Head of Accounting and FP&A Schiller Park IL The Role: Head of Cost Accounting and FP&A
Location: Schiller Park, IL The Company
HireBetter's client is a family-owned, values-driven company, operated specialty cheese manufacturer offering customized cheese solutions and private label since 1930.
The Role We are seeking a Head of Cost Accounting and FP&A to lead the accounting, financial planning, and analysis functions.
This role is critical for a high-mix manufacturing environment with complex costing and operational requirements.
The ideal candidate will be a hands-on leader, adept at cost accounting, GAAP, and FP&A, with a strategic mindset to optimize financial operations, streamline processes, and provide actionable insights for decision-making.
This is an opportunity to join a growing company as a transformative leader, shaping its financial infrastructure and contributing to long-term success.
Responsibilities Cost Accounting
Develop and maintain a dynamic costing model tailored to high-mix manufacturing with frequent changeovers and complex commodity pricing.Analyze and manage production costs, including labor, overhead, yield, shrinkage, and variances by product, customer, and production run.Collaborate with operations to understand cost variances and provide actionable insights to improve profitability.Assist in creating fast and accurate custom quotes for new business opportunities.Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of commodity pricing impacts on cost of goods sold.Financial Planning and Analysis (FP&A)
Build financial models to support strategic planning and operational decision-making.Monitor and analyze profitability across business silos, including tolling/conversions, fixed-price products, and overage-based sales.Provide insights into KPIs such as labor efficiency, yield losses, and margin trends to support continuous improvement.Lead budgeting and forecasting processes to align with company growth objectives.Accounting Leadership
Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, including AP, AR, reconciliations, and month-end close.Manage and streamline financial reporting using QuickBooks, with potential migration to a more robust ERP system.Ensure compliance with GAAP for internal financial reporting.Reduce close times and improve the relevance and accuracy of monthly financial statements.Collaborate with the accounting team to transition responsibilities as the company grows, including support for retiring staff members.Technology and Data Analytics
Use advanced Excel, SQL, Tableau, or Power BI to extract, analyze, and visualize data for decision-making.Collaborate with IT to optimize the homegrown ERP system for financial planning and reporting.Automate financial processes to improve efficiency and scalability.Team Building and Cultural Fit
Build and lead a team to manage daily accounting tasks while ensuring operational excellence.Foster a collaborative, inclusive environment that respects the diverse, immigrant-heavy workforce.Serve as a champion of company values, integrating seamlessly into the leadership team.Qualifications Education and Experience
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field (required).8+ years of experience in accounting and FP&A roles, with a focus on manufacturing.Proven expertise in cost accounting for high-mix manufacturing environments with complex production and commodity pricing structures.Proficiency with QuickBooks, advanced Excel, and data analysis tools such as SQL or Tableau.Experience developing financial models and working with KPIs.Skills and Competencies
Deep understanding of GAAP accounting principles.Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills with a focus on actionable insights.Strong leadership and team-building abilities.Ability to collaborate across departments, including operations and production.Proactive, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities effectively.Key Attributes
Humble: Approachable and team-oriented, with no ego.Diligent: Hardworking and focused on delivering results.Proactive: Anticipates needs and acts to prevent problems.Team Player: Thrives in a collaborative environment and supports others.Independent: Self-governing and capable of driving initiatives autonomously.
To Apply Interested candidates should apply through the HireBetter website at jobs.hirebetter.com.
Qualified applicants will be responded to as quickly as possible.
Please note: Applicants for employment in the U.S. must possess work authorization that does not require sponsorship for a visa now or in the future. Tagged as: Head of Accounting and FP&A
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