Senior Cost Accountant

MC Technology Staffing; Pinetown; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturing company in Pinetown seeks an experienced Cost Accountant to lead its finance function. This role involves developing costing models, managing financial reporting, and ensuring compliance with VAT regulations. The ideal candidate has over 10 years of experience in a manufacturing environment, strong Sage ERP proficiency, and the ability to implement financial policies and controls. This is a senior hands-on position requiring excellent analytical skills and a deep understanding of manufacturing processes.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading a finance function, not just accounting tasks.
• Strong hands-on experience with Sage ERP.

Responsibilities

• Develop costing models for custom projects.
• Manage work orders and cost centres within Sage.
• Prepare monthly management accounts with commentary.
• Ensure VAT compliance and accurate tax treatment.

Skills

Manufacturing costing expertise

Sage ERP proficiency

Variance analysis

Excel skills

Financial compliance knowledge

Education

BCom Accounting / Cost & Management Accounting

CIMA (completed or in progress)

Tools

Sage ERP

Job description

SUMMARY

A well-established and growing manufacturing and installation company operating in the branding and marketing sector is seeking a highly experienced Cost Accountant to lead its finance function. The business operates in a high‑paced jobbing‑shop, project‑driven manufacturing environment, producing custom‑built solutions with varying one‑off cost structures, lead times, and installation components. This role is critical to ensuring accurate costing, margin protection, financial control, and system integrity across the business. The ideal candidate will bring deep hands‑on manufacturing costing experience, strong Sage ERP expertise, and the ability to develop and implement financial policies, procedures, and controls suitable for a growing, operationally complex organisation. This is a senior, hands‑on role combining cost accounting excellence with full financial management responsibility.

POSITION INFO

Key Responsibilities

Costing, Margins & Project

• Develop, maintain, and enforce robust costing models for custom manufacturing and installation projects
• Set up and manage work orders, project codes, and cost centres within Sage
• Perform detailed job costing, margin analysis, and variance reporting
• Identify margin leakage, inefficiencies, and cost overruns and propose corrective actions
• Support sales and operations with pricing, quoting, and cost visibility.

Manufacturing Accounting & Inventory Control

• Full responsibility for raw materials, WIP, and finished goods accounting
• Oversee stock valuation, movement controls, and reconciliation
• Manage WIP reporting, stage‑of‑completion accuracy, and job closure processes
• Coordinate and validate monthly and annual stock takes
• Investigate and resolve stock, WIP, and production variances
• Ensure accurate BOMs, routing, and cost standards are maintained.

ERP System Ownership (Sage)

• Act as the finance system owner for Sage ERP
• Drive system optimisation, data integrity, and process discipline
• Design and implement best‑practice financial workflows within Sage
• Train operational staff on correct system usage relating to costing, stock, and projects
• Ensure accurate integration between operations, procurement, production, and finance.

Financial Management & Reporting

• Full responsibility for day‑to‑day finance operations
• Prepare monthly management accounts, including detailed operational commentary
• Post journals, accruals, provisions, and adjustments
• Maintain the fixed asset register and depreciation schedules
• Produce cash flow forecasts, budgets, and financial projections
• Analyse monthly expenses and operational performance trends
• Prepare trial balance, general ledger, and supporting schedules.

Governance, Controls & Compliance

• Develop, document, and enforce financial policies and procedures
• Strengthen internal controls across purchasing, stock, production, and invoicing
• Ensure VAT compliance and accurate tax treatment of projects
• Support year‑end audits and liaise with external auditors and accountants
• Ensure financial governance aligns with company growth and risk profile.

Leadership & Business Partnering

• Lead and manage the finance department
• Act as a trusted financial advisor to directors, project managers, and operations
• Translate financial data into commercial, decision‑useful insights
• Support operational teams with cost awareness and accountability
• Drive a culture of financial discipline without disrupting operational momentum.

Experience & Qualifications

Qualifications

• BCom Accounting / Cost & Management Accounting (required)
• CIMA (completed or in progress) strongly advantageous

Experience

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in a manufacturing environment
• Strong preference for jobbing shop / project‑based manufacturing
• Proven experience running full costing, WIP, stock, and margin analysis
• Demonstrated experience leading a finance function, not just accounting tasks
• Strong hands‑on experience with Sage ERP (non‑negotiable).

Skills & Competencies

Technical

• Advanced manufacturing and project costing expertise
• Strong understanding of WIP, absorption costing, and variance analysis
• Excellent ERP and systems mindset
• Solid VAT and financial compliance knowledge
• Strong Excel and financial modelling skills

Personal Attributes

• Highly analytical and detail‑oriented
• Commercially minded with strong business acumen
• Confident decision‑maker with operational credibility
• Structured, disciplined, and process‑driven
• Comfortable in fast‑paced, deadline‑driven environments
• Strong communicator across finance and operations.

Ideal Candidate Profile

This role is best suited to a senior cost accountant who has “been on the factory floor” financially, understands how manufacturing really works, and can bridge the gap between finance and operations. You are not just reporting numbers — you are protecting margins, driving systems discipline, and enabling profitable growth.