Cost Accountant

Network Contracting; Soweto; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Contracting is seeking a standard costing professional to develop and maintain costing models, analyze variances, and support decision making with accurate cost information.

The ideal candidate will have 5+ years in manufacturing costing, strong Excel and SAP skills, and a degree in accounting or finance, with CIMA registration as a non-negotiable requirement. This role involves close collaboration with production and engineering teams.

Qualifications

• Completed degree in Accounting, Finance or related field.
• CIMA registration is non negotiable.
• 5+ years experience in manufacturing cost and standard costing.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and review standard costing models for raw materials, labour, and manufacturing overheads.
• Calculate and update standard costs for finished goods and components, ensuring alignment with production processes and pricing strategies.
• Analyse cost variances (material, labour, overhead, usage, and yield) and investigate root causes.
• Prepare detailed variance reports and provide recommendations to management for cost control and operational improvement.
• Monitor and reconcile Work in Progress (WIP) balances, ensuring accurate valuation and timely reporting.
• Track production orders through the manufacturing cycle, identifying bottlenecks, delays, and abnormal losses affecting WIP.
• Review, maintain, and validate Bills of Materials (BOMs) to ensure accuracy of material usage, quantities, and routing information.
• Collaborate with production, engineering, and procurement teams to update BOMs for new products, process changes, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Perform inventory valuation and stock reconciliations, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and company policies.
• Support month-end close by preparing cost journals, reconciliations, accruals, and manufacturing cost reports.
• Prepare management reports on production costs, inventory movements, WIP, BOM variances, and profitability analysis.
• Assist in budgeting and forecasting by providing cost assumptions, standard cost updates, and production cost projections.

Skills

Deadline driven

Business acumen

Client/stakeholder commitment

Education

Degree in Accounting/Finance

CIMA registration

Tools

Microsoft Excel

SAP

Job description

This manufacturing concern is looking for a standard costing guru who will accurately process financial information, ascertain and analyze costs and support stakeholders with the interpretation of financial information to enable business decision making.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and review standard costing models for raw materials, labour, and manufacturing overheads.
• Calculate and update standard costs for finished goods and components, ensuring alignment with production processes and pricing strategies.
• Analyse cost variances (material, labour, overhead, usage, and yield) and investigate root causes.
• Prepare detailed variance reports and provide recommendations to management for cost control and operational improvement.
• Monitor and reconcile Work in Progress (WIP) balances, ensuring accurate valuation and timely reporting.
• Track production orders through the manufacturing cycle, identifying bottlenecks, delays, and abnormal losses affecting WIP.
• Review, maintain, and validate Bills of Materials (BOMs) to ensure accuracy of material usage, quantities, and routing information.
• Collaborate with production, engineering, and procurement teams to update BOMs for new products, process changes, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Perform inventory valuation and stock reconciliations, ensuring compliance with accounting standards and company policies.
• Support month-end close by preparing cost journals, reconciliations, accruals, and manufacturing cost reports.
• Prepare management reports on production costs, inventory movements, WIP, BOM variances, and profitability analysis.
• Assist in budgeting and forecasting by providing cost assumptions, standard cost updates, and production cost projections.

As you will be responsible for hitting the ground running extensive experience is essential.

Qualification

• Completed Degree in Accounting, Finance or related
• CIMA registration (non negotiable)

Experience

• 5+ years experience in a similar role within a Manufacturing environment
• 3+ years experience in standard costing
• Proficient Microsoft Excel skills and SAP

Skills Required

• Deadline driven
• Business acumen
• Client/stakeholder commitment

For more information, contact Riah Mthimunye, Sourcing Specialist.