Cost Accountant

Robert Half • Houston, TX • 17min ago

Description We are looking for a Cost Accountant to join a growing chemical manufacturing organization in Houston, Texas. This position plays a key role in evaluating production costs, strengthening inventory accuracy, and delivering financial insight that supports profitability. The successful candidate will work closely with plant, supply chain, commercial, and finance teams to turn complex manufacturing data into clear recommendations for business decisions.

Responsibilities:

Manage standard cost data for raw materials, work-in-process, and finished products, ensuring costing records remain accurate and current within the ERP system.

Prepare material cost roll-forwards and contribute to recurring cost updates that support monthly reporting and annual planning activities.

Investigate cost variances across production and purchasing activity, including material consumption, yield performance, price fluctuations, operational efficiency, and inventory movements.

Assist with inventory valuation, reconciliations, and related accounting processes to support reliable financial reporting.

Create and refine costing models that inform pricing strategy, margin evaluation, and product profitability analysis.

Collaborate with operations, supply chain, and commercial teams to assess manufacturing performance and identify opportunities to reduce cost and improve margins.

Support period-end close by preparing journal entries, allocating costs, and completing inventory-related accounting tasks.

Produce dashboards, management reports, and analytical summaries that highlight trends, exceptions, and business performance drivers.

Partner with plant leadership to understand process conditions, production methods, and operational factors that influence cost outcomes.

Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, internal control compliance, and other financial planning activities across the manufacturing environment. Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.

At least 5 years of experience in cost accounting within a manufacturing setting.

Strong knowledge of standard costing, inventory accounting, manufacturing accounting, variance analysis, and product costing.

Hands-on experience with SAP, ideally including product costing or material ledger functionality.

Advanced Excel capabilities, including pivot tables, Power Query, lookups, complex formulas, and analysis of large data sets.

Background in chemical or other process manufacturing environments is strongly preferred.

Familiarity with bills of materials and manufacturing cost structures.

Effective communication and analytical skills, with the ability to work cross-functionally with finance and operations teams.

Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized talent solutions firm that connects highly qualified job seekers to opportunities at great companies. We offer contract, temporary and permanent placement solutions for finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal, and administrative and customer support roles.

Robert Half works to put you in the best position to succeed. We provide access to top jobs, competitive compensation and benefits, and free online training. Stay on top of every opportunity - whenever you choose - even on the go. Download the Robert Half app (https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/mobile-app) and get 1-tap apply, notifications of AI-matched jobs, and much more.

All applicants applying for U.S. job openings must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Benefits are available to contract/temporary professionals, including medical, vision, dental, and life and disability insurance. Hired contract/temporary professionals are also eligible to enroll in our company 401(k) plan. Visit roberthalf.gobenefits.net for more information.

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