Production Accountant

Neptune; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Neptune is seeking a Production Finance professional to drive daily to monthly financial analysis of materials, utilities, yields, and losses. The role emphasizes real-time dashboards, cost variance insights, and cross-functional cost-saving initiatives within a manufacturing setting.

The candidate will lead month-end closes, automate controls, maintain BOM and costing models in SAP, and partner with operations to strengthen inventory and profitability reporting while driving continuous

Responsibilities

• Deliver daily, weekly, and monthly financial analysis on raw material consumption, utilities, chemicals, production yields, losses, and operational efficiencies.
• Analyse manufacturing performance, identifying cost drivers, production bottlenecks, waste, and standard versus actual cost variances.
• Develop and maintain interactive dashboards that provide real-time operational and financial insights.
• Prepare and report on manufacturing efficiency metrics within agreed reporting timelines.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve operational performance.
• Drive digital transformation initiatives that reduce manual processing through automation, data integration, and exception-based monitoring.
• Utilise SAP and reporting tools to streamline production, yield, and variance reporting processes.
• Develop and maintain automated controls for production confirmations, stock movements, and consumption postings.
• Support business reporting requirements, including sustainability and ad hoc performance reporting.
• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of Bills of Materials (BOMs) through structured governance and change control processes.
• Support standard costing processes and maintain costing models within SAP.
• Oversee material master data accuracy across production, batch management, and costing environments.
• Monitor and investigate production cost variances, recommending corrective actions where required.
• Maintain the integrity of raw materials, consumables, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods inventory.
• Conduct variance analysis and investigate stock movement discrepancies.
• Collaborate with operational teams to resolve anomalies and strengthen inventory controls.
• Implement automated validation controls to improve inventory accuracy and visibility.
• Lead the end-to-end production month-end close process, including stock movements, consumption journals, settlements, efficiency reporting, and yield statements.
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of month-end activities through automation and proactive reconciliation processes.
• Validate production-related accruals and ensure the integrity of profitability and cost reporting.
• Support audit requirements and financial compliance standards.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement through problem-solving methodologies and lean principles.
• Drive process automation, standardisation, and simplification within production finance.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance internal controls, policies, and standard operating procedures.
• Participate in cross-functional improvement initiatives focused on productivity and efficiency gains.
• Lead or participate in daily and weekly operational performance reviews.
• Provide financial coaching and support to non-financial stakeholders.
• Translate complex financial data into actionable business insights.
• Build strong relationships across manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and finance functions to support informed decision-making.

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Production Financial Performance & Analytics

• Deliver daily, weekly, and monthly financial analysis on raw material consumption, utilities, chemicals, production yields, losses, and operational efficiencies.
• Analyse manufacturing performance, identifying cost drivers, production bottlenecks, waste, and standard versus actual cost variances.
• Develop and maintain interactive dashboards that provide real-time operational and financial insights.
• Prepare and report on manufacturing efficiency metrics within agreed reporting timelines.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve operational performance.

Smart Data Acquisition & Process Automation

• Drive digital transformation initiatives that reduce manual processing through automation, data integration, and exception-based monitoring.
• Utilise SAP and reporting tools to streamline production, yield, and variance reporting processes.
• Develop and maintain automated controls for production confirmations, stock movements, and consumption postings.
• Support business reporting requirements, including sustainability and ad hoc performance reporting.

Production Costing & Master Data Governance

• Ensure the accuracy and integrity of Bills of Materials (BOMs) through structured governance and change control processes.
• Support standard costing processes and maintain costing models within SAP.
• Oversee material master data accuracy across production, batch management, and costing environments.
• Monitor and investigate production cost variances, recommending corrective actions where required.

Inventory, Consumption & Movement Control

• Maintain the integrity of raw materials, consumables, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods inventory.
• Conduct variance analysis and investigate stock movement discrepancies.
• Collaborate with operational teams to resolve anomalies and strengthen inventory controls.
• Implement automated validation controls to improve inventory accuracy and visibility.

Month-End Financial Close

• Lead the end-to-end production month-end close process, including stock movements, consumption journals, settlements, efficiency reporting, and yield statements.
• Ensure timely and accurate completion of month-end activities through automation and proactive reconciliation processes.
• Validate production-related accruals and ensure the integrity of profitability and cost reporting.
• Support audit requirements and financial compliance standards.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Champion a culture of continuous improvement through problem-solving methodologies and lean principles.
• Drive process automation, standardisation, and simplification within production finance.
• Develop, maintain, and enhance internal controls, policies, and standard operating procedures.
• Participate in cross-functional improvement initiatives focused on productivity and efficiency gains.

Stakeholder Engagement & Business Partnership

• Lead or participate in daily and weekly operational performance reviews.
• Provide financial coaching and support to non-financial stakeholders.
• Translate complex financial data into actionable business insights.
• Build strong relationships across manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and finance functions to support informed decision-making.