Cost Accountant
Position summary
Introduction
Job description
Key Responsibilities
1. Product Costing & Bill of Materials (BOM) Integrity
● Develop, maintain, and validate standard cost models per SKU, size, finish, and plant.
● Maintain accurate cost per m²/unit across all product lines in SAP.
● Review and update Bills of Materials (BOMs) and routings in SAP to reflect current production realities.
● Perform periodic cost rolls to update standard costs for material, labour, and overhead inputs.
2. Cost Variance Analysis & Reporting
● Produce monthly variance reports comparing actual vs. standard costs across all seven plants.
● Investigate and explain variances in raw materials, direct labour, energy, maintenance, and overhead absorption.
● Present variance commentary to plant and finance leadership with root cause analysis and corrective action recommendations.
3. Yield, Waste & Downtime Cost Tracking
● Quantify the financial impact of yield losses, production waste, rework, and unplanned downtime.
● Collaborate with plant engineers and production supervisors to capture accurate waste and loss data.
● Report cost-of-quality metrics and trend these over time to support continuous improvement initiatives.
4. Unit Cost Reduction & Savings Tracking
● Identify cost-saving opportunities across materials, energy, labour, maintenance, and process efficiency.
● Maintain a formal savings tracker with validated, measurable outcomes per initiative.
● Partner with procurement and operations to support cost reduction project delivery.
5. Product & SKU Profitability Reporting
● Produce monthly gross margin reports by SKU, product range, finish type, and plant.
● Flag low-margin, breakeven, or loss-making SKUs to commercial and executive leadership.
● Support pricing reviews with cost-based profitability modelling.
6. Customer Profitability Analysis
● Analyse net margin by customer and sales channel, incorporating rebates, logistics costs, claims, credits, and service costs.
● Build customer-level P&L views to support strategic account decisions and commercial negotiations.
● Identify unprofitable customer segments and provide data-driven recommendations.
7. Inventory & Overhead Management
● Perform monthly inventory valuation, WIP reconciliation, and finished goods cost verification.
● Manage overhead absorption rates and conduct regular reviews against actual expenditure.
● Support month-end and year-end close processes, including cost-related journal entries and reconciliations.
8. Systems, Controls & Compliance
● Maintain SAP CO/MM module integrity, ensuring master data accuracy across all plants.
● Develop and enforce cost accounting policies and internal controls across the manufacturing division.
● Support internal and external audit processes with accurate cost schedules and working papers.
Minimum requirements
Qualifications
● Essential: B.Com Accounting (or equivalent NQF Level 7 qualification in Accounting / Cost & Management Accounting)
● Advantageous: CIMA qualification (part-qualified or fully qualified) or equivalent professional designation
Experience
● Minimum 5 years' experience in a Cost Accounting role within a manufacturing or production environment
● Demonstrated experience in multi-site or multi-plant cost management is advantageous
● Proven track record in product costing, variance analysis, and profitability reporting
Technical Competencies
Competency | Proficiency Required |
SAP (CO/MM/PP modules) | Essential – advanced working knowledge |
Standard Costing & BOM Management | Essential |
Variance Analysis | Essential |
Microsoft Excel | Advanced (pivot tables, financial modelling) |
Management Accounting Principles | Essential |
ERP Reporting & Data Extraction | Essential |
Power BI / BI Reporting Tools | Advantageous |
Behavioural Competencies
● Analytical Rigour: Ability to interpret complex cost data and translate findings into clear business insight.
● Attention to Detail: High degree of accuracy in cost capture, reporting, and reconciliation.
● Commercial Acumen: Understanding of how cost decisions impact pricing, margin, and competitiveness.
● Stakeholder Engagement: Confident communicator capable of presenting financial data to non-financial audiences including plant managers and executives.
● Accountability: Self-directed, deadline-driven, and ownership-oriented.
● Continuous Improvement Mindset: Proactively identifies inefficiencies and pursues solutions.
● Resilience & Adaptability: Able to manage competing priorities across multiple plant environments.