Job description

The Sr. Cost Accountant serves as a technical subject matter expert for inventory accounting, valuation, commodity accounting, manufacturing controls, and related financial processes across assigned facilities. This role leads the investigation and resolution of complex inventory, operational, and accounting issues while providing guidance, training, and support to Cost Accountants. The Sr. Cost Accountant partners with Operations and Finance to evaluate risks, implement process improvements, and ensure accurate financial reporting, control execution, and inventory valuation. This role will be responsible for developing forward-looking analyses, identifying emerging risks and opportunities, and converting findings into clear recommendations and action plans. Through deep knowledge of manufacturing, commodity, supply chain, and accounting processes, this role helps drive consistency, scalability, and continuous improvement within the Cost Accounting function. • Perform independent investigation, recommendation, and coordination of corrective actions for complex inventory, valuation, accounting, and control-related issues. • Serve as the first escalation point for Cost Accountants regarding accounting treatment, inventory controls, ERP and MES transaction impacts, and financial risk considerations. • Execute month-end and year-end close activities for assigned facilities and areas of responsibility. • Lead analysis of manufacturing variances and operational performance metrics, distinguish operational performance impacts from commodity market impacts, and provide recommendations to support improved business performance. • Own activities relating to valuation of commodity inventories and related liabilities while partnering with commodity settlement and operational teams to resolve issues and improve accuracy. • Monitor inventory accuracy, count adjustments, reconciliation differences, and financial impacts across assigned facilities. • Provide technical guidance, training, and mentorship to Cost Accountants and support knowledge transfer across the team. • Active involvement and accountability for the implementation of process improvements, reporting enhancements, and control standardization initiatives. • Partner with Operations, FP&A, and other stakeholders to improve understanding of manufacturing performance, inventory trends, and financial outcomes. • Support oversight of inventory audits, weigh-up programs, cycle count programs, and regulatory reviews. • Serve as a subject matter expert in inventory valuation, commodity accounting, manufacturing controls, and ERP/MES transaction flows. • Escalate issues with solution options in timely matter. • Ownership for data integrity, reporting standardization, dashboard requirements, and identification of automation or AI opportunities within assigned processes. • Support stakeholder readiness, training, adoption, and sustainability for new processes, systems, controls, and ways of working. • Ownership for playbooks, documentation quality, cross-training, and building backup capability across facilities and processes. Education Bachelor s Degree OR equivalent experience. CPA or CMA strongly preferred. Experience 6 years of relevant experience. Experience supporting inventory accounting, manufacturing accounting, commodity accounting, or related financial processes in a manufacturing environment. Experience leading complex investigations, reconciliations, or process improvement initiatives. Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations preferred. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Advanced knowledge of inventory valuation, manufacturing accounting, commodity accounting, and financial controls. Ability to interpret and evaluate transaction flows across ERP, manufacturing execution, and financial systems. Ability to conduct root cause analysis and identify operational, accounting, and control implications. Ability to evaluate manufacturing performance, yield, blending, and inventory-related variances and translate findings into actionable recommendations. Ability to influence business decisions and coordinate corrective actions across functions. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Ability to mentor, train, and develop less experienced accounting professionals. Ability to communicate concise financial narratives, challenge assumptions constructively, and influence Operations and Finance partners without formal authority. Advanced proficiency in ERP systems, reporting tools, data analysis, and Microsoft Excel. Language Travel Up to 5% travel required. Physical Demands and Working Conditions Location: Denver CO Address: 1875 Lawrence Street, Denver CO, 80202 Additional Locations (if applicable): Employment Type: Full time Additional Information: Competitive Compensation: We provide market-driven base pay, based on skills, abilities, and level of experiences. Our salary ranges are broad, and individual salary will be market competitive based on a candidate’s unique set of skills and level of experience. The starting range for this position is $107,700.00 - $129,400.00, with additional earning potential possible commensurate with experience. Additionally, we believe that our team members are the reason for our success and all team members are incentive eligible with a target based on contribution, company performance, and individual results achieved. While the specific bonus plan and target amount will be determined based on the role and breadth of contributions, the targeted bonus plan and targeted percentage amount for this role is Bonus - MIP, 10% Annual. Benefits: At Ardent Mills we offer a wide range of benefits to our team members and their eligible family members. Some of our great benefit programs you may be eligible for include: • Medical, Dental and Vision Coverage• Health and Dependent Savings Accounts • Life and Disability Programs • Voluntary Benefit Programs • Company Sponsored Wellness Programs • Retirement Savings with Company Match • Team Member and Family Assistance Program (EAP) • Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays • Employee Recognition Program with Rewards (RAVE). Application Deadline: Ardent Mills accepte les demandes sur une base continue sans date limite de dépôt des demandes. Ardent Mills accept applications on a rolling basis without a deadline for application. EEO Commitment: At Ardent Mills, everyone matters and everyone has a voice. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal opportunities are available to all applicants and team members and the decisions will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, veteran status, age, political affiliation, or any other non-merit characteristic protected by law or not. Together, celebrating our differences, we make Ardent Mills. The preceding position description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this position. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees in this position. The description, duties, functions, and responsibilities are subject to change at the discretion of Ardent Mills. En Ardent Mills, todos importan y todos tienen voz. Estamos comprometidos a brindar un ambiente de respeto mutuo donde haya igualdad de oportunidades disponibles para todos los solicitantes y miembros del equipo y las decisiones se basarán en el mérito, la competencia, el desempeño y las necesidades comerciales. Estamos orgullosos de ser un empleador que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades. No discriminamos por motivos de raza, color, religión, credo, origen nacional, ascendencia, estado civil, sexo, orientación sexual, identidad o expresión de género, discapacidad física o mental, embarazo, información genética, condición de veterano, edad, política. afiliación, o cualquier otra característica no meritoria protegida por ley o no. Juntos, celebrando nuestras diferencias, formamos Ardent Mills. La descripción del puesto anterior ha sido diseñada para indicar la naturaleza general y los deberes y responsabilidades esenciales del trabajo realizado por los empleados dentro de este puesto. Es posible que no contenga un inventario completo de todos los deberes, responsabilidades y calificaciones requeridas de los empleados en este puesto. La descripción, los deberes, las funciones y las responsabilidades están sujetos a cambios a discreción de Ardent Mills. Role Designation Ardent Mills is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. This role follows a hybrid work arrangement and will be based in the assigned work location. The successful candidate will be expected to work in person from their assigned office location two days per week (Tuesday and Wednesday), except when traveling for business. Recruitment Fraud Disclaimer : At Ardent Mills, the security of our employees and candidates is a priority. We will never request sensitive information such as your bank account information, social security number, or other non-publicly available information during the application and interview process. If someone asks you for sensitive information, we strongly advise that you assume that individual is not affiliated with Ardent Mills. Some things to watch out for: Slightly altered or unprofessional email addresses. Ardent Mills’ Recruitment team only corresponds from email addresses with the domain first.last.talent ardentmills.com or first.last ardentmills.com . Vague job requirements or job descriptions. Our open job opportunities and descriptions can be found at ardentmillscareers.com

