effective Cost Accounting function.
Monitor inventory transactions, balances, and valuation for assigned facilities to support accurate financial reporting.
Evaluate compliance with established inventory accounting controls and escalate identified risks, deficiencies, or unusual activity.
Support month-end and year-end close processes, including journal entries, accruals, account reconciliations, and financial analysis.
Ownership of preparation, validation, issue resolution, documentation, and timely communication of risks regarding the cost accounting activities.
Review plant operating expenses and accruals to ensure completeness, accuracy, and proper financial reporting.
Investigate inventory discrepancies, count adjustments, and reconciliation differences to identify risks and improve inventory accuracy.
Analyze manufacturing, inventory, commodity, and financial information to identify unusual variances, trends, and potential financial risks, and investigate underlying operational or transactional drivers.
Partner with Operations and other cross-functional teams to understand transaction activity and resolve inventory-related issues.
Support oversight of physical inventory, cycle count, and weigh-up processes to ensure accurate inventory records and compliance with company policies.
Assist with USDA, state agency, and other compliance-related audit activities through reporting, analysis, and documentation.
Support inventory and supply chain accounting activities, including inventory movements, storage arrangements, transfers, and related accruals.
Active identification of process improvement through identification of root cause of recurring issues, documentation gaps, standard work opportunities, and automation opportunities that enhance efficiency, standardization, scalability, and control effectiveness.
Maintain current process documentation, share learning, participate in cross-training, and support consistent practices across facilities.
Bachelors Degree OR equivalent experience.
Progress toward CPA or CMA preferred.
Experience supporting inventory accounting, manufacturing accounting, commodity accounting, or supply chain accounting activities.
Knowledge of plant cost drivers, financial flows, stakeholder deliverables, and cross-functional handoffs.
Experience supporting inventory controls, inventory audits, or financial close processes in a manufacturing environment preferred.
Knowledge of GAAP and inventory accounting principles.
Understanding of inventory valuation, manufacturing cost flows, and internal controls.
Ability to analyze operational and financial information and identify risks, trends, and anomalies.
Ability to understand the operational, transactional, and financial impacts of manufacturing and inventory activities.
Understanding of manufacturing variances and the ability to investigate unusual operational, inventory, yield, or financial results.
Demonstrated professional skepticism and sound judgment when evaluating transactions, balances, and financial results.
Strong proficiency with ERP systems, reporting tools, and Microsoft Excel.
Ability to communicate effectively with operational and finance stakeholders.
Language
Travel
Up to 5% travel required.
Full time Additional Information:
Additionally, we believe that our team members are the reason for our success and all team members are incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and individual results achieved. While the specific bonus plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions, the targeted bonus plan and targeted percentage amount for this role is Bonus - MIP, 5% Annual.
Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage• Health and Dependent Savings Accounts • Life and Disability Programs • Voluntary Benefit Programs • Company Sponsored Wellness Programs • Retirement Savings with Company Match • Team Member and Family Assistance Program (EAP) • Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays • Employee Recognition Program with Rewards (RAVE).
Application Deadline:
Ardent Mills accept applications on a rolling basis without a deadline for application. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and team members and the decisions will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, age, political affiliation, or any other non-merit characteristic protected by law or not. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees in this position. This role follows a hybrid work arrangement and will be based in the assigned work location. The successful candidate will be expected to work in person from their assigned office location two days per week (Tuesday and Wednesday), except when traveling for business.
Recruitment Fraud Disclaimer :
We will never request sensitive information such as your bank account information, social security number, or other non-publicly available information during the application and interview process.