Cost Accountant

Placements24; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 450,000 - 650,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Performance incentives

Professional development

Collaborative work environment

Job summary

Placements24 in Stellenbosch is seeking a detail-oriented Cost Accountant to join our manufacturing finance team. You will establish standard costs, analyze variances, and provide essential financial data to support operational efficiency and pricing decisions.

You will work closely with production and engineering to optimize processes and improve profitability in a dynamic industrial environment, requiring strong Excel, ERP skills, and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance required.
• 3+ years of cost accounting experience in manufacturing.
• ERP proficiency and advanced Excel skills.
• CIMA or CMA qualification is a strong advantage.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain cost accounting systems and policies.
• Analyze manufacturing costs: materials, labor, overhead.
• Set standard costs for new and existing products.
• Perform variance analysis and investigate discrepancies.
• Assist in inventory valuation and costing data accuracy.
• Provide cost analysis for pricing, budgeting, and profitability.

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

CIMA or CMA qualification

Tools

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

About the Role

Our client is seeking a detail-oriented Cost Accountant to join their manufacturing finance team. This is an on-site role based in Stellenbosch , where you will play a crucial part in analyzing and controlling production costs. You will be responsible for establishing standard costs, analyzing variances, and providing essential financial data to support operational efficiency and decision-making. The successful candidate will work closely with production and engineering teams to optimize processes and improve profitability within a dynamic industrial environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain cost accounting systems and policies.
• Analyze manufacturing costs, including direct materials, labor, and overhead.
• Calculate and set standard costs for new and existing products.
• Perform variance analysis on actual costs versus standard costs and investigate significant discrepancies.
• Assist in inventory valuation and management, ensuring accuracy of costing data.
• Provide cost information and analysis to support pricing decisions, budgeting, and profitability assessments.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CIMA or CMA qualification is a strong advantage.
• Proven experience (3+ years) as a Cost Accountant, preferably in a manufacturing setting.
• Strong knowledge of cost accounting principles, methods, and systems.
• Proficiency in ERP systems and advanced Excel skills for data analysis.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with meticulous attention to detail.
• Effective communication and collaboration skills to work with cross-functional teams.

Benefits

• Competitive salary and performance incentives.
• Opportunity to work within a leading manufacturing company.
• Professional development and training programs.
• Contribution to operational efficiency and cost management strategies.
• A stable and collaborative work environment.