Manufacturing Cost Accountant

Hewett Recruitment; Rugby; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Hewett Recruitment is seeking a Manufacturing Cost Accountant for a 9-12 month FTC. The role sits on-site across Stourport and Rugby, with travel essential, to lead standard costing across materials, labour and overheads within a busy manufacturing environment.

Reporting to the Controller, you will develop cost models, conduct time studies, and partner with operations, engineering and procurement to deliver accurate product costing and actionable financial insight during ERP implementation.

Qualifications

• Experience in cost accounting within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven ability to establish and maintain standard costing systems.
• Strong knowledge of BOMs, routings, labour standards and cost allocation.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with ERP systems (D365, SAP, Oracle).
• Excellent analytical and stakeholder management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of standard costing for materials, labour and overheads.
• Analyse BOMs, routings and processes to set accurate cost standards.
• Conduct time studies and determine labour standards and production rates.
• Develop and maintain cost variance reporting and root-cause analysis.
• Support ERP implementation activities and process improvements.
• Ensure internal controls and financial governance compliance.
• Lead annual standard cost roll and provide scenario analysis.

Skills

Cost accounting

Standard costing

BOMs & routings

Excel advanced

ERP systems

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Tools

Microsoft D365

SAP

Oracle

Job description

Manufacturing Cost Accountant

9-12 Months FTC

On-Site (Based across Stourport and Rugby sites - travel essential)

Are you an experienced Cost Accountant with a strong background in manufacturing and standard costing? Do you enjoy creating robust financial processes that drive operational performance and support strategic decision-making?

A leading manufacturing business is seeking a Cost Accountant - Standard Costing Specialist to play a pivotal role in a major ERP implementation project. Reporting to the Controller, you will take ownership of developing and embedding standard costing methodologies across the organisation, working closely with operations, engineering and procurement teams to ensure accurate product costing and meaningful financial insight.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of standard costing for materials, labour and overheads.


• Analyse BOMs, routings and manufacturing processes to establish accurate cost standards.


• Conduct time studies and collaborate with operational teams to determine labour standards and production rates.


• Develop and maintain cost variance reporting, identifying trends and driving root-cause analysis.


• Lead the annual standard cost roll process, ensuring costs remain accurate and relevant.


• Build cost models and provide scenario analysis to support pricing, investment decisions and business planning.


• Support ERP implementation activities, testing and process improvements.


• Ensure compliance with internal controls and financial governance requirements.

About You

• Previous cost accounting experience within a manufacturing environment.


• Proven experience establishing and maintaining standard costing systems.


• Strong understanding of BOMs, routings, labour standards and cost allocation methodologies.


• Advanced Excel skills and experience working with ERP systems such as Microsoft D365, SAP or Oracle.


• Excellent analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable business insight.


• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments.

Desirable

• Experience supporting ERP implementations, system migrations or cost transformation projects.


• Exposure to cost re-engineering initiatives and process improvement programmes.

Why Apply?

• Opportunity to make a visible impact during a major business transformation project.


• Work closely with senior finance and operational stakeholders.


• Challenging and rewarding contract opportunity within a dynamic manufacturing environment.

If you are a hands-on Cost Accountant, immediately available and have a passion for standard costing and process improvement, we'd love to hear from you.