Cost Accountant

Position Details:

Title: Cost Accountant

Department: Accounting

Reports to: Sr. Manager, Financial Systems & Inventory Costing

Location: Dearborn, MI

Job Classification: Hybrid

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Band: Professional

Job Summary

The primary responsibility of the Cost Accountant is to maintain and analyze product cost data and inputs. This position performs maintenance, pulls data and creates analysis on cost standards and communicates cost information internally to support various business decisions and analysis of financial metrics and performance.

Inspired by Hard Work

At Carhartt, the values of hard work—dependability, honesty, and trust—are rooted in the legacy of our founder, Hamilton Carhartt. His commitment to serving hardworking people continues to inspire everything we do. Guided by his legacy and our mission—We serve and protect all hardworking people by building durable products—we remain dedicated to upholding these principles in every decision we make and every product we create.

Associate Responsibilities

• Prepare product cost estimates. Collaborate with cross functional teams such as Engineering, Sourcing, and Global Product throughout this process. Analyze supplier and vendor prototype cost quotes and provide feedback on cost assumptions.
• Maintain key master data and current and historical cost standards, including freight, broker, royalty, raw material, duty, labor, overhead, tariff, laundry, and other applicable rates
• Identify and input cost standards for new vendor setup.
• Monitor and troubleshoot cost data, including validating and releasing new item costs.
• Support standard cost and cost book updates by collecting inputs, validating rates and assumptions, testing costing results, documenting changes, auditing outputs, and confirming accurate implementation.
• Assist with testing and validation of costing-related system changes, enhancements, and master-data updates to support accurate financial and operational reporting.
• Perform ad hoc troubleshooting and analysis related to intercompany transfer pricing, make-versus-buy decisions, historical cost trends, margin impacts, and other product costing matters.
• Perform assigned costing activities, including validation of cost postings, inventory revaluation support, and analysis of the financial impact of cost changes.
• Support the month-end close process by preparing journal entries, account analyses, supporting schedules, and required documentation related to freight, duty, broker fees, harbor fees, and other assigned cost components
• Research and analyze actual-to-standard cost variances, document conclusions, and coordinate timely resolution of identified variances.
• Assist with the annual financial statement audit through preparation of account reconciliations and documentation gathering along with providing clear explanations to facilitate the inventory price testing.
• Maintain positive, effective cross-functional communication and follow identified costing, reconciliation, and financial close issues through timely resolution.
• Identify and recommend improvements to processes, reports, systems, and controls.

Required Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of accounting or finance experience; at least 1 year of cost accounting experience preferred.
• Solid knowledge of general ledger accounting, account reconciliations, journal entries, and month-end close processes.
• Ability to analyze large data sets, investigate financial variances, identify root causes, and communicate clear, actionable conclusions.
• Experience with enterprise resource planning systems required; SAP experience preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly in Excel.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills with attention to detail and data integrity.
• Effective written and oral communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to management and cross-functional partners.
• Apparel industry experience preferred.
• Experience supporting internal manufacturing and global sourcing environments preferred

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

• Typical office environment; cubicle setting 
• Extended periods of time sitting, standing, typing on a computer is required 
• Willing to work some weekends if necessary

• This position has a Hybrid location: Associate will work on-site regularly as needed for work activities.
• Carhartt is a tobacco free workplace.

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