Cost Accountant: Data Analytics for Profitability

FirstRand Bank India; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 450,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstRand Bank India is seeking a Cost Accountant with strong analytics to build cost and profitability models that drive strategic decisions in Branch Banking. You will interrogate data, develop forecasting and predictive models, and translate financial information into actionable recommendations for stakeholders.

The role blends Finance, Data Analytics, and Business Strategy, requiring advanced SQL, Excel, and BI tools, with opportunities to influence performance and resource optimisation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Cost & Management Accounting, Business Analytics, Data Science, Mathematics or related field.
• 4 - 5 years of Cost Accounting, Financial Analytics or similar analytical experience.
• Experience analysing large datasets to support performance and profitability decisions.
• Ability to derive actionable insights from financial and operational data.
• Strong SQL and data interrogation skills.
• Experience with data visualisation and reporting tools (Power BI/Tableau).
• Advanced Excel and financial modelling capabilities.
• Exposure to forecasting, predictive analytics, statistical modelling or BI solutions is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Build, maintain, and enhance cost allocation, profitability, forecasting, and predictive models.
• Apply analytics to identify trends, risks, and performance drivers.
• Use SQL to analyse large datasets and translate findings for stakeholders.
• Develop insights to optimise costs, allocate resources and improve profitability.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, and scenario planning.
• Translate complex data into clear recommendations for business stakeholders.
• Partner with Finance, Analytics, Data, and Business teams to solve commercial challenges.
• Drive automation, governance, and continuous improvement of models.
• Leverage data-driven insights to influence strategy and performance outcomes.

Skills

SQL

Data interrogation

Power BI

Tableau

Excel

Financial modelling

Forecasting

Statistical modelling

Machine learning

Business analytics

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Cost & Management Accounting, Business Analytics, Data Science or Mathematics

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Job description

FirstRand Bank India is seeking a Cost Accountant with strong analytics to build cost and profitability models that drive strategic decisions in Branch Banking. You will interrogate data, develop forecasting and predictive models, and translate financial information into actionable recommendations for stakeholders.

The role blends Finance, Data Analytics, and Business Strategy, requiring advanced SQL, Excel, and BI tools, with opportunities to influence performance and resource optimisation.