Cost Accountant

Axon Moore; Washington; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Axon Moore are delighted to be supporting a well-established manufacturing business to appoint an Assistant Plant Controller. This role sits in the finance team, focusing on cost accounting and operational financial insight to drive continuous improvement across the site.

Reporting to the Financial Controller, you will manage month-end, standard costing, inventory valuations and provide meaningful analysis of manufacturing performance to support budgeting and forecasting.

Qualifications

• Qualified ACA/ACCA/CIMA or Qualified by Experience.
• Manufacturing/industrial finance experience is essential.
• Strong understanding of standard costing, inventory accounting, absorption and manufacturing variance analysis.
• Strong Excel, analytical and financial modelling skills.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems (SAP would be beneficial).
• Strong financial acumen with attention to detail and data integrity.
• Commercial mindset with understanding of how operational performance impacts financial results.
• Strong communication and business partnering skills.
• Proactive, initiative-driven, resilient in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience managing within a team would be beneficial.

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

Skills

Excel

Financial modelling

Standard costing

Inventory accounting

Manufacturing variance analysis

ERP/MRP systems

Data integrity

Business partnering

Analytical thinking

Problem solving

Education

ACA/ACCA/CIMA

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