Cost Accountant (Permanent)

Job Title: Cost Accountant Start Date: 2026-07-16 - 2026-08-15 Vacancy Type: Permanent PE003662 Sectors: Automotive Financial Service / Accounting Location: Eastern Cape , Port Elizabeth Salary: (Market related) Brief: accountant|automotive|budgeting|control|cost|costing|cross-functional|data management|erp|finance|ifrs|inventory|manufacturing|operational|product|sap|support Our client in the Manufacturing Sector is currently looking to employ an experienced Cost Accountant to join their dynamic team in Port Elizabeth. An awesome career opportunity awaits you! Detail: Requirements: Minimum BCom Accounting / Cost and Management Accounting (NQF6). Studying towards CIMA is preferred. 3–7 years' experience in a manufacturing or factory finance environment. Proven experience in cost accounting, inventory valuation, and variance analysis. Experience with ERP systems in a manufacturing setting. Strong knowledge of cost accounting principles. IFRS knowledge, specifically IAS 2 (Inventories). Advanced Excel skills. ERP systems proficiency (SAP FI and MM). Understanding of manufacturing processes. Responsibilities: Product Costing and Inventory Control Assist with maintaining standard costing information for raw materials, labour, and overheads. Prepare costing schedules and reports for review. Assist with inventory valuation activities. Support quarterly inventory cost roll-ups. Support annual and interim stock counts and reconciliations. Verify Bills of Material (BOMs) and routing accuracy in ERP systems. Prepare Import cost files and submit summary to Plant Controller for update to SAP. Review and report monthly on stock count completeness across all sites. Coordinate and assist Planning with factory stock counts. Investigate stock variances and resolve issues. Conduct reporting on stock counts for management. Cost Control and Variance Analysis Assist with the preparation of material, labour and overhead variance reports. Investigate routine cost variances and escalate significant or unresolved issues to the Plant Controller. Collect, validate and analyse production data to support variance analysis. Monitor scrap, rework and yield losses and report trends. Maintain records of cost-saving initiatives and update tracking schedules. Compile and prepare daily production scrap reports and attend daily scrap meetings. Compile monthly lead balancing reports, including scrap sent to Frys. Identify potential cost-saving opportunities and communicate these to the Plant Controller. Support production and engineering teams by providing accurate costing information when required. Budgeting and Forecasting Support Assist with preparation of manufacturing cost budgets and forecasts. Analyse budget vs actual results and explain deviations. Update cost assumptions based on operational changes. Assist with scenario and sensitivity analysis. ERP and Data Integrity Management Assist with maintaining costing master data, Bills of Material (BOMs), routings and overhead rates under the guidance of the Plant Controller. Validate production and inventory transactions to ensure accuracy and completeness. Identify and report data discrepancies for investigation and correction. Assist with the correction and maintenance of Material Master information relating to transaction processing. Support ERP system enhancements, upgrades and user acceptance testing. Assist in documenting costing-related system processes and procedures. Provide first-line support to operational users on basic costing and SAP transaction queries. Escalate system-related issues and unresolved data discrepancies to the Plant Controller or relevant system support teams. Ensure costing documentation and supporting records are maintained accurately and are readily available for audit purposes. Operational and Cross-Functional Support Provide supporting costing information for operational decision-making. Assist with preparing cost impact analyses for process changes and operational improvements. Participate in continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma and other operational improvement projects). Prepare and present basic costing and operational reports to support decision-making. Assist with scanning and other finance or factory-related projects as required. Monitor the performance of the scanning process, liaise with Factory System Roles and report issues requiring corrective action. Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal departments and external stakeholders to ensure efficient service delivery. Attend operational meetings and provide finance support where required. Identify routine operational issues and escalate improvement opportunities to the Plant Controller. Perform ad hoc finance and costing duties as assigned by management. Demonstrate professionalism, integrity and compliance with policies, procedures and core values in all activities. Support all APDP related audit queries. show more... For more information please contact: Cindy Viljoen Apply