Requirements

Must-haves

Perform independent investigation, recommendation, and coordination of corrective actions for complex inventory, valuation, accounting, and control-related issues.
Serve as the first escalation point for Cost Accountants regarding accounting treatment, inventory controls, ERP and MES transaction impacts, and financial risk considerations.
Execute month-end and year-end close activities for assigned facilities and areas of responsibility.
Own activities relating to valuation of commodity inventories and related liabilities while partnering with commodity settlement and operational teams to resolve issues and improve accuracy.
Monitor inventory accuracy, count adjustments, reconciliation differences, and financial impacts across assigned facilities.
Provide technical guidance, training, and mentorship to Cost Accountants and support knowledge transfer across the team.
Active involvement and accountability for the implementation of process improvements, reporting enhancements, and control standardization initiatives.
Partner with Operations, FP&A, and other stakeholders to improve understanding of manufacturing performance, inventory trends, and financial outcomes.
Support oversight of inventory audits, weigh-up programs, cycle count programs, and regulatory reviews.
Serve as a subject matter expert in inventory valuation, commodity accounting, manufacturing controls, and ERP/MES transaction flows.
Escalate issues with solution options in timely matter.
Ownership for data integrity, reporting standardization, dashboard requirements, and identification of automation or AI opportunities within assigned processes.
Support stakeholder readiness, training, adoption, and sustainability for new processes, systems, controls, and ways of working.
Ownership for playbooks, documentation quality, cross-training, and building backup capability across facilities and processes.
Bachelor s Degree OR equivalent experience.
6 years of relevant experience.
Experience supporting inventory accounting, manufacturing accounting, commodity accounting, or related financial processes in a manufacturing environment.
Experience leading complex investigations, reconciliations, or process improvement initiatives.
Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
Advanced knowledge of inventory valuation, manufacturing accounting, commodity accounting, and financial controls.
Ability to interpret and evaluate transaction flows across ERP, manufacturing execution, and financial systems.
Ability to conduct root cause analysis and identify operational, accounting, and control implications.

Nice-to-haves

CPA or CMA strongly preferred.
Experience supporting multi-site manufacturing operations preferred.

Application prep

Use the role’s language and application details while tailoring your materials.

Keywords to mirror

Platform: workday
Effort: long

Benefits

Benefits detected in the listing.

Dental

Vision

Paid Time Off

Wellness