Cost Accountant

Company Description

PQ is a leading global provider of silicates, silicas and derivative products. PQ's products are used in a wide variety of industrial processes and many customer products, from decorative paints to green cement, from clean drinking water to green tires and from toothpaste to biofuels and beer.

Ideal candidates resonate with PQ's Core Values of Integrity, Sustainability, People, Customer Focus and Safety.  Successful employees embrace and model these values in their behaviors and actions.

Job Description

Reporting to the Cost Accounting Manager, the Cost Accountant will provide accounting and analytical support over manufacturing and distribution costs, partnering with the Operations Leadership teams in directing and controlling the business performance across the US and Canada sites.

More specific responsibilities include (but not limited to):

• Review, analysis, and update of costs to reflect changing conditions and cost of materials, ensuring accuracy and completeness of information.
• Analysis and interpretation of variances from standard costs, plant fixed cost spending and production.
• Ad-hoc analyses on product costs, inventory levels, raw material usage, energy consumption, yield reporting, etc.
• Experience in manufacturing cost accounting related activities such as creating cost estimates. (i.e. standard), overhead absorption, inventory management, month-end closing, balance sheet reconciliations, etc.
• Preparation of quarterly and annual schedules as required by internal and external auditors.
• Promote financial best practices and efficiency in processes; continuously identify and implement opportunities to improve.
• Problem-solving skills to help plant personnel resolve manufacturing plant accounting problems and improve plant-reporting accuracy.
• Acting as a liaison with other departments with the company.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Technical Success Factors:
The Cost Accountant will have matured 3-5 years in an accounting/manufacturing plant accounting, has a proactive mindset and excellent time-management skills. Additionally, the candidate will possess:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting
• Manufacturing Industry preferred with standard costing
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills
• Experience with financial accounting software; SAP experience strongly preferred
• Month end closing experience including reconciliations.
• Sarbanes Oxley experience

Personality and Cultural Success Factors:
The Cost Accountant must also possess the following traits:

• Ability to work independently, prioritize and attain deliverables.
• excellent interpersonal and communication skills and ability to work well within the broader of Finance team and across business units.
• ability to interact effectively with stakeholders at all levels, maintaining the highest standards of integrity and a support service attitude.
• ability to exercise sound judgment and take initiative in resolving problems and making recommendations.
• must be highly disciplined, results-oriented, and self-motivated.
• strong organization skills. Ability to organize complex projects, manage multiple tasks, and meet established deadlines.

Additional Information

Travel to the plant locations as needed (training, process evaluations, review of procedural techniques, cost reduction evaluations).

In addition to the necessary skills and experience to perform the responsibilities outlined above, there are several traits that a successful candidate will possess.

EHS Responsibilities

• Communicates, promotes and personally demonstrates Safety/Health (including PQP Principles) as #1 priority
• Participation in risk assessment audits as applicable
• Understand PQ Principles (PQP) and how they are implemented in the site organization, rules and procedures
• Completes HSE training requirements identified for the job in a timely manner

PQ is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristics. Click on the link to read Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal (eeoc.gov). For more information, please review the link Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal | U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission