Cost Accountant

Placrrecruitment Co; Wealden; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Placrrecruitment Co in Lower Dicker, East Sussex, is seeking a Cost Accountant to join our finance team. This hands-on role focuses on maintaining product costs, inventory valuations and financial reporting to support profitability.

You will develop Excel models, manage costing data in ERP, and produce margin analysis by product and customer while collaborating with operations.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of cost or management accounting experience.
• Experience in a manufacturing or operational setting.
• Strong understanding of standard and absorption costing.
• Experience using ERP systems such as Dynamics AX, SAP or Oracle.

Responsibilities

• Complete quarterly cost roll-ups and reviews of bills of materials.
• Analyse variances in materials, labour and overheads.
• Monitor inventory valuations and reconcile inventory accounts.
• Produce margin analysis by product and customer.
• Prepare month-end journals for cost of sales and inventory.

Skills

Cost accounting

Manufacturing experience

Advanced Excel

ERP systems

Education

Part-qualified accounting (CIMA/ACA/ACCA)

Tools

ERP: Dynamics AX/SAP/Oracle

Job description

Cost Accountant

Lower Dicker, East Sussex | Full-time | Permanent | Salary dependent on experience

Are you an analytical finance professional with experience in cost or management accounting within a manufacturing environment?

Our client is looking for a Cost Accountant to join its finance team in Lower Dicker. This is a hands‑on role responsible for maintaining accurate product costs, inventory valuations and financial reporting, while providing meaningful insight to support operational performance and profitability.

This opportunity would suit an experienced Cost Accountant or a part‑qualified finance professional looking to develop their career within a busy manufacturing business.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Completing quarterly cost roll‑ups and reviewing bills of materials
• Analysing manufacturing variances across materials, labour and overheads
• Monitoring inventory valuations and reconciling inventory accounts
• Supporting cycle counts and stocktakes, investigating any discrepancies
• Producing margin analysis by product and customer
• Preparing month‑end journals relating to inventory and cost of sales
• Producing labour‑efficiency reports on a daily and weekly basis
• Completing balance‑sheet reconciliations
• Maintaining the fixed‑asset register and preparing monthly depreciation journals
• Producing board‑level reporting on inventory ageing and stock categories
• Maintaining accurate costing information within the ERP system
• Developing Excel models, reports and business‑intelligence dashboards
• Supporting system upgrades, automation and continuous‑improvement projects
• Maintaining effective financial controls across inventory and costing processes
• Preparing year‑end schedules and responding to audit queries

What We’re Looking For

• One to two years’ experience in cost accounting or management accounting
• Experience within a manufacturing or operational environment
• A strong understanding of standard and absorption costing
• Experience using an ERP system such as Microsoft Dynamics AX, SAP or Oracle
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, financial modelling and data analysisStrong analytical and problem‑solving abilities
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to work accurately to deadlines
• Professional accounting qualification or part‑qualified status, such as CIMA, ACA, ACCA or equivalent

It Would Be an Advantage If You Have

• Previous experience using Microsoft Dynamics AX
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing or process‑improvement methods
• Experience developing BI dashboards and reporting tools
• Sage Payroll or Sage HR experience
• Experience gained within an accountancy practice before moving into manufacturing