Cost Accountant

Axon Moore Group Ltd; North East; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Holiday allowance

Development opportunities

Job summary

Axon Moore Group Ltd is assisting a well-established manufacturing business to appoint an Assistant Plant Controller. You will support the finance team, driving cost control and continuous improvement on a manufacturing site.

Reporting to the Financial Controller, you will work with operational teams to provide insights, maintain controls and develop your career in a dynamic, site-based environment with some work-from-home opportunities.

Qualifications

• Strong Excel, analytical and modelling skills required.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems, SAP would be beneficial.
• ACCA/ACCA/CIMA or QBE is expected or equivalent.

Responsibilities

• Support month-end process with accurate financial information.
• Produce reporting on standard costs, inventory, absorption and manufacturing performance.
• Review site expenditure and identify cost drivers across labour, materials and overheads.
• Collaborate with operational teams to investigate variances and ensure actions.
• Maintain standard costing and support annual updates.
• Oversee inventory movements, valuations and reconciliations.
• Provide analysis on manufacturing performance including labour and yield.
• Support budgeting and forecasting with financial modelling.

Skills

Excel

Financial modelling

Data integrity

Communication & partnering

Analytical skills

ERP/MRP systems

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA or Qualified by Experience

Tools

SAP

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

Axon Moore are delighted to be working with a well-established and growing manufacturing business to appoint an Assistant Plant Controller. This is a key role within the finance team, supporting the financial and operational performance of the manufacturing site.

We are looking for an experienced Cost Accountant with a background in manufacturing for an operations-focused finance environment. Reporting to the Financial Controller, this role will work closely with the wider operational teams to provide financial insight, maintain strong controls and drive continuous improvement, with a clear development path.

Salary and Benefits:

Salary £45,000 - £50,000 DOE. Site-based working with some work from home options, pension, holiday allowance, excellent opportunities for development and progression plus many more available on request.

Key responsibilities:

• Take responsibility for supporting the month-end process, ensuring financial information is accurate and delivered within agreed deadlines
• Produce and review reporting around standard costs, inventory, absorption and manufacturing performance
• Review site expenditure and identify key cost drivers across labour, materials, overheads, waste and production losses
• Work alongside operational teams to understand variances, investigate underlying causes and ensure appropriate actions are followed through
• Assist with the review and maintenance of standard costing, including supporting annual updates
• Oversee the financial review of inventory movements, valuations and reconciliations
• Provide meaningful analysis on manufacturing performance, including labour utilisation, yield, throughput, downtime and overall efficiency
• Support the budgeting and forecasting process, providing accurate financial information and analysis
• Build financial models and scenario analysis to understand the impact of production volumes, capacity and operational changes
• Develop strong working relationships with key operational stakeholders across the site
• Provide clear financial insight to non-finance teams, helping them understand performance and make informed decisions
• Work closely with the Financial Controller to challenge assumptions, highlight areas of concern and encourage financial accountability
• Support the delivery of continuous improvement initiatives across the manufacturing site
• Identify ways to improve existing processes, reporting and efficiencies across the finance function and wider business
• Assist with initiatives focused on cost savings, productivity, waste reduction and working capital
• Provide cover for the Financial Controller when required, taking ownership of key responsibilities as appropriate
• Assist with external audits, internal controls and ensuring relevant financial documentation is maintained
• Provide ad-hoc financial analysis and support to the wider site leadership team as required

Professional qualification and competencies:

• Qualification in ACA, ACCA, CIMA or Qualified by Experience
• Experience within a manufacturing, industrial or operations-focused finance environment is essential
• Good understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, absorption and manufacturing variance analysis
• Strong Excel, analytical and financial modelling skills
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems and production reporting tools - SAP would be beneficial
• Strong financial acumen with excellent attention to detail and data integrity
• Commercially minded with an understanding of how operational performance impacts financial results
• Strong communication and business partnering skills, with the confidence to challenge assumptions when required
• Able to work proactively, use own initiative and follow issues through to resolution
• Resilient, pragmatic and solution-focused in a fast-paced operational environment
• Experience managing within the team would be beneficial

For more information, please contact Harriett Busby at Axon Moore.