Cost Analyst

Selby Jennings is partnering with a manufacturing firm in Cincinnati, OH looking for a Sr/Cost Analyst to join their team. This role is designed for an experienced cost-focused finance professional who thrives in a manufacturing environment and enjoys partnering closely with operational teams. The position plays a key part in driving loss‑reduction efforts, supporting productivity initiatives, and improving financial clarity across plant operations. Acting as a bridge between production, engineering, business development, and finance, this individual will help identify improvement opportunities, guide strategic decision-making, and ensure accurate, insightful cost analysis for leadership.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance.
• At least three years of cost or financial analysis experience within a manufacturing setting.
• Strong spreadsheet and data‑management abilities, with advanced Excel skills.
• Experience with SAP is a must.
• Proven analytical mindset with solid problem-solving capability.
• Comfortable handling multiple priorities in a fast‑moving environment.
• Self‑directed, proactive, and able to operate independently with minimal oversight.
• Clear and effective written and verbal communication abilities.
• Collaborative team player with strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work with stakeholders at all organizational levels.

• Lead and support initiatives focused on identifying, evaluating, and reducing operational losses throughout the plant.
• Serve as a strategic partner connecting production, engineering, business development, and finance to advance improvement efforts.
• Foster cross‑functional collaboration and help influence leaders to align on loss‑reduction and productivity goals.
• Develop tools, templates, and measurement resources that enable teams to pinpoint, quantify, and monitor operational inefficiencies.
• Work closely with plant leadership to guide productivity planning, loss‑analysis processes, and financial forecasting related to improvement projects.
• Hold process owners accountable by reviewing the financial performance of loss‑elimination plans and communicating risks or opportunities.
• Monitor plant performance against key metrics, production standards, and direct fixed cost targets.
• Support evaluations of product costing, financial impacts of volume/mix changes, asset utilization, and labor‑efficiency opportunities.
• Validate and reconcile shift‑level data to ensure accurate calculations and reporting.
• Contribute to the financial assessment of improvement initiatives and long‑term operational strategies.
• Provide additional finance or accounting support as department needs evolve.