INVENTORY COST ACCOUNTANT

West Coast Personnel; Worcester; On-site; ZAR 355,000 - 426,000; Full time

Job summary

West Coast Personnel is seeking an Inventory Cost Accountant in Paarl, Western Cape. The role focuses on inventory costing, stock control, and reporting, with Pastel Evolution as the core system for costing and valuation.

Responsibilities include maintaining inventory data, costing, BOM verification, and monthly reporting. Strong Excel skills and independent work discipline are essential to support purchasing, pricing and profitability decisions.

Qualifications

• Relevant qualification in Accounting, Cost Accounting, Finance or related field.
• Relevant experience in inventory accounting, product costing and stock control.
• Proficiency in Pastel Evolution, especially inventory records, costing and pricing.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills for reconciliations, reporting and data analysis.
• Understanding of inventory valuation, bills of materials, gross profit and GL reconciliations.
• Knowledge of costing for imported and locally purchased products.
• Experience coordinating stock takes and investigating discrepancies.
• Ability to maintain pricing structures, discount levels and minimum stock.
• Strong analytical, numerical and problem-solving skills.
• Attention to detail, organisation and accuracy.
• Effective communication and supplier-negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities and meet reporting deadlines.
• Integrity and accountability in handling financial and inventory information.

Responsibilities

• Implement and maintain accurate inventory data in Pastel Evolution.
• Maintain the inventory master file, product information and warehouse locations.
• Implement and monitor internal controls for stock quantities, costing and valuation.
• Manage minimum stock levels and timely replenishment at competitive prices.
• Calculate and maintain costs for imported and locally sourced products.
• Verify bills of materials, component costs and finished-product costing.
• Perform costing analysis and monitor cost movements.
• Maintain pricing matrix and correct inventory discount levels in Pastel Evolution.
• Calculate gross profit margins and highlight pricing or costing concerns.
• Negotiate supplier discounts and identify purchasing savings.
• Coordinate and oversee stock takes across stores and warehouses.
• Capture stock-count results, investigate variances and adjust.
• Reconcile stock-on-hand with GL accounts.
• Investigate stock shortages, wastage and suspected theft.
• Recommend corrective measures to improve stock accuracy and reduce losses.
• Prepare inventory, costing, gross profit and stock-variance reports.
• Analyze movements and identify slow-moving or excess stock.
• Support month-end reconciliations and reporting.
• Maintain supporting documentation and audit trails.

Skills

Inventory accounting

Product costing

Stock control

Microsoft Excel

General ledger reconciliations

Supplier negotiations

Attention to detail

Independent work

Education

Accounting/Cost Accounting/Finance qualification

Tools

Pastel Evolution

Job description

INVENTORY COST ACCOUNTANT Paarl, Western Cape R35,000 per monthAn opportunity exists for a detail-oriented Inventory Cost Accountant to manage inventory costing, stock controls and reporting. The successful candidate will ensure accurate inventory valuations, maintain reliable system records and provide cost analysis to support purchasing, pricing and profitability.

Key Responsibilities

Inventory Systems & Controls

• Implement and maintain accurate inventory data in Pastel Evolution.
• Maintain the inventory master file, product information and warehouse locations.
• Implement and monitor internal controls to ensure accurate stock quantities, costing and valuation.
• Manage minimum stock levels and coordinate timely replenishment at competitive prices.

Product Costing & Pricing

• Calculate and maintain accurate costs for imported and locally sourced products.
• Verify bills of materials, component costs and finished-product costing.
• Perform product costing and analyse cost movements and discrepancies.
• Maintain the pricing matrix and ensure the correct inventory discount levels are applied in Pastel Evolution.
• Calculate and analyse gross profit margins and highlight pricing or costing concerns.
• Negotiate supplier discounts and identify purchasing savings.

Stock Counts & Reconciliations

• Coordinate and oversee stock takes across all stores and warehouse locations.
• Capture stock-count results, investigate variances and process approved adjustments.
• Reconcile stock-on-hand records and inventory valuations to the relevant general ledger accounts.
• Investigate and report stock shortages, wastage and suspected theft.
• Recommend corrective measures to improve stock accuracy and reduce losses.

Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare inventory, costing, gross profit and stock-variance reports.
• Analyse inventory movements and identify slow-moving, obsolete or excess stock.
• Support month-end inventory reconciliations and reporting.
• Maintain supporting documentation and accurate audit trails.

Requirements

• Relevant qualification in Accounting, Cost Accounting, Finance or a related field.
• Relevant experience in inventory accounting, product costing and stock control.
• Practical proficiency in Pastel Evolution, particularly inventory records, costing and pricing.
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills for reconciliations, reporting and data analysis.
• Sound understanding of inventory valuation, bills of materials, gross profit calculations and general ledger reconciliations.
• Understanding of costing for imported and locally purchased products.
• Experience coordinating stock takes and investigating stock discrepancies.
• Ability to maintain pricing structures, discount levels and minimum stock requirements.
• Strong analytical, numerical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail, organisation and accuracy.
• Effective communication and supplier-negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently, manage priorities and meet reporting deadlines.
• High levels of integrity and accountability when handling financial and inventory information.