Cost Accountant

www.sammons.co.uk; Eastbourne; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Sammons is seeking a Cost Accountant to join its finance function in a manufacturing environment. The role focuses on product costing, inventory, manufacturing variances and financial analysis to improve cost control and operational efficiency.

You will analyze costs within ERP and finance systems, investigate variances, and develop reporting and BI tools to support commercial decisions. The role suits someone data‑driven with strong attention to detail.

Qualifications

• Experience in cost accounting or management accounting within manufacturing/operational environments.
• Strong understanding of product costing, standard costing and absorption costing.
• Advanced Excel skills including pivot tables, modelling and data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Perform periodic cost roll-ups and review bills of materials.
• Analyse variances across materials, labour and overheads.
• Monitor inventory valuation and reconcile inventory-related accounts.
• Prepare margin analysis by product and customer.
• Prepare month-end journals relating to inventory and cost of sales.
• Maintain the fixed asset register and depreciation journals.
• Develop and maintain costing information within ERP and finance systems.
• Provide clear analysis and commentary to support financial and operational decision-making.

Skills

Cost accounting

Management accounting

Data analysis

Excel (Advanced)

ERP systems

Problem solving

Education

CIMA/ACA or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics

Sage HR

Microsoft Dynamics AX

Job description

Job Description

Permanent Opportunity | Competitive Salary We are supporting an established and growing organisation with the appointment of a Cost Accountant to join its finance function. This is an excellent opportunity for an analytical finance professional who enjoys working closely with operational teams and using financial data to understand costs, margins and business performance. The role will have a strong focus on product costing, inventory, manufacturing variances and financial analysis, with the successful candidate playing an important part in improving cost control, reporting and operational efficiency.

The Role

As Cost Accountant, you will be responsible for analysing and monitoring costs within the organisation's ERP and finance systems, ensuring accurate costing and inventory information is available to support effective commercial and operational decision‑making. You will work across finance and the wider business, investigating variances, improving reporting and identifying opportunities to strengthen processes and cost control. This is a hands‑on role that would suit someone who enjoys working with data, solving problems and understanding how financial performance connects to day‑to‑day operations.

Key Responsibilities

Costing & Inventory

• Perform periodic cost roll‑ups and review bills of materials.
• Analyse variances across materials, labour and overheads.
• Monitor inventory valuation and reconcile inventory‑related accounts.
• Support and oversee periodic stock counts, cycle counts and stocktakes.
• Investigate and resolve inventory discrepancies.
• Review inventory movements and identify potential issues with accuracy, valuation or obsolescence.

Financial Analysis & Reporting

• Prepare margin analysis by product and customer.
• Prepare month‑end journals relating to inventory and cost of sales.
• Support calculations and journals relating to inventory provisions, labour and overhead allocation and absorption.
• Produce regular labour efficiency reporting.
• Prepare balance sheet reconciliations.
• Maintain and control the fixed asset register and prepare monthly depreciation journals.
• Produce management information and reporting around inventory ageing and inventory segmentation.
• Provide clear analysis and commentary to support financial and operational decision‑making.

Systems, Data & Process Improvement

• Maintain and develop costing information within the organisation's ERP and finance systems.
• Ensure the integrity and accuracy of cost data.
• Develop and enhance reporting tools, including advanced Excel models and BI dashboards.
• Support finance‑system upgrades, automation and process improvement projects.
• Identify opportunities to standardise and improve costing and reporting processes.

Controls & Compliance

• Ensure costing and inventory processes operate in accordance with relevant accounting standards and company policies.
• Maintain strong internal controls around inventory and costing.
• Prepare year‑end schedules and supporting information for external audit.
• Maintain clear and robust process documentation.
• Work with colleagues across the business to resolve issues and strengthen financial controls.

About You

We are looking for an analytical and commercially minded finance professional with experience in cost accounting or management accounting, ideally gained within a manufacturing or operational environment.

You will ideally have:

• 1–2 years' relevant experience in cost accounting or management accounting.
• Experience working within a manufacturing, production or operational environment.
• A strong understanding of product costing, standard costing and absorption costing.
• Experience working with an ERP or finance system.
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, modelling and data analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills, with the ability to investigate variances and identify their underlying causes.
• An understanding of process improvement and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to deliver accurate work to agreed deadlines.
• Strong organisational and planning skills.

Desirable Experience

• Experience with a major ERP system such as Microsoft Dynamics, SAP, Oracle or similar.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics AX.
• Experience using Sage HR and/or payroll systems.
• Previous experience in an accountancy practice before moving into industry.

Qualifications

You will ideally be professionally qualified or part‑qualified, such as CIMA, ACA or an equivalent accounting qualification. However, relevant practical experience and technical capability will also be considered.

Why Apply?

This is a great opportunity for an ambitious finance professional looking to develop their career within a commercially focused manufacturing environment. You will gain broad exposure across cost accounting, inventory, management reporting, financial analysis and process improvement, while working closely with both finance and operational stakeholders. The role would particularly suit someone who is naturally curious, enjoys getting into the detail behind the numbers and wants to make a visible contribution to business performance.

Work Location

In person

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Recruiting on the basis of Talent, we are committed to supporting and promoting diversity in the workplace and consider all applications.