OPT Cost Accountant Jobs
Cost Accountant roles are a strong fit for F-1 OPT students with degrees in accounting, finance, or a related field. Employers in manufacturing, healthcare, and tech regularly hire for this position. Your 12-month OPT window, or 24-month STEM extension if eligible, gives you real runway to build experience and secure H-1B visa sponsorship.
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Get Access To All JobsPosition Summary
Kömmerling USA is seeking a Cost Accountant / General Accountant to support manufacturing cost accounting and general accounting activities. This position will report to the Accounting Manager and CFO, with primary responsibility for maintaining accurate product costing and inventory information, including Bills of Material (BOMs), routings, standard costs, and moving average prices.
The position will also support Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, month-end closing, account reconciliations, cash application, invoice processing, and other general accounting functions. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, hands-on, and comfortable working with manufacturing and financial data while collaborating with Accounting, Production, Purchasing, Sales, and Operations.
Key Responsibilities
Cost Accounting
- Maintain and review Bills of Material (BOMs) to ensure material quantities and components are accurate.
- Maintain and review production routings, including labor and machine operations.
- Calculate, maintain, and analyze standard costs for manufactured products.
- Review and monitor moving average prices for purchased materials and inventory.
- Assist with periodic standard cost updates and cost rollups.
- Analyze material, labor, overhead, and production cost variances.
- Review inventory costing and investigate unusual or incorrect inventory values.
- Assist with analysis of raw material, work-in-process, finished goods, and trading stock inventory.
- Work with Production, Purchasing, and Operations to identify and correct costing or master-data issues.
- Support inventory counts, inventory reconciliations, and year-end inventory procedures.
- Prepare cost, margin, and profitability analyses as requested by the Accounting Manager, CFO, and management.
Accounts Receivable
- Post and apply customer cash receipts to Accounts Receivable accounts.
- Research and resolve unapplied or incorrectly applied customer payments.
- Assist with customer account reconciliations.
- Support Accounts Receivable aging reviews and collection activities as needed.
- Assist with credit memo and customer account research.
Accounts Payable
- Voucher and process vendor invoices.
- Verify appropriate purchase orders, receipts, account coding, and approvals.
- Research invoice discrepancies and work with Purchasing and other departments to resolve issues.
- Assist with vendor account reconciliations and payment processing.
- Review invoices for appropriate general ledger and cost center classification.
Month-End & General Accounting
- Assist the Accounting Manager and CFO with the monthly financial closing process.
- Prepare and post journal entries.
- Prepare balance sheet and general ledger account reconciliations.
- Assist with inventory and cost-of-goods-sold reconciliations.
- Review accounts for unusual transactions, balances, or variances.
- Assist with accruals and other month-end adjustments.
- Support monthly financial reporting and management analysis.
- Assist with year-end closing and external audit requests.
- Maintain appropriate accounting documentation and supporting schedules.
- Provide backup support for other Accounting Department responsibilities as needed.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
- 2-5 years of accounting experience preferred.
- Manufacturing accounting or cost accounting experience strongly preferred.
- Experience with Bills of Material, routings, inventory costing, and standard costing preferred.
- Experience with Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable functions.
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
- ERP system experience required; SAP experience strongly preferred.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple responsibilities and meet month-end deadlines.
- Ability to communicate effectively with Accounting, Production, Purchasing, Sales, and Operations personnel.
Key Characteristics for Success
The successful candidate will be hands-on and willing to work across both cost accounting and general accounting functions. This position requires someone who can understand how manufacturing transactions flow through the ERP system and ultimately impact inventory, cost of goods sold, margins, and the financial statements.
The individual should be comfortable investigating discrepancies, identifying root causes, and working with operational departments to improve the accuracy of financial.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid sick time
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
Position Summary
Kömmerling USA is seeking a Cost Accountant / General Accountant to support manufacturing cost accounting and general accounting activities. This position will report to the Accounting Manager and CFO, with primary responsibility for maintaining accurate product costing and inventory information, including Bills of Material (BOMs), routings, standard costs, and moving average prices.
The position will also support Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, month-end closing, account reconciliations, cash application, invoice processing, and other general accounting functions. The ideal candidate will be detail-oriented, hands-on, and comfortable working with manufacturing and financial data while collaborating with Accounting, Production, Purchasing, Sales, and Operations.
Key Responsibilities
Cost Accounting
- Maintain and review Bills of Material (BOMs) to ensure material quantities and components are accurate.
- Maintain and review production routings, including labor and machine operations.
- Calculate, maintain, and analyze standard costs for manufactured products.
- Review and monitor moving average prices for purchased materials and inventory.
- Assist with periodic standard cost updates and cost rollups.
- Analyze material, labor, overhead, and production cost variances.
- Review inventory costing and investigate unusual or incorrect inventory values.
- Assist with analysis of raw material, work-in-process, finished goods, and trading stock inventory.
- Work with Production, Purchasing, and Operations to identify and correct costing or master-data issues.
- Support inventory counts, inventory reconciliations, and year-end inventory procedures.
