Senior Accountant - Manufacturing & Operations

Senior Cost AccountantWhisker is redefining what it means to live with cats—designing intelligent systems that remove friction, elevate the everyday, and celebrate the quiet brilliance of feline companionship. Today, Litter-Robot leads the category. Tomorrow, an entire ecosystem that expands what's possible for cats and the people who love them.

We believe the future is feline. And we're imagining that future today.We work onsite 4+ days a week with our team based in Auburn Hills, Michigan, and Juneau, Wisconsin. Our team of 700+ passionate pet people thrives on collaboration, innovation, and the occasional office cameo from a four-legged friend.The Senior Cost Accountant will serve as a key business partner to Operations and Supply Chain, providing actionable insights that influence decision-making and operational performance.What You'll Do :The Senior Cost Accountant is the key finance partner for Whisker's manufacturing and supply chain operations, responsible for driving plant-level financial performance through rigorous cost accounting, operational insight, and cross-functional partnership.

This role plays a critical part in improving profitability by analyzing labor and production efficiencies, managing bill of materials (BOM) accuracy, inventory integrity, and ensuring disciplined execution against profitability targets.Essential Duties and Responsibilities:This list of duties and responsibilities is not all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties and responsibilities as deemed necessary.Owns financial oversight of the Whisker Manufacturing assembly facility, including P&L, cost of goods sold (COGS), and inventoryPartners with the Senior Director of Plant Operations, Site Leaders, Supply Chain & Logistics to drive plant profitability and operational efficiencyTranslates financial data into actionable insights to improve throughput, reduce waste, and optimize labor utilizationLeads all cost accounting activities, including landed cost, cost roll-ups, and inventory valuationEnsures accuracy and integrity of bills of materials (BOMs), routings, and cost structures for key productsAnalyzes and explains cost variances (material, labor, overhead), and partners with operations to drive corrective actionsOversees physical inventory processes, cycle counts, and inventory controlsMonitors and reports on production variances, identifying root causes and recommending corrective actionsDevelops KPIs and dashboards focused on labor efficiency, scrap, yield, and overall productionDrives continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost reduction and process optimizationLeads the plant-level budgeting and forecasting processesProvides monthly financial reporting and analysis to corporate finance, including variance explanationsSupports strategic initiatives with financial modeling and ROI analysisMaintains strong internal controls over inventory, manufacturing costs, and plant financial processesEnsures compliance with corporate accounting policies and GAAPSupports internal and external audit requirementsPerforms additional responsibilities when requiredRequirementsWhat You'll Bring :Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field4+ years of progressive accounting/finance experience, with significant exposure to manufacturing environmentsStrong cost accounting experience, including moving average, standard costing, and variance analysisProven ability to manage and analyze BOM and production cost structuresExperience partnering closely with operations leadershipExpert-level ERP knowledge, preferably with SAP Business OneExperience implementing or improving cost accounting systems and processesMaintains confidentiality of proprietary informationAbility to maintain a professional atmosphere in a fast-paced environment with numerous interactions and interruptionsA high degree of initiative, self-motivation, and ability to motivate othersAbility to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with Team Members and colleaguesComfortable with office pets (cats, dogs)Benefits & Purrks:Premium Medical/Dental/Vision insurancePaid parental leaveWhisker Parents Program1 day "pawternity" leave for new pet adoptionPet Insurance discount401K matchFlexible spending accountsCompany-paid short-term disability and life insuranceEmployee Assistance Program (EAP)Generous paid time off14 Paid HolidaysTop of the line equipmentPet-friendly officeWhisker products and swagContinuing education SupportOn-site gym with PelotonReferral programStatement of Inclusivity:We believe different perspectives make Whisker better and strive to create a place where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive.Please ensure to regularly check your email spam folder for any communication from Whisker to avoid missing important updates regarding your application status.Whisker will not ask you to interview with an AI chat bot. We ask that all interviewees refrain from using any AI tools during interviews with Whisker team members.