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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ES CAS (Controls & Avionics Solutions) Finance in Endicott, NY, is currently seeking a Senior Cost Accountant to join their ranks in a hybrid work format, splitting their time between our Endicott offices, and an alternate work site. This role is primarily tasked with Cost Accounting related to the Endicott facility but may assist Cost Accounting across the CAS business area more broadly.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Perform, troubleshoot and reconcile monthly closing of Oracle inventory module.
- Prepare and make the necessary month end and quarterly journal entries.
- Forecast QBR (Quarterly Business Review) of production cost and coordination with Operations and Finance teams to review quarterly. Explain variances between actual and plan.
- Support internal and external audits.
- Create ad hoc and update various existing monthly reports and analyses.
- Perform variance analysis to explain business plan deltas.
- Update and present a monthly scorecard including inventory, below the line (BTL), bases, and moving average unit cost (MAUC).
- Support physical inventory process by creating and running statistical sample and interfacing with Operations personnel throughout many shops with a willingness to travel to other off-site facilities.
- Update and present Monthly finance review charts including program/project inventory, inventory turns and BTL.
- Other Duties and assigned special projects.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Business or relevant field or equivalent work experience.
- 4+ years of relevant cost accounting experience.
- This role will require strong communication, analytic and problem solving skills.
- The individual must be team oriented and able to work independently with limited supervision.
- Demonstrate the ability to drive to a conclusion with adequate follow through and issue resolution.
- Initiative to take on ad hoc requests and projects and identify areas for improvement.
- Proficiency in using Microsoft excel and other Office applications.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines.
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
- Master's in Business or relevant field.
- Familiarity with Oracle ERP System and Hyperion Essbase and Planning.
- Experience in identifying and driving cost reductions.
- Ability to learn new systems and activities quickly.
- Knowledge and experience of using and creating SQL queries.
Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $75,254 - $127,930
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Electronic Systems
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems’ game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere – from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact – for our customers and the communities we serve.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.
Job Description
ES CAS (Controls & Avionics Solutions) Finance in Endicott, NY, is currently seeking a Senior Cost Accountant to join their ranks in a hybrid work format, splitting their time between our Endicott offices, and an alternate work site. This role is primarily tasked with Cost Accounting related to the Endicott facility but may assist Cost Accounting across the CAS business area more broadly.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Perform, troubleshoot and reconcile monthly closing of Oracle inventory module.
- Prepare and make the necessary month end and quarterly journal entries.
- Forecast QBR (Quarterly Business Review) of production cost and coordination with Operations and Finance teams to review quarterly. Explain variances between actual and plan.
- Support internal and external audits.
- Create ad hoc and update various existing monthly reports and analyses.
- Perform variance analysis to explain business plan deltas.
- Update and present a monthly scorecard including inventory, below the line (BTL), bases, and moving average unit cost (MAUC).
- Support physical inventory process by creating and running statistical sample and interfacing with Operations personnel throughout many shops with a willingness to travel to other off-site facilities.
- Update and present Monthly finance review charts including program/project inventory, inventory turns and BTL.
- Other Duties and assigned special projects.
Required Education, Experience, & Skills
- Bachelor's degree in Business or relevant field or equivalent work experience.
- 4+ years of relevant cost accounting experience.
- This role will require strong communication, analytic and problem solving skills.
- The individual must be team oriented and able to work independently with limited supervision.
- Demonstrate the ability to drive to a conclusion with adequate follow through and issue resolution.
- Initiative to take on ad hoc requests and projects and identify areas for improvement.
- Proficiency in using Microsoft excel and other Office applications.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and meet deadlines.
Preferred Education, Experience, & Skills
- Master's in Business or relevant field.
- Familiarity with Oracle ERP System and Hyperion Essbase and Planning.
- Experience in identifying and driving cost reductions.
- Ability to learn new systems and activities quickly.
- Knowledge and experience of using and creating SQL queries.
Pay Information
Full-Time Salary Range: $75,254 - $127,930
Please note: This range is based on our market pay structures. However, individual salaries are determined by a variety of factors including, but not limited to: business considerations, local market conditions, and internal equity, as well as candidate qualifications, such as skills, education, and experience.
Employee Benefits: At BAE Systems, we support our employees in all aspects of their life, including their health and financial well-being. Regular employees scheduled to work 20+ hours per week are offered: health, dental, and vision insurance; health savings accounts; a 401(k) savings plan; disability coverage; and life and accident insurance. We also have an employee assistance program, a legal plan, and other perks including discounts on things like home, auto, and pet insurance. Our leave programs include paid time off, paid holidays, as well as other types of leave, including paid parental, military, bereavement, and any applicable federal and state sick leave. Employees may participate in the company recognition program to receive monetary or non-monetary recognition awards. Other incentives may be available based on position level and/or job specifics.
About BAE Systems Electronic Systems
BAE Systems, Inc. is the U.S. subsidiary of BAE Systems plc, an international defense, aerospace and security company which delivers a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, security, information technology solutions and customer support services. Improving the future and protecting lives is an ambitious mission, but it’s what we do at BAE Systems. Working here means using your passion and ingenuity where it counts – defending national security with breakthrough technology, superior products, and intelligence solutions. As you develop the latest technology and defend national security, you will continually hone your skills on a team—making a big impact on a global scale. At BAE Systems, you’ll find a rewarding career that truly makes a difference. Electronic Systems (ES) is the global innovator behind BAE Systems’ game-changing defense and commercial electronics. Exploiting every electron, we push the limits of what is possible, giving our customers the edge and our employees opportunities to change the world. Our products and capabilities can be found everywhere – from the depths of the ocean to the far reaches of space. At our core are more than 14,000 highly talented Electronic Systems employees with the brightest minds in the industry, we make an impact – for our customers and the communities we serve.
This position will be posted for at least 5 calendar days. The posting will remain active until the position is filled, or a qualified pool of candidates is identified.
See all 83+ OPT Cost Accountant Jobs
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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.