Junior Accountant? Manufacturing

The Opportunity

An established manufacturing organization is seeking an early-career accountant to assist with day-to-day accounting while helping strengthen its cost-accounting capabilities. The role supports routine financial activities, reporting, reconciliations, and analysis, with particular attention to inventory, job costs, and production-related accounting. This is a strong entry point for a recent accounting graduate who wants meaningful exposure to how materials, labor, overhead, inventory, and operational decisions affect financial performance. You will receive direction from senior accounting leadership while taking increasing ownership of processes and reporting.

What You Will Do

Support accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger activity, and account reconciliations.

Participate in monthly and annual close activities and maintain accurate supporting schedules and documentation.

Help design and implement a practical cost-accounting framework for manufacturing operations.

Partner with production, operations, purchasing, warehouse, and management teams to document how current products and jobs are costed.

Create methods for capturing direct material, direct labor, factory overhead, and other production expenses.

Assist in selecting and applying suitable job-costing, standard-costing, and cost-allocation approaches.

Develop processes to monitor manufacturing costs, isolate variances, and explain material, labor, overhead, and production differences.

Support inventory-costing and valuation practices and help maintain dependable related controls.

Prepare useful reports and performance measures that give leadership better visibility into job and product profitability.

Recommend improvements based on cost trends, operating data, and financial analysis.

Build procedures, reports, and controls from the ground up with guidance from the Controller/Accounting Manager.

Handle additional accounting responsibilities as business needs and organizational growth require.

Education and Early-Career Experience

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

Zero to two years of accounting experience; recent graduates are encouraged to apply.

Relevant internships, co-op assignments, or substantive academic accounting projects will be considered.

Coursework in cost accounting, managerial accounting, or manufacturing accounting is strongly preferred.

Prior manufacturing-accounting exposure is helpful, but it is not required for a candidate with the right foundation and interest.

Knowledge and Capabilities

Working knowledge of GAAP fundamentals, including debits and credits, journal entries, and general ledger accounting.

Genuine interest in cost accounting and in learning how a manufacturing operation functions.

Sound analytical judgment, problem-solving ability, and careful attention to accuracy.

Ability to organize work, manage competing priorities, and meet deadlines in a fast-moving setting.

Comfort working independently while collaborating effectively across departments.

Clear written and verbal communication skills and a proactive, team-oriented work style.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office and practical Excel skills, including formulas, sorting, filtering, and data analysis.

Ability to learn accounting and ERP platforms quickly and safeguard confidential financial information.

Initiative, professionalism, a strong work ethic, and a constructive attitude when working through issues with colleagues.

Preferred Background

Degree concentration or advanced coursework in cost or managerial accounting.

Internship or previous work in a manufacturing-accounting setting.

Experience using an ERP or accounting system.

Exposure to inventory accounting, job costing, standard costing, or manufacturing financial statements and cost structures.

Intermediate Excel capability, including PivotTables and lookup functions such as VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

The position is based in a standard office setting with frequent time in manufacturing and warehouse areas. The work may also involve exposure to outdoor, shop, and jobsite conditions. Extended hours or weekend work may occasionally be necessary. The role may require standing for an entire shift and performing activities such as sitting, walking, reaching overhead, bending, crouching, kneeling, squatting, twisting, climbing, pushing, pulling, grasping, and lifting at least 40 pounds. Travel may account for as much as 40% of the position.

Benefits

Full-time employees are offered a competitive benefits program that may include group medical and dental coverage, employer-sponsored life insurance, a 401(k), credit-union access, employee discounts, flexible spending options, paid vacation and holidays, and voluntary coverage such as short-term disability, supplemental life, accident, cancer, and hospitalization insurance.

Additional Information

This position offers an opportunity to develop specialized expertise in manufacturing and cost accounting within an environment that values professional growth, challenge, and continuous improvement. Employment is contingent upon completion of a background check. The employer is committed to equal employment opportunity and maintains a drug-free workplace.