Senior Cost Accountant
REF: KK704
Market Related Salary
Observatory (hybrid), Western Cape
Our client is recruiting for a Senior Cost Accountant to join their team. The successful candidate must be able to work in a dynamic, fast-paced working environment.
RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
Owning and overseeing the Cost Accounting function, ensuring accurate and timely costing, inventory valuation, manufacturing variances and month-end cost accounting processes.
Reviewing and approving key costing, inventory reconciliations, variance analyses and cost accounting outputs prepared by the Junior Cost Accountant
Leading manufacturing cost and variance analysis, identifying key drivers, trends and opportunities to improve cost efficiency and operational performance
Developing, maintaining and improving product cost models, including material, labour, overhead absorption, yield, batch size and manufacturing cost assumptions
Providing costing support throughout the product lifecycle, from R&D handover and new product introduction through to commercial production and product optimisation
Partnering with Manufacturing, Operations, Supply Chain, R&D and Quality to provide financial insight, challenging cost drivers and supporting operational decision-making
Acting as a key Finance Business Partner to operational leaders, translating financial and costing information into actionable recommendations to improve efficiency, margins and profitability
Leading the preparation and analysis of manufacturing and operational forecasts, including COGS, inventory, labour, overheads and other cost drivers
Supporting the annual budgeting process and ongoing financial planning, providing cost assumptions, operational inputs, scenario analysis and financial modeling
Providing Financial Planning & Analysis (FP&A) support through monthly performance reviews, forecasting, budget-versus-actual analysis, trend analysis, and identification of
key financial risks and opportunities
Preparing and presenting meaningful management reporting on COGS, manufacturing performance, inventory, product costs and operational variances, providing commentary
on key drivers and recommended actions
Leading continuous improvement initiatives across costing, inventory, and financial processes, including optimisation of Epicor, improved reporting, automation and strengthening financial controls
Supporting the Director of Finance, Operations with strategic financial analysis, business cases, investment decisions, cost-reduction initiatives, scenario modeling and other operational finance projects
REQUIREMENTS:
CIMA or similar qualification with a minimum of 7 years of related experience
Excellent organisational skills, meticulous attention to detail, and strong analytical skills
The ability to manage multiple priorities, work independently and deliver high-quality outputs within predetermined deadlines and under pressure
Strong interpersonal and business partnering skills, with the ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and influence decision-making
Excellent communication skills, with a high level of self-motivation, initiative and the ability to translate financial information into meaningful business insights
A creative, commercially focused, and disciplined approach to problem-solving, financial planning and continuous improvement