Cost Accountant (3540)

Cathedrala Appointments; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Cathedral Appointments is recruiting for a Cost Accountant in Plymouth for a major manufacturing business. You will establish true manufacturing costs, maintain ERP costing, and report on gross margin as products finish, influencing cross‑functional teams.

The role requires manufacturing costing experience, strong Excel and IT skills, and progression towards accounting qualifications. Salary £40,000–£45,000 DOE with on-site hours Mon–Thu 7:30–16:30 and Fri 12:30 finish.

Qualifications

• Costing experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong analytical skills; able to explain financial information clearly to operational managers.
• Proactive and self-motivated; able to influence colleagues inside and outside finance.
• Collaborative team player; capable of leading and supporting cross-functional groups.
• Progress with accounting qualifications and continuous professional development.
• Advanced Excel and general IT skills.

Responsibilities

• Review component costs across all product lines to ensure they are accurate and up to date.
• Work with design, procurement and production teams to establish the true cost of manufacture.
• Develop and maintain bills of materials to improve MRP accuracy and support procurement and logistics planning.
• Update the ERP system with costing results and report gross margin on completed products.
• Reconcile materials and work-in-progress inventory quarterly, evaluating stock reduction initiatives with stakeholders.
• Identify cost reduction opportunities and support wider finance project work.

Skills

Costing expertise

Analytical skills

Influence across functions

Team collaboration

Advanced Excel

Education

Pursuing accounting qualification

Tools

ERP system

Job description

Cathedral Appointments is recruiting on behalf of a major, well-established manufacturing business in Plymouth for a Cost Accountant. This is a high-profile position at the heart of the finance function, ensuring products are accurately costed and helping the business protect and grow its gross margin.

The Role

Working closely with production, procurement and design, you will establish the true cost of manufacture, keep the ERP system accurate and report on margin as products are completed. Manufacturing experience is essential for this role, and it suits a commercially minded costing professional who enjoys influencing beyond finance and wants to continue developing towards a full accounting qualification.

Responsibilities for the Cost Accountant:

• Review component costs across all product lines to ensure they are accurate and up to date
• Work with design, procurement and production teams to establish the true cost of manufacture
• Develop and maintain bills of materials to improve MRP accuracy and support procurement and logistics planning
• Update the ERP system with costing results and report gross margin on completed products
• Reconcile materials and work-in-progress inventory quarterly, evaluating stock reduction initiatives with stakeholders
• Identify cost reduction opportunities and support wider finance project work

Requirements for the Cost Accountant include:

• Essential: costing experience gained within a manufacturing environment
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to explain financial information clearly to senior operational managers
• Proactive and self-motivated, able to influence colleagues inside and outside finance
• A collaborative team player, comfortable both leading and supporting cross-functional groups
• Advanced Excel and a high standard of general IT skills
• A desire to progress with accounting qualifications
• A salary of £40,000 - £45,000 DOE
• Full-time, on-site hours of Monday to Thursday 7.30am to 4.30pm, with an early finish at 12.30pm on Fridays
• A high-profile, business-critical role within a major regional employer
• Support to progress your accounting qualifications and career development
• Close exposure to operations, procurement and senior management

Note on Sponsorship: We regret to inform you that at this time, we are unable to offer sponsorship for work authorisation for this role. Therefore, candidates must possess valid authorisation to work in the UK without requiring visa sponsorship.