Cost Accountant

Pillangó Placements; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 670,000 - 837,000; Full time

Job summary

Pillangó Placements is assisting a South African manufacturer in Johannesburg to recruit a Cost Accountant who will own product costing and inventory valuation. This role connects standard costing, BOM accuracy, and margin analysis with production decisions across an end-to-end manufacturing setup.

Reporting to the Head of Finance, you will refine cost data, perform variances analysis, and support month-end close and forecasting. A strong focus on ERP systems and advanced Excel is essential.

Qualifications

• CIMA qualification is required.
• Minimum 5 years' cost accounting experience in manufacturing.
• BCom Accounting, Cost & Management Accounting or Finance preferred.
• Strong experience in standard costing, BOMs, inventory and variance analysis.
• Good ERP capability.
• Advanced Excel skills.

Responsibilities

• Maintain standard costing for materials, components, labour and overheads.
• Review and update BOMs, routings and costing master data in ERP.
• Prepare monthly cost accounting reports including variances and margin analysis.
• Analyse material usage, labour recovery, overhead absorption and production variances.
• Ensure accurate inventory valuation, WIP reporting and stock counts.
• Support month-end close activities related to inventory and journals.
• Collaborate with Production, Procurement, Engineering and Finance on landed costs and make-versus-buy decisions.
• Assist budgeting and forecasting through cost drivers and standard cost reviews.
• Identify waste and margin leakage and recommend corrective actions.
• Support internal and external audits and strengthen costing controls.

Skills

Advanced Excel skills

Analytical ability

ERP capability

Cost accounting

Education

CIMA qualification

BCom Accounting/Cost & Management Accounting or Finance

Tools

ERP system

Job description

For a Cost Accountant who enjoys getting behind the numbers: standard costing, BOMs, inventory, production variances and margin analysis are at the heart of this role. Join an established South African manufacturer where costing isn’t just a month-end exercise — it directly influences production, pricing, margins and commercial decisions. The business operates an end-to-end manufacturing environment, producing specialised products for the mining, road construction and related heavy-industry sectors.

The role

Reporting to the Head of Finance, this position takes ownership of product costing, inventory valuation, manufacturing cost analysis and related financial controls. Key responsibilities include:

• Maintaining accurate standard costing for raw materials, bought-out components, labour and manufacturing overheads.
• Reviewing and updating BOMs, routings and costing master data in the ERP system.
• Preparing monthly cost accounting reports, including actual-versus-standard variances, gross margin analysis and stock reconciliations.
• Analysing material usage, labour recovery, overhead absorption, scrap, rework and production variances.
• Ensuring accurate inventory valuation, WIP reporting, cycle counts, annual stock counts and obsolete stock reviews.
• Supporting month-end close activities relating to inventory, journals, accruals, provisions and reconciliations.
• Working with Production, Procurement, Engineering and Finance on landed costs, new product costing, make-versus-buy decisions and margin assumptions.
• Supporting budgeting and forecasting through cost drivers, production assumptions and standard cost reviews.
• Identifying waste, process inefficiencies, margin leakage and pricing anomalies, with recommendations for corrective action.
• Supporting internal and external audits and strengthening costing, reporting and ERP controls.

What you'll need

• CIMA qualification.
• Minimum 5 years' cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment.
• BCom Accounting, Cost & Management Accounting or Finance preferred.
• Strong experience in standard costing, BOMs, inventory and variance analysis.
• Good ERP capability.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Strong analytical ability with the confidence to investigate exceptions and challenge inaccurate costing assumptions.

Why consider it?

The role offers broad ownership of the costing function and direct exposure to the operational side of manufacturing. It also provides the opportunity to influence profitability, pricing discipline, inventory accuracy and continuous improvement across the business.

Salary

The proposed salary for the role is R60k - R75k per month - the final offer will depend on qualifications, experience and skills.