Cost Accountant - Remote Option Available

Placements24; Stellenbosch; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Limited remote work flexibility

Professional development

Collaborative finance team

Operational excellence culture

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a highly analytical Cost Accountant in Stellenbosch, Western Cape. The role focuses on optimizing production costs, inventory valuation, and profitability for a leading manufacturing firm.

You'll collaborate with production and finance teams, implement cost systems, perform variance analyses, and support budgeting and standard costing processes. Limited remote work may be available for exceptional candidates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or related field.
• Professional qualification such as CIMA or CA(SA) preferred.
• Minimum 4 years in cost accounting, manufacturing preferred.
• Knowledge of cost accounting principles and inventory valuation.
• ERP experience with SAP/Oracle/SYSPRO and advanced Excel.
• Excellent analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams and meet deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain cost accounting systems and methodologies.
• Analyze manufacturing costs including materials, labor and overhead.
• Prepare cost reports, variance analyses and profitability assessments.
• Assist budgeting and standard costing processes.
• Monitor inventory valuation and perform cycle counts and reconciliations.
• Analyze variances and identify root causes; propose corrective actions.
• Support finance and operations with cost-related data and insights.
• Contribute to cost management process improvements.
• Evaluate financial viability of product introductions and capex proposals.
• Ensure cost accounting and inventory valuation compliance.

Skills

Cost accounting

Manufacturing accounting

Analytical skills

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CIMA/CA(SA) preferable

Tools

SAP

Oracle

SYSPRO

Excel

Job description

About the Role Our client, a prominent manufacturing firm based in the picturesque surroundings of Stellenbosch, Western Cape , is seeking a highly analytical and experienced Cost Accountant. This role is integral to understanding and optimizing the company's production costs, inventory valuation, and profitability. While this position is primarily office-based, the company is open to discussing limited remote work flexibility for exceptional candidates who demonstrate strong performance and reliability. You will work closely with the production and finance teams to ensure accurate cost data is captured, analyzed, and utilized for informed decision-making. The ideal candidate will possess a strong grasp of manufacturing accounting principles and a proactive approach to identifying cost-saving opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and maintain cost accounting systems and methodologies.
• Analyze manufacturing costs, including direct materials, direct labor, and overhead.
• Prepare detailed cost reports, variance analyses, and profitability assessments.
• Assist in the annual budgeting and standard costing processes.
• Monitor inventory valuation and perform regular cycle counts and reconciliations.
• Analyze variances between standard and actual costs, identifying root causes and recommending corrective actions.
• Support the finance and operations teams with cost-related data and insights.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of cost management processes and systems.
• Evaluate the financial viability of new product introductions and capital expenditure proposals.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards related to cost accounting and inventory valuation.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• A professional qualification (e.g., CIMA, CA(SA)) is highly desirable.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience specifically in cost accounting, preferably within a manufacturing environment.
• In-depth knowledge of cost accounting principles, methods, and systems.
• Proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, SYSPRO) and advanced Excel skills are essential.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and quantitative skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to work effectively within a team and collaborate with various departments.
• Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.Prior experience working in the **Stellenbosch** region or surrounding Winelands is a plus.

Benefits

• Competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience.
• Opportunity to work in a leading manufacturing company.
• Potential for limited remote work flexibility for outstanding candidates.
• Be part of a collaborative and results-driven finance team.
• Professional development and training opportunities.
• Contribution to a company committed to operational excellence.