Cost Accountant Job Sandton area,South Africa,Accounting

Are you passionate about driving cost efficiencies and supporting manufacturing excellence? Our client, a leading organization in the manufacturing and FMCG sectors with a strong focus on operational efficiency and financial integrity, is seeking a skilled Cost Accountant to join their dynamic team. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to a company committed to innovation and quality, ensuring optimal cost management in a fast-paced environment.

Duties:

Develop, maintain, and review standard costing models for all products
Calculate and analyse product costs, including raw materials, labour, packaging, and overheads
Monitor actual manufacturing costs against standards and investigate significant variances
Perform inventory valuations in line with company policies and accounting standards
Ensure accuracy of product bills of materials (BOMs) and recipes/formulations
Conduct regular stock reconciliations, cycle counts, and annual stock takes
Analyse inventory movements, wastage, shrinkage, and obsolete stock
Monitor production efficiency, yield losses, and material consumption variances
Track direct labour costs and manufacturing overheads
Collaborate with production teams to enhance operational efficiencies and cost controls
Review manufacturing processes and support continuous improvement initiatives
Prepare monthly cost reports and management accounts related to manufacturing operations
Analyse gross profit margins, investigate variances, and support profitability analysis
Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning processes
Provide insights for pricing decisions and new product development
Work with Procurement on raw material pricing and supplier performance
Assist Operations and Production teams with cost analysis and efficiency initiatives
Collaborate with Sales on pricing reviews and margin analysis
Support capital expenditure evaluations and investment decisions
Ensure compliance with internal controls, policies, and external standards
Maintain accurate costing and inventory records

Requirements:

3-5 years' experience as a Cost or Management Accountant
Experience in food manufacturing, FMCG, or high-volume manufacturing environments
Strong understanding of inventory management and manufacturing processes
Proficiency with ERP systems and manufacturing costing modules
Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel
Excellent analytical and variance analysis abilities
Experience with budgeting and financial forecasting

Nice to Have:

Knowledge of relevant accounting standards and regulatory requirements
Familiarity with process improvement methodologies