Cost Accountant

Communicate Recruitment; Boksburg; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 620,000; Full time

Job summary

Communicate Recruitment is seeking a seasoned Cost Accountant for a manufacturing group in Gauteng. You will own product costing, inventory valuation, and manufacturing analysis, partnering with operations to drive profitability.

You will maintain standard costing structures, review BOMs, perform variance analysis, and support month-end processes and ERP data integrity. The ideal candidate has 5+ years in cost accounting in manufacturing, CIMA qualification, and a strong analytical, commercial

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years' Cost Accounting experience within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong experience with standard costing, BOM management, inventory control and valuation, manufacturing variance analysis, ERP systems, and advanced Excel modelling and reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to influence business decisions through data-driven insights.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and commercial acumen.
• Ability to engage confidently with both finance and operational stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented with a proactive, continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Product Costing & Cost Control: Maintain and enhance standard costing structures for raw materials, labour, overheads, and purchased components; Review BOMs, routings, and costing master data; Support new product costing, pricing decisions, and profitability analysis.

Skills

Standard costing

BOM management

Inventory control and valuation

Manufacturing variance analysis

ERP systems

Advanced Excel modelling

Education

CIMA qualification

BCom Accounting/Cost & Management Accounting

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Brief Description:

Are you a seasoned Cost Accountant who thrives on uncovering efficiencies, improving profitability, and turning complex manufacturing data into meaningful business decisions? Our client is a well-established manufacturer serving demanding industrial sectors and is looking for a commercially minded Cost Accountant to take ownership of product costing, inventory valuation, manufacturing analysis, and financial controls across the operation. This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys getting into the detail, partnering with operational teams, and making a tangible impact on business performance. If you're passionate about manufacturing, cost optimisation, and continuous improvement, this role will challenge and reward you in equal measure.

Job Description

Product Costing & Cost Control

• Maintain and enhance standard costing structures for raw materials, labour, overheads, and purchased components.
• Review and update Bills of Materials (BOMs), routings, and costing master data to ensure accuracy and integrity within the ERP system.
• Support new product costing, pricing decisions, and profitability analysis.

Manufacturing Analysis

• Prepare monthly cost accounting reports, including standard versus actual variance analysis and gross margin reporting.
• Analyse material usage, labour recovery, scrap, rework, and overhead variances to identify improvement opportunities.
• Partner with production and operational teams to drive efficiency and reduce waste.

Inventory & Financial Control

• Ensure the accuracy and completeness of inventory valuation, work-in-progress reporting, and stock reconciliations.
• Coordinate cycle counts, annual stock takes, and obsolete stock reviews.
• Support month-end processes, including inventory journals, provisions, accruals, and reconciliations.

Business Partnering & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with Procurement, Production, Engineering, and Finance to support sound commercial decision-making.
• Monitor input costs and ensure costing assumptions remain current and accurate.
• Identify cost-saving initiatives, margin improvement opportunities, and process enhancements throughout the manufacturing environment.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, audits, and ongoing improvement of costing and ERP processes.

Skills & Experience

Minimum 5 years' Cost Accounting experience within a manufacturing environment.

Strong experience with:

• Standard costing
• BOM management
• Inventory control and valuation
• Manufacturing variance analysis
• ERP systems
• Advanced Excel modelling and reporting.

Demonstrated ability to influence business decisions through data-driven insights.

Strong analytical, problem-solving, and commercial acumen.

Ability to engage confidently with both finance and operational stakeholders.

Detail-oriented with a proactive, continuous improvement mindset.

Qualification

CIMA qualified

BCom Accounting, Cost & Management Accounting, Finance, or a related qualification preferred.