Cost Accountant

ROLE IMPACT

• The Cost Accountant is responsible for ensuring effective stock control, maintaining of pricing process and variance analysis, by applying the techniques of standard costing specific to the requirements of a manufacturing concern, thereby ensuring accuracy of information provided for informed decision making by stakeholders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Monitor and maintain effective inventory control processes to ensure accuracy, reliability and compliance across manufacturing operations.

• Provide key stakeholders with accurate product cost of sales information based on approved monthly standard costs to support strategic and operational decision-making.

• Analyse financial and operational information to identify abnormal cost variances and investigate root causes.

• Maintain and update Bills of Materials (BOMs) to ensure product costing accuracy within financial and operational systems.

• Manage monthly updates of cost prices and transport rates to ensure current and accurate costing information.

• Provide inventory and pricing support to decentralised business units, ensuring effective resolution of queries and operational challenges.

• Support the Management Accountant by assisting with finance-related business unit queries and management reporting requirements.

• Execute month-end close activities, ensuring all costing, inventory and reconciliation processes are completed accurately and within required deadlines.

• Support year-end financial close activities and audit requirements through the timely completion of reporting and reconciliations.

• Perform detailed reconciliations to validate transactions, identify discrepancies and strengthen financial control processes.

• Participate in monthly and bi-monthly stock counts, ensuring inventory accuracy and compliance with stock management procedures.

• Attend bi-annual maintenance spares counts and verify inventory records through the review and sign-off of stock documentation.

• Investigate incorrect capturing of raw material codes and collaborate with relevant plant managers to implement corrective actions.

• Monitor Goods-In-Transit balances and proactively resolve variances to maintain inventory integrity.

• Prepare stock reports, providing commentary and insights on abnormal costs, variances and inventory trends.

• Identify and investigate usage variances and losses, validating findings with relevant operational and plant management teams.

• Ensure manufacturing work orders are accurately closed and maintain reporting of outstanding work orders at month-end.

• Maintain the accuracy of standard costs and manufacturing recovery rates to support reliable financial reporting.

• Analyse Purchase Price Variances (PPVs), assess reasonability and provide recommendations for corrective action where required.

• Support budgeting activities by preparing manufacturing expense budgets and accurately calculating labour and overhead recovery rates.

• Prepare manufacturing expenses and manufacturing recoveries templates for budget uploads and reporting processes.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Qualifications

Essential

• BCom Accounting.

Advantageous

• Postgraduate qualification in Management Accounting.

• CIMA qualification or studies towards CIMA.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 2 to 4 years' experience in a similar costing or accounting role.

• Previous manufacturing industry experience.

• Experience working with inventory control, standard costing and variance analysis processes.

Advantageous

• Experience working within a large finance team.

• Exposure to manufacturing costing environments and complex inventory structures.

Key Competencies

• Strong knowledge of financial principles, accounting processes and reporting requirements, including IFRS, tax regulations and applicable legislation.

• Good understanding of manufacturing business processes and cost accounting methodologies.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office proficiency.

• Strong analytical capability with the ability to identify trends, variances and operational improvement opportunities.

• Excellent reconciliation and financial control skills.

• Effective problem-solving ability with a solutions-oriented mindset.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Sound interpersonal and stakeholder engagement abilities.

• Ability to influence, negotiate and collaborate effectively across multiple functions.

• High levels of integrity, reliability and accountability.

• Self-motivated, organised and able to manage competing priorities.

• Quick learner with a proactive and responsive approach.

• Strong achievement orientation, resilience and determination to deliver results.

• Ability to manage conflict constructively and maintain positive working relationships.