Cost Accountant-Manufacturing at Robert Walters

• A leading food manufacturing organisation in Johannesburg is seeking a Cost Accountant Manufacturing to join their Finance department. This role offers you the opportunity to play a pivotal part in driving operational excellence and sustainable business growth by ensuring accurate product costing, effective manufacturing cost control, reliable inventory valuation, and insightful profitability analysis. You will be empowered to support both operational and strategic decision-making, working closely with cross-functional teams to identify opportunities for margin improvement and operational efficiencies. The organisation values collaboration, knowledge sharing, and continuous development, providing a supportive environment where your analytical skills and attention to detail will be highly appreciated. Flexible working arrangements, generous pension contributions, and ongoing training opportunities are just some of the benefits that make this an attractive position for professionals looking to advance their career within the food manufacturing sector. * You will have the chance to work alongside experienced finance and production professionals who are committed to nurturing talent and fostering a collaborative culture. * The organisation prioritises employee wellbeing through flexible working options, comprehensive training programmes, and generous pension contributions. * Your expertise will directly influence key business decisions, supporting growth leadership initiatives and contributing to a dependable, inclusive workplace.

What you'll do:

As a Cost Accountant Manufacturing based in Johannesburg, you will be responsible for maintaