Cost Accountant

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is the North American leader in fiber cement home siding and exterior design solutions. Hardie® products offer long lasting beauty and endless design possibilities with trusted protection and low maintenance. The company pioneered modern fiber cement building products and continues to invest in innovation to transform the industry. James Hardie is a high-performance organization, with an unwavering commitment to Zero Harm. The company proudly employs a diverse workforce of over 3,000 employees across operations in North America.

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The Cost Accountant will be responsible for ensuring that the proper accounting and controls are executed in the plant and for completing analysis. This role will partner with Operational and Finance teams to analyze processes, financial trends and develop ways to improve the manufacturing performance. The Cost Accountant III will manage the core accounting functions within the manufacturing plant. The Cost Accountant III is also responsible for coordinating and conducting cycle counts and annual physical counts within the plant, guiding the cost analysis process, and building and controlling the plant’s annual budget.

What You’ll Do: 

• Plan, analyze, and communicate the profitability of the plant’s manufacturing operations to produce informative, detailed reports outlining efficiencies, plant production, and key financial information for management review
• Assist in the build and control the annual budget for the plant
• Identify resources and solutions to control or eliminate gaps to plan and/or plant performance goals
• Examine the plant’s production costs, gain/loss, and month-end closing data
• Independently collect and analyze operational data
• Participate in daily/weekly plant meetings to explain the results of analysis and identified solutions
• Help prepare the weekly forecast submissions, provide trends and recommend future action
• Drive accounting processes within the plant to ensure accurate books and records and compliance to key control requirements including Sarbanes Oxley.
• Forecast, analyze and report the plant performance to leadership teams
• Gain understanding, and explain and reconcile manufacturing financial variances for the plant
• Identifying, analyzing, leading and implementing process/cost improvements in both the Financial and Operational parts of our business with the appropriate involvement of Finance and Operational partners.
• Prepare month-end close activities, including adjusting journal entries and accruals, closing production work orders, settling utility payments, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Complete monthly cost analysis of controllable expense accounts and material cost variance accounts.
• Provide support and documentation for monthly SOX controls, interim SOX testing, and audits from both Internal and External auditors.
• Actively manage the cycle count cadence process, including reconciling counts and recommending action items to the Plant Controller
• Make decisions based on trends identified in the operational data and offers his/her opinion and solutions to management. Recommend changes and areas of improvement where appropriate, backed by the data analysis from our systems.
• Participate in the annual update of Bill of Materials (BOMs) and Production Routings
• Recognize problems and generate solutions/ideas 
• Perform lease/ purchase analysis using Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and payback measurements
• Coordinate with the engineering group on capital purchase analysis (NPV, IRR, payback) 

Based on plant site size and complexity as well as need, the Cost Accountant III may also:

• Enter daily production into spreadsheets and SAP
• Identify and resolve any production entry discrepancies or issues
• Enter or scan raw material receiving receipt information and preparing for entry into SAP
• Enter raw material receiving data into SAP
• Maintain movement of inventory through the quality process
• Manage movement of damaged and obsolete inventory
• Own oversight of MRB (Material Review Board) inventory including movements of all quality and non-quality product
• Research and resolve purchasing invoice issues
• Coordinate and conduct cycle counts and annual physical counts within the plant
• Ensure that the cycle count is completed efficiently and accurately, and that all data has been entered properly

The position responsibilities outlined above are in no way to be construed as all encompassing.  Other duties, responsibilities, and qualifications may be required and/or assigned as necessary.

What You’ll Bring: 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or Finance required
• Minimum of one year of experience in an accounting or finance role required
• Manufacturing experience preferred
• CPA / CMA certification (or in process) a plus

• Ability to be tactical as well as see the bigger operational picture
• Demonstrated knowledge of standard and cost accounting methods
• Proven ability to synthesize complex and detailed data and information into meaningful outtakes and decision base information.
• Ability to offer advanced solutions based on collected, summarized, and analyzed data
• Demonstrated ability to effectively take action to solve problems while exhibiting sound judgement
• Demonstrated successful use of research methods and report preparation
• Results-oriented to ensure delivery of appropriate products and services in accurate, complete, and timely fashion
• Demonstrated strong skills with the standard features MS Office and other proprietary software
• Excellent interpersonal and written/oral communication skills with the ability to communicate information across the business.
• Demonstrated ability to identify problems and think independently about alternative ways to solve problems based on analysis of data
• Ability to challenge information and uncover robust facts and data which improve insights and the quality of the final decision
• Ability to act independently as a subject matter expert with limited supervision
• Demonstrated ability to focus/prioritize on multiple opportunities at one time
• Ability to maintain expected performance on day to day tasks while also actively participating in special projects
• Ability to implement ideas across multi-plant environment
• Ability to influence others without a direct reporting relationship
• Ability to take on ownership of controls and key accounting processes
• Desire and tenacity to grow within the organization with consideration of relocation to other manufacturing facilities for opportunities

What You’ll Receive:

At James Hardie, we recognize that our success depends on our people. We've worked hard to build a generous and competitive benefits program that demonstrates our commitment to our employees.

• Comprehensive low-cost co-pay Health Insurance; medical, dental, prescription, and vision insurance benefits for every 30+ hour full-time employee. Insurance starts on day one!
• Life insurance
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) Retirement plan that will match 100% of employees saved dollars up to the first 6% of your salary
• 11 paid holidays per year
• Paid vacation
• (Paid sick leave)
• Wellness Program, Employee Assistance Program, Parental Leave
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Community Involvement & Sustainable Solutions
• Click here to learn more about our benefits

James Hardie will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies.

Applications are being accepted on an ongoing basis.

Apply now and come “home” to Hardie!

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James Hardie Building Products Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or any other basis protected by law.