Description
Cost Accountant
Location: Chennai,India
Required Language: English
Employment Type: Full-Time
Seniority Level: Associate
Travel Mode: Moderate
About Us:
Buckman is a privately held, global specialty chemical company with headquarters in Memphis, TN, USA, committed to safeguarding the environment, maintaining safety in the workplace, and promoting sustainabledevelopment. Buckmanworksproactivelyandcollaborativelywithitsworldwidecustomers in pulp, paper, leather, and water treatment to deliver exceptional service and innovative specialty chemical solutions to help boost productivity, reduce risk, improve product quality, and provide a measurablereturnoninvestment. Buckmanisinthemiddleofadigitaltransformationofitsbusinesses and is focused on building capabilities and tools in support of this.
Purpose:
The Cost Accountant is responsible for ensuring accurate product costing, inventory valuation, manufacturing variance analysis, and cost reporting for North America manufacturing operations. This role partners closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, FP&A;, and Finance leadership to provide financial insights, strengthen cost controls, support month-end close activities, and improve profitability through effective cost management.
Qualifications&experience;:
Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Commerce, Business Administration, Economics, or related discipline.
CMA, CPA, CA, or equivalent professional qualification preferred.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and financial reporting tools.
Mandate Experience:
10+ years of relevant experience in Cost Accounting and Manufacturing Finance
Experience supporting manufacturing operations and inventory accounting.
Strong experience with ERP systems, preferably SAP.
Experience in standard costing, inventory valuation, and variance analysis
Experience supporting month-end close, budgeting, and forecasting processes.
Accountabilities:
Perform product costing, inventory accounting, manufacturing cost analysis, month-end close activities, and financial reporting support while ensuring compliance with accounting policies, internal controls, and reporting standards. Provide analytical insights that improve operational efficiency, profitability, and informed business decision-making
Costing&Inventory; Accounting:
Maintain and update standard costs for raw materials, labor, and overhead components.
Validate Bills of Material (BOMs), routings, and cost structures to ensure costing accuracy.
Perform cost rollups and support new product costing activities
Monitor inventory transactions and inventory valuation processes.
Reconcile inventory accounts with the General Ledger.
Support cycle counts and physical inventory programs.
Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies and valuation issues
Ensure compliance with internal control and audit requirements.
Manufacturing Cost Analysis & Reporting
Analyse Purchase Price Variances (PPV), labour, material usage, and overhead variances.
Prepare monthly cost and margin analysis reports for management review.
Provide root cause analysis and actionable recommendations on cost variances.
Support profitability and margin improvement initiatives.
Deliver financial insights to Operations and Supply Chain leaders.
Strong knowledge of Standard Costing and Inventory Accounting
SAP experience, particularly costing and inventory modules.
Strong financial planning, analysis, and reporting capabilities.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills; Power BI experience preferred.
Solid understanding of financial controls and compliance requirements
Financial Planning,Analysis&Reporting;:
Reviewandanalyzeinventoryandmarginreportsandconductresearchandanalyticalstudies regarding cost variance/movements and profitability.
Performvarianceanalysisoftheprice,cost,efficiency,andvolumedriversrelated.
Activelysupporttheforecastingandannualbudgetingprocessin APAC
Others
Managesales Incentivecomputation&accrualstogetherandregularreviewwithHRDand; FD
ProvidesupporttotheFP&AManagerand; Finance Director-APACforanyinitiatives/projects assigned such as new reporting application implementation or training.
Required Skills
FamiliarwithERPsystemandmusthaveSAPFICOsystem.
RelevantcostingexperienceinthemanufacturingenvironmentandSAPERPisamust
Strongfinancialplanning,analysisandreportingskills
Knowledgeofstatutoryrequirement/regulations/acts/varioustaxes(GST/VAT/Excise)in countries like India, Indonesia and Pakistan is an advantage
Computerproficiencyin Qlik View/Qlik Sense,SAP,RPA,and Microsoft Officeapplications (particularly MS Excel)
Personality Traits:
Goodwritten,andverbalcommunicationskillsandabilitytocommunicateeffectively
Ability to work independently, be resourceful and be an effective team player and adapt to rapidchanging environment in a fast-paced, changing, and high-volume environment with emphasis on accuracy and timeliness
Good interpersonal skills and cultural sensitivity and able to deal & collaborate with people from various cultural backgrounds and countries
📌 Cost Accountant (India)
🏢 Buckman
📍 India