Senior Cost Accountant

Acuity Inc. (NYSE: AYI) is a market-leading industrial technology company. We use technology to solve problems in spaces, light and more things to come. Through our two business segments, Acuity Brands Lighting (ABL) and Acuity Intelligent Spaces (AIS), we design, manufacture, and bring to market products and services that make a valuable difference in people’s lives. 

We achieve growth through the development of innovative new products and services, including lighting, lighting controls, building management solutions, and an audio, video and control platform. We focus on customer outcomes and drive growth and productivity to increase market share and deliver superior returns. We look to aggressively deploy capital to grow the business and to enter attractive new verticals. 

Acuity Inc. is based in Atlanta, Georgia, with operations across North America, Europe and Asia. The Company is powered by approximately 13,000 dedicated and talented associates. Visit us at www.acuityinc.com. 

Work location:

• This position may be based anywhere in the United States and includes travel as part of the responsibilities

Job Summary

We are seeking a Senior Cost Accountant to support and strengthen inventory and manufacturing cost accounting processes in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. This role will be responsible for key month-end close activities, inventory valuation, standard cost maintenance, variance analysis, account reconciliations, journal entries, audit support, and process improvement initiatives. The Senior Cost Accountant will partner closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Tech teams to resolve costing issues, improve financial accuracy, and provide meaningful analysis that supports business decisions.

Key Tasks & Responsibilities (Essential Functions)

• Own key inventory accounting activities, including inventory valuation, standard cost maintenance, intercompany inventory transaction balancing, and related month-end close journal entries.
• Prepare, and analyze inventory and cost accounting reconciliations to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with US GAAP.
• Research and resolve inventory costing issues, including uncosted materials, cost variances, transaction discrepancies, and differences between operational activity and accounting records.
• Maintain and update standard costs, freight, duty, tariff, and other inventory cost components in Oracle or related ERP systems.
• Support annual standard cost updates and provide analysis of the financial impact of cost changes
• Partner with Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Tech to investigate root causes, resolve inventory and costing issues, and strengthen related processes and controls.
• Support physical inventory counts and related documentation.
• Support audit requests and SOX Controls
• Develop and monitor operational and accounting KPIs to identify opportunities to improve accuracy, timeliness, and efficiency across cost accounting processes.
• Lead or contribute to process improvement initiatives, system enhancements, reporting automation, and cross-functional projects impacting inventory and cost accounting.

Responsibilities:

• Inventory and Cost Accounting Expertise: Strong understanding of US GAAP inventory accounting, standard costing, manufacturing variances, cost adjustments, reserves, and inventory-related reconciliations.
• ERP and Systems Capability: Experience working in Oracle or a similar ERP environment, with the ability to research transactions, understand system flows, and resolve costing-related issues.
• Analytical Problem Solving: Uses data, root cause analysis, and sound accounting judgment to identify issues, evaluate options, and recommend practical solutions.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Builds effective working relationships across Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology, and other business partners to resolve issues and support shared objectives.
• Ownership and Accountability: Demonstrates strong follow-through, attention to detail, and the ability to independently manage recurring responsibilities and ad hoc priorities.
• Composure Under Pressure: Able to manage competing priorities, meet tight deadlines, and maintain accuracy during month-end close, audit requests, and high-priority issue resolution.

Skills and Minimum Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 3+ years of Cost Accounting experience, including experience inventory accounting in a manufacturing environment
• Working knowledge of US GAAP inventory accounting concepts and standard costing
• Experience with Oracle ERP or another large ERP system strongly preferred.
• Advanced Excel and database skills; experience with Power BI, Onestream or other reporting and automation tools is a plus.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to explain accounting issues clearly to finance and non-finance stakeholders.
• CPA, CMA, or MBA preferred.
• Ability to travel approximately 10% for physical inventory counts and business.

We value diversity and are an equal opportunity employer.  All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regards to race, color, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, ethnicity or national origin, disability, pregnancy, religion, covered veteran status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.  

Please click here and here for more information. 

Accommodation for Applicants with Disabilities:  As an equal opportunity employer, Acuity Inc. is committed to providing reasonable accommodations in its application process for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans. If you have difficulty using our online system due to a disability and need an accommodation, you may contact us at (770) 922-9000, select option 4.  Please clearly indicate what type of accommodation you are requesting and for what requisition.  

Any unsolicited resumes sent to Acuity Inc. from a third party, such as an Agency recruiter, including unsolicited resumes sent to an Acuity Inc. mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Acuity Inc. employees, or to Acuity Inc. resume database will be considered Acuity Inc. property. Acuity Inc. will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. 

Acuity Inc. will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. This includes any Agency that is an approved/engaged vendor, but does not have the appropriate approvals to be engaged on a search. 

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