Material Planner

Position Summary: Seeking a detail-oriented Material Planner / Cost Accountant for a contract role supporting manufacturing operations and corporate finance. This dual-function role balances material availability, inventory control, and manufacturing cost analysis to ensure seamless production and accurate financial tracking.

Core Responsibilities

Material Planning & Inventory Control

Evaluate MRP requirements and coordinate material purchases aligned with production schedules, lead times, and demand forecasts.

Monitor component availability to identify potential shortages, excess inventory, and operational risks.
Liaise with vendors and procurement teams to track order fulfillment and mitigate delivery delays.
Maintain system parameters, safety stock levels, master data, and bill of materials (BOM) updates.
Support engineering changes, component substitutions, new product introductions, and cycle count procedures.

Cost Accounting & Financial Analysis

Perform cost accounting functions, including standard cost maintenance for assemblies, materials, and finished goods.

Analyze Purchase Price Variance (PPV), material usage, scrap, labor, overhead, and general manufacturing cost variances.
Reconcile physical inventory with general ledger records and investigate system discrepancies.
Support monthly financial close processes through journal entries, inventory valuations, reserve calculations, and audit documentation.
Generate management reports regarding inventory valuation, cost trends, and operational efficiency.

Key Qualifications

Background in Accounting, Finance, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related discipline.

Practical experience in material planning, inventory management, or cost accounting within a manufacturing environment (electronics, technology, or capital equipment sectors preferred).
Proficiency with MRP/ERP systems, inventory transaction workflows, and standard costing methodologies.
Strong data analysis skills using Advanced Excel (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, condition formulas).

• Demonstrated capability to collaborate across departments and manage competing priorities effectively