Title: Cost Accountant Location : Chicago, IL 60626 (near Evanston) Salary : $73,000 - $90,000 Hours : Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Hire Type : Direct Hire Benefits : Medical, Dental, Vision 401(k) with company match Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays Annual Bonus Opportunity Sterling Engineering is partnering with a stable, employee-owned manufacturing company to hire a Cost Accountant to support their Finance and Accounting team. This role will work closely with production operations, providing financial insight, cost analysis, and inventory support to drive business decisions. This is a great opportunity to join a well-established organization with long-term stability and strong growth. Key Responsibilities : Assist with annual physical inventory and cycle count programs Maintain and analyze inventory reports and cost data Analyze production costs, overhead, and operational expenses to identify trends and improvement opportunities Support budgeting and forecasting activities Perform month-end close including journal entries and account analysis Provide financial support to production operations on cost-related questions Investigate discrepancies and support corrective actions and process improvements Prepare account reconciliations and assist with audit requirements Support improvements in financial reporting and ERP system utilization Assist with ad hoc analysis and manufacturing transaction issues Qualifications : Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required Must have 2+ years of cost accounting or manufacturing accounting experience Must be able to work 100% onsite at the company location Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data and provide recommendations Experience working cross-functionally with operations teams Proficiency in Excel and ERP systems (Oracle strongly preferred) Strong communication skills and ability to work in a team environment