Senior Cost Accountant

Company / Location Information

A.O. Smith is a global leader applying innovative technologies and energy-efficient solutions to products manufactured and marketed worldwide. The company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of residential and commercial water heating equipment and boilers, as well as a manufacturer of water treatment products for residential and light commercial applications. A. O. Smith is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with approximately 12,000 employees at operations in the United States, Canada, China, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom.

Primary Function

Plan and direct manufacturing cost accounting activities to ensure the integrity and presentation of cost for manufactured products.  Apply principles of cost accounting to conduct studies that provide detailed cost information not supplied by general accounting systems and perform essential duties.  The incumbent is responsible for preparing and analyzing various financial reports and statements as well as maintaining the integrity of all financial documents.

Responsibilities

• Maintain, direct, and participate in the analysis of product costing and related variances for manufacturing and engineering projects.
•  Review bill of material for accuracy and reconcile dollar differences in inventory arising from corrections in BOM content, cycle counting, physical inventories and errors.
•  Assist in developing annual overhead standards and periodically reviewing those standards.
• Responsible for coordination and successful completion of annual cost roll.
•  Maintain a professional working relationship with other departments to correct and improve procedures to reflect accurate manufactured products cost and inventory.
•  Support and serve as primary backup for the monthly financial forecast.
• Assist with the annual fiscal budget preparation, submission, and upload.
• Provide support in the financial management and analysis of the P&L and balance sheet. 
• Assist in the coordination and implementation for physical inventories.
• Prepares journal entries, reports, and applicable GL reconciliations for month-end closing.
• Observe all procedures and policies in accordance with GAAP, company policy, and federal/state regulations.  
• Perform other activities as needed or as requested.

Qualifications

•  Bachelors Degree in Accounting or Finance
• CPA preferred
• Minimum of 5 years related work experience
• 2-3 years Supervisory and/or Leadership experience
• General accounting experience, preferably in a manufacturing facility.
• Excellent communication skills, both orally and written, to explain difficult and financial concepts.
•  Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, especially Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Ability to balance multiple priorities and delegate tasks.
• Strong sense of judgment, decision making, and complex problem solving.
•  Experience in managing the performance of subordinate accounting staff.
•  Ability to maintain confidentiality of information and documents.

Education

We Offer

Competitive compensation package and comprehensive benefits plans which include medical and dental insurance, company-sponsored life insurance, retirement security savings plan, short- and long-term disability programs and tuition assistance.

ADA Statement & EEO Statement

In developing this job description care was taken to include all competencies needed to successfully perform in this position. However, for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) purposes, the essential functions of the job may or may not have been described for purposes of ADA reasonable accommodation. All reasonable accommodation requests will be reviewed and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

We consider all applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity and expression, marital or military status. We also provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable state and local law.