Cost and Management Accountant

Pro Talent; Durban; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Pro Talent in Durban is seeking a dynamic Cost and Management Accountant to develop costing models, improve inventory valuation, and deliver actionable profitability insights. You will partner with production, procurement and IT to automate reporting and strengthen data ownership across the business.

You will build robust costing tools, validate standard vs actuals, and support budgets, forecasts and pricing decisions. A SA accounting degree and strong ERP/Power BI skills are essential.

Qualifications

• SA degree in accounting or finance or management accounting.
• CA(SA) or CIMA qualification is advantageous with relevant experience.
• Experience in cost and management accounting in manufacturing or inventory-heavy businesses.
• Strong costing knowledge, variances, yields and inventory valuation.
• Proficient in Power BI, Power Query, SQL and ERP systems.
• Advanced Excel and MS Office skills.
• Ability to build models and present clear management information.
• Experience delivering reporting or system improvements independently.
• Business acumen with customer focus and process improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Build and improve costing tools, dashboards and reconciliation workflows.
• Develop costing models for materials, labour, overheads and yields.
• Validate assumptions with production and procurement; manage variances.
• Analyse gross profit by SKU, channel and production run.
• Investigate margin erosion and stock allocation issues; recommend actions.
• Ensure accurate valuation of raw materials, WIP and finished goods.
• Lead stock counts and reconcile ERP with warehouse data.
• Collaborate with ERP/IT/ops to improve data quality and reporting.
• Translate process findings into clear actions for managers.
• Support budgets, forecasts and scenario modelling.
• Provide insights for pricing, promotions and production planning.

Skills

Cost accounting

Data-driven decision making

Financial analysis

Independent reporting

Education

SA degree in accounting/finance/management accounting

CA(SA) or CIMA advantageous

Tools

Power BI

Power Query

SQL

Meat Matrix ERP

Excel

Job description

POSITION: COST AND MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTANT

The client is seeking a high-energy, hands-on Cost and Management Accountant who enjoys building

systems and using data to solve real operational problems This position is based in Durban Head Office

and reports to the General Manager. The incumbent will deliver accurate product costing, reliable inventory

valuation and clear profitability insight and work collaboratively with internal stakeholders to improve efficiency and

sustainable profitability.

Key Performance Areas:

• Build and improve costing tools, dashboards and reconciliation workflows and controls that turn operational data into timely action.
• Develop and maintain costing models covering materials, labour, overheads, yields and wastage.
• Validate assumptions with production and procurement, maintain standard costs and explain differences between standard and actual performance.
• Analyse gross profit by SKU, customer, channel and production run.
• Investigate margin erosion, input cost changes, yield losses and stock allocation issues, and recommend practical corrective action.
• Ensure sound valuation of raw materials, work in progress and finished goods.
• Lead finance support for stock counts, reconcile ERP records with warehouse and production data, and investigate discrepancies through to their root cause.
• Work with ERP, IT and operational teams to strengthen data quality, automate repeatable reporting and establish clear ownership of source data.
• Work directly with department managers to understand processes and test what the numbers are telling us and translate findings into clear actions.
• Support budgets, forecasts and scenario modelling.
• Provide financial insight for pricing, promotions, supplier negotiations and production planning, and flag risks and opportunities early.

Minimum Requirements:

• South African relevant degree in accounting, finance or management accounting. CA(SA), CIMA or an equivalent professional qualification is advantageous and/or strong relevant experience
• Demonstrated experience in cost and management accounting within manufacturing, food processing, FMCG or another inventory-intensive business.
• Strong practical understanding of product costing, standard versus actual variances, production yields, inventory valuation and stock reconciliations.
• Power BI, Power Query, SQL, reporting automation and experience with Meat Matrix or a comparable ERP
• Advanced Excel skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to build reliable models, reconcile multiple data sources and present clear management information.
• Evidence of independently delivering reporting, control or systems improvement
• Business acumen with the ability to contribute to business beyond own functional area.
• Service delivery and customer focused.
• Passion for building and improving systems, with a focus on accuracy, simplicity and tools that colleagues can use independently.
• Explorative with a solutions driven mind set