Cost and Management Accountant

KWV; Paarl; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

KWV is seeking a senior Costing Analyst to join our Finance team in Paarl. The role focuses on analysing, managing and reporting product costing, margins and cost-related business information to support sound decisions and accurate financial reporting.

The successful candidate will have extensive costing experience in manufacturing, advanced Excel skills, SAP costing exposure and strong financial analysis capability, with a focus on cost drivers, inventory valuation and margin visibility across

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualification in Cost/Management Accounting or related field; professional qualification advantageous.
• Experience with standard costing in manufacturing environments is essential.
• FMCG exposure is advantageous.
• Strong cost driver analysis and financial reporting skills.
• Excellent costing accuracy and attention to detail required.

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain accurate product costing information and master data.
• Present COGS analysis and key cost drivers to senior management during budget/forecasts.
• Analyze product profitability and provide margin-improvement recommendations.
• Conduct annual revaluation of spirits products following excise changes.
• Maintain BOMs and routings with reviewed loss percentages.
• Budget, forecast and inventory reporting enhancements for costing.

Skills

Cost accounting

Management accounting

Manufacturing costing

SAP costing

Advanced Excel

Financial analysis

Inventory costing

Cost control

Costing standards

Education

Cost accounting qualification or equivalent

CIMA / CGMA qualification or progress

Tools

SAP

Excel

Job description

Job Grade: 7

Department: Finance

Reporting to: Finance Manager - Operations

Division: Operations

Location: Paarl Operations

Purpose:

The appointed individual will be responsible for analysing, managing and reporting on product costing, margins and other cost-related business information. The role must provide accurate and timely costing information to support sound business decisions and ensure actual costs are appropriately reflected in financial reporting.

The role requires a strong understanding of manufacturing processes, product cost drivers and standard costing principles. The focus is on financial accuracy, continuous improvement, cost optimisation and providing costing and financial support to Operations, Sales and Marketing and New Product Development.

This role is central to maintaining accurate product costing, inventory valuation and margin visibility across Operations. The successful candidate will combine technical costing expertise with practical manufacturing insight to support reliable financial reporting, better forecasting and informed commercial decision‑making.

Minimum Requirements:

• Tertiary qualification in Cost Accounting, Management Accounting or a related field. CIMA / CGMA qualification or progress towards such qualification would be advantageous.
• Minimum of 7 years experience in costing and financial management within a manufacturing environment.
• FMCG experience would be advantageous.
• Sound knowledge and practical experience of Standard Costing within a manufacturing environment.
• SAP experience with product costing, inventory valuation and standard costing is essential.
• Excellent computer skills, specifically advanced Excel.
• Knowledge and experience of Customs & Excise, particularly within the wine and spirits industry, would be advantageous.
• Strong understanding of inventory costing, cost drivers and financial analysis.
• Ability to analyse complex costing information and translate it into meaningful business insights.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen.

Key Responsibilities:

Costing:

• Manage and maintain accurate product costing information and master data.
• Present cost of goods sold analysis and key costing drivers to senior management during budget and forecast cycles.
• Analyse product profitability and provide recommendations to improve margins and cost efficiency.
• Conduct annual revaluation of spirits products following excise increases.
• Ensure product replacement values are calculated and maintained on an ongoing basis.
• Calculate activity prices.
• Develop, maintain and continuously review accurate cost of goods sold calculations.
• Support management and business users in understanding complex product costings and making sound business decisions.
• Monitor cost drivers, manufacturing processes and cost constraints to identify opportunities for improved cost efficiency.
• Ensure costing information reflects current business and manufacturing conditions accurately.
• Maintain accurate BOMs and routings and ensure that loss percentages are continuously reviewed.

Team Management:

• Manage and support one direct report to deliver agreed objectives, KPAs and business priorities.
• Provide clear direction, regular feedback and coaching to maintain accountability and performance.
• Identify development needs and encourage ownership, continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.

Budget & Forecasting:

• Regularly adapt and improve costing reports in line with changing business requirements.
• Streamline and improve the Budget and Forecast process relating to COGS.
• Provide brand- and region-specific costing information to support business planning.
• Standardise, optimise and automate systems and processes relating to costing.
• Provide accurate costing information to support financial planning and business decision‑making.
• Identify and implement opportunities to automate, simplify and improve costing, forecasting and inventory reporting processes.

Inventory Management:

• Forecast short-term and long-term inventory levels to support cash‑flow planning.
• Prepare a monthly inventory write‑off report.
• Ensure inventory adjustments are accurately processed at year‑end.
• Prepare an inventory analysis for the Audit Committee.
• Monitor and report on inventory movements, values and unit cost trends.

Excise:

• Conduct the annual excise calculation for pre‑blend purposes.
• Ensure excise reconciliations and reviews are completed accurately and diligently.
• Ensure accurate costing implications arising from changes in excise and sugar tax are reflected in product costings.
• Monitor legislative changes relating to excise and sugar tax and assess the impact on costing.

Preference will be given to suitably qualified candidates from underrepresented groups aligned with our Employment Equity Plan.

Closing date: 18 September 2026

Please note that any personal information that you shared will be used for the purposes of applying for a role with KWV as advertised above. This information may be shared with authorised Warshay Investments (Pty) Ltd (“KWV”) representatives (internal and contracted external parties) as required. Should you have any questions related to how we process your personal information, please refer to the privacy policy.