Cost Analyst

Position Overview
The Cost Analyst is an existing role within Kimball Electronics Jasper. You will report to the BU Controller for Kimball Electronics Jasper (KEJ). You will overall support the completeness, accuracy, & integrity of the financial statements for KEJ, month end closing process, internal controls structure and providing impactful data for management decision-making. The mission of this position is primarily to validate tariff costs incurred from supplier and to pass to customer. Also, to maintain SAP master data to reflect correct information regarding costs incurred by suppliers. The desired outcome is to ensure accurate billing to customer for costs incurred.

Quick Summary
The Cost Analyst I is responsible for all activities related to tariffs; including review, approvals, documenting, customer billing & reporting.
• Ensure tariff charges on supplier invoices are reasonable based on current tariff rates & that all relevant information is provided (COO, HTS code, PO detail, etc.)
• Review CTSI Freight Paid report to identify & ensure tariff related charges are validated & documented to support customer billing.
• Work with Engineering & Supply Chain teams to identify tariff exclusions that can be claimed by KEJ
• Coordinate with customs brokers (UPS, FedEx, Expeditors, etc.) to implement exclusions
• Monitor 2DL data to ensure exclusions are applied accurately; work with customs brokers to issue post summary corrections as needed
• Review US Treasury refunds to determine where customer credits should be applied
• Create monthly billing file by combining tariff charges on supplier invoices and in 2DL Freight Paid file
• Provide Controller compiled costs for monthly charges & customer invoice amounts
• Update Tariff Reconciliation file at month end to verify that tariff charges posted to the Tariff Expense & Customer & Duties accounts in SAP tie out
• Prepare customer monthly billings (SPRs)
• Track recovery & work with PM/BM to ensure customer POs are received
• First point of contact on customer/PM/BM questions
• Cross train with KEJ Finance team to ensure departmental backup
• Comply with all Safety, Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) and Quality Management

Job Description

The Cost Analyst is an existing role within Kimball Electronics Jasper. You will report to the BU Controller for Kimball Electronics Jasper (KEJ). You will overall support the completeness, accuracy, & integrity of the financial statements for KEJ, month end closing process, internal controls structure and providing impactful data for management decision-making.  The mission of this position is primarily to validate tariff costs incurred from supplier and to pass to customer. Also, to maintain SAP master data to reflect correct information regarding costs incurred by suppliers. The desired outcome is to ensure accurate billing to customer for costs incurred. 

Quick Summary

The Cost Analyst I is responsible for all activities related to tariffs; including review, approvals, documenting, customer billing & reporting.

Ensure tariff charges on supplier invoices are  reasonable based on current tariff rates & that all relevant information is provided (COO, HTS code, PO detail, etc.)

Review CTSI Freight Paid report to identify & ensure tariff related charges are validated & documented to support customer billing

Work with Engineering & Supply Chain teams to identify tariff exclusions that can be claimed by KEJ

Coordinate with customs brokers (UPS, FedEx, Expeditors, etc.) to implement exclusions

Monitor 2DL data to ensure exclusions are applied accurately; work with customs brokers to issue post summary corrections as needed

Review US Treasury refunds to determine where customer credits should be applied

Create monthly billing file by combining tariff charges on supplier invoices and in 2DL Freight Paid file

Provide Controller compiled costs for monthly charges & customer invoice amounts

Update Tariff Reconciliation file at month end to verify that tariff charges posted to the Tariff Expense & Customer & Duties accounts in SAP tie out

Prepare customer monthly billings (SPRs)

Track recovery & work with PM/BM to ensure customer POs are received

First point of contact on customer/PM/BM questions

Cross train with KEJ Finance team to ensure departmental backup

Comply with all Safety, Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) and Quality Management System (QMS) requirements

Key Performance Objectives

Short Term: (0 to 2 months):

Learn SAP system

Learn 2DL navigation & reporting

Learn how to locate customs documentation

Learn to create & issue Tariff SPRs

Midterm: (3 to 9 months):

Review & approve tariff charges in SAP Readsoft

Develop detail file to support duties charged through 2DL

Generate monthly billing file

Determine appropriate allocation of tariff exclusion refunds

Post monthly tariff-related journal entries

Reconciliation of monthly tariff expenses

Support ad hoc requests for tariff-related information

Longer Term (9 to >12 Months):

Proactively provide feedback on process enhancements

Cross train with other financial analyst to ensure departmental backup

Take ownership of all Customer Tooling activities including by not limited to the following:  meet with PMs and Engineers monthly to accurately report tooling activities, submit tooling 4-Blocks, create TOs, tracking costs and revenues, creating customer owned assets for insurance purposes, customer owned asset counting/tracking (cycle counts)

Transition into the PROTO Finance Analyst “Controller” responsibility - supporting all accounting and financial reporting activities for the New Product Introduction department

As the primary backup, prepare and submit SPR’s (Special Price Requests) as needed from information given

As the primary backup, perform all necessary tasks associated with setting up ECs (Engineering Changes) into the SAP system and ownership of material cost standards -- set-up new materials, costing created, confirm SAP matches quotes

Provide recommendations for business unit cost structure improvements with a focus on a mindful spending philosophy

Identify gaps / errors in current business processes and recommend solutions

Directly support enhancements and development of relevant business tools and systems

Assist in improving business processes driving for gains in efficiency & effectiveness

Other (ad hoc priorities):

Achieve Yellow and Green Belt Certification in KEJ's Six Sigma Program

Respond to audit inquiries promptly with thorough and accurate information

Help support internal control processes & reviews to ensure the integrity, accuracy, and completeness of the business units financial statements

Decision Support-focused ad-hoc projects, manage different projects and bring closure

Proactively provide recommendations for customer cost down opportunities

Be a Change Agent, focusing on continuous improvement and innovation

Be willing to take on additional projects as time allows

Assist Finance and Supply Chain with different ad hoc reporting & requests

Basic Background Requirements

Minimum of 0 to 3 years related work experience required

Ideal candidate will have Manufacturing Finance / Operational Accounting experience

The ability to work with different departments and all levels of the business

Detail oriented and emphasis on complete & accurate results

Problem solving / analyzing and interpreting data

Strong communication skills across all different functions of the business unit

Capacity to request and gather information proficiently 

Ability to be self-motivated and self-directed, takes initiative

Customer driven and focused, both internal and external

A bachelor's degree (typically accounting or finance) or equivalent work experience

Helpful, but not required are an MBA, CMA, CPA, or APICS (manufacturing) certifications

Cost Accounting and Standard Cost experience in a manufacturing environment a plus

Experience in Microsoft Office product, especially Excel, required

Helpful, but not required knowledge of SAP