Cost Accountant; Entry Level

Job Title:

Cost Accountant – Work Orders & Inventory Control

Work Location:

Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

About the Company:

IPS Adhesives is a global supplier of adhesive and related solutions to a wide variety of markets. The role covers operations for three brands, Scigrip for Structural Adhesives, Integra for Surfacing Adhesives and Unika covering kitchen products. The business is focused on solving problems and delivering value to our customers through great people, class leading adhesive technologies, and innovative and flexible packaging and service offerings.

The Cost Accountant is responsible for managing and analysing manufacturing work orders, ensuring accurate product costing, and overseeing cycle count activities to maintain inventory accuracy. This role partners closely with production, planning, and warehouse teams to support cost control, inventory integrity, and financial reporting in a manufacturing environment.

• Ensure timely and accurate closing of work orders
• Monitor and analyse work order costs, including materials, labour, and overhead
• Investigate and resolve work order variances (material usage, labour efficiency, scrap, and overhead absorption)
• Support standard cost development and updates
• Manage our non-conforming material processes along with overseeing the disposal of these products.
• Assist with bill of materials (BOM) and routing accuracy in coordination with production and planning
• Plan, manage, and execute the cycle count program for raw materials, WIP, and finished goods
• Analyse cycle count variances and identify root causes
• Work with warehouse and production teams to resolve discrepancies and implement corrective actions
• Ensure compliance with inventory control policies and internal controls
• Maintain accurate inventory records and support physical inventory counts
• Prepare cost-related reports for management, including production cost trends and variance analysis
• “Kaizen is the way of life”. Identify opportunities to improve costing accuracy, inventory processes, and internal controls

The duties and responsibilities highlighted in this job description are indicative and may vary over time. Post holders are expected to undertake other duties and responsibilities relevant to the nature, level and extent of the post.

• 3–5 years of cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment
• Hands-on experience with work order costing and inventory management
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting principles
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, Net Suite, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar)
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, data analysis)
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• High attention to detail and accuracy
• Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
• Working towards a professional qualification, AAT/CIMA