- Prepare cost, margin, and profitability analyses as requested by the Accounting Manager, CFO, and management.
Accounts Receivable
- Post and apply customer cash receipts to Accounts Receivable accounts.
- Research and resolve unapplied or incorrectly applied customer payments.
- Assist with customer account reconciliations.
- Support Accounts Receivable aging reviews and collection activities as needed.
- Assist with credit memo and customer account research.
Accounts Payable
- Voucher and process vendor invoices.
- Verify appropriate purchase orders, receipts, account coding, and approvals.
- Research invoice discrepancies and work with Purchasing and other departments to resolve issues.
- Assist with vendor account reconciliations and payment processing.
- Review invoices for appropriate general ledger and cost center classification.
Month-End & General Accounting
- Assist the Accounting Manager and CFO with the monthly financial closing process.
- Prepare and post journal entries.
- Prepare balance sheet and general ledger account reconciliations.
- Assist with inventory and cost-of-goods-sold reconciliations.
- Review accounts for unusual transactions, balances, or variances.
- Assist with accruals and other month-end adjustments.
- Support monthly financial reporting and management analysis.
- Assist with year-end closing and external audit requests.
- Maintain appropriate accounting documentation and supporting schedules.
- Provide backup support for other Accounting Department responsibilities as needed.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field preferred.
- 2-5 years of accounting experience preferred.
- Manufacturing accounting or cost accounting experience strongly preferred.
- Experience with Bills of Material, routings, inventory costing, and standard costing preferred.
- Experience with Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable functions.
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
- ERP system experience required; SAP experience strongly preferred.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple responsibilities and meet month-end deadlines.
- Ability to communicate effectively with Accounting, Production, Purchasing, Sales, and Operations personnel.
Key Characteristics for Success
The successful candidate will be hands-on and willing to work across both cost accounting and general accounting functions. This position requires someone who can understand how manufacturing transactions flow through the ERP system and ultimately impact inventory, cost of goods sold, margins, and the financial statements.
The individual should be comfortable investigating discrepancies, identifying root causes, and working with operational departments to improve the accuracy of financial.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid sick time
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
See all 56+ OPT Cost Accountant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new OPT Cost Accountant Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding OPT Sponsorship as a Cost Accountant
Target industries with high sponsorship rates
Manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and large tech companies file the most H-1B visa petitions for cost accounting roles. Focusing your search on these sectors increases your odds of finding an employer already familiar with the sponsorship process.
Lead with your technical accounting skills
Employers weigh cost variance analysis, standard costing, and ERP proficiency heavily for this role. Highlighting these skills upfront signals you can contribute immediately, which makes the business case for sponsorship easier for hiring managers to approve.
Use your STEM OPT extension if your degree qualifies
Accounting degrees from STEM-designated programs qualify for a 24-month extension, giving employers two additional H-1B lottery attempts on your behalf. Confirm your program's CIP code with your DSO before assuming you qualify.
Prepare to explain cost accounting's specialty occupation status
Some employers hesitate because they are unsure cost accounting meets H-1B specialty occupation criteria. It does, as the role requires a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance. Being ready to clarify this helps move conversations forward.
Find OPT-friendly employers on Migrate Mate
Migrate Mate filters jobs by visa sponsorship type, so you can focus on cost accountant roles where employers are already open to OPT candidates. This saves significant time compared to applying broadly and screening employers manually.
Cost Accountant OPT: Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Cost Accountant role qualify as a specialty occupation for H-1B purposes?
Yes. Cost Accountant is widely recognized as a specialty occupation because the role requires at minimum a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field. USCIS has approved H-1B petitions for this title consistently. Your job description should reflect duties like cost variance analysis, inventory accounting, and standard costing to reinforce the degree requirement.
Can I work as a Cost Accountant on OPT without my employer filing any paperwork?
Yes, for standard OPT. Once USCIS approves your EAD, you can work for any employer in a role directly related to your degree without the employer filing anything. For STEM OPT extension, your employer must enroll in E-Verify and sign a formal training plan. Check that your employer meets E-Verify requirements before accepting a STEM OPT role.
How do I find Cost Accountant jobs where the employer is open to OPT candidates?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this. You can browse cost accountant listings filtered by OPT and visa sponsorship eligibility, so you are not wasting applications on employers who will not consider candidates requiring work authorization. Targeting employers already familiar with OPT significantly shortens your job search timeline.
What happens to my OPT status if my Cost Accountant role is eliminated or I am laid off?
You have a 90-day unemployment allowance across your entire OPT period. If you lose your cost accountant position, the clock starts immediately. Report the change to your DSO and begin your search right away. Finding a new role directly related to your accounting degree restores your authorized employment and pauses the unemployment count.
Does remote work as a Cost Accountant count toward OPT employment requirements?
Yes. Remote work counts as valid OPT employment as long as the role is directly related to your degree and you maintain a formal employment relationship with the sponsoring company. Self-employment and freelance arrangements are not permitted under OPT. Your DSO will need the employer's name, address, and a brief description of how the role relates to your field of study.