Manufacturing Cost & Inventory Accountant

Manufacturing Cost & Inventory Accountant £52,000 | Chester | Full-time, Permanent | Manufacturing

Are you a commercially minded accountant who enjoys getting out of the spreadsheets and into the operation? We are looking for a Manufacturing Cost & Inventory Accountant to join a specialist manufacturing business in Cheshire. This is a hands‑on, onsite role based directly on the shop floor, working closely with Production, Operations, Procurement and Commercial teams to make sure stock, costs, processes and financial data all stack up.

Take ownership of inventory accuracy, reconciliation and control across raw materials, WIP and finished goods. Analyse production consumption, BOMs, yields, variances and standard costs. Investigate discrepancies, identify root causes and find practical solutions. Work alongside Operations to ensure processes and procedures are being followed and improve them where they aren't. Ensure inventory movements, purchasing, production and sales transactions are accurately reflected in the ERP system.

Develop better controls, reporting and processes to reduce recurring issues. Support the Site Controller with accurate manufacturing finance information and reporting. Act as the link between Finance and Operations, turning complex data into clear, actionable information.

We are looking for someone who is technical, analytical and commercially pragmatic, with the confidence to challenge processes and get to the bottom of problems.

• Experience in inventory, cost accounting or plant finance within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of BOMs, production costs, stock movements, yields and manufacturing variances.
• Experience working with an ERP system - Microsoft Dynamics 365 experience would be highly desirable.
• Advanced Excel and strong data/reporting skills.
• A qualification or part-qualification in accountancy, or significant relevant manufacturing finance experience.
• Excellent problem‑solving skills and a genuine interest in how things work on the shop floor.

This is not an FMCG environment - we are particularly interested in candidates from chemicals, engineering, automotive, aerospace, specialist materials or other complex manufacturing sectors.

This is a great opportunity for an accountant who wants to be close to the operation, have real influence over processes and controls, and play a key role in improving how a manufacturing site manages its inventory and costs. If you are someone who naturally asks Why are we doing it this way?, enjoys finding the answer and then putting a better process in place, we would like to hear from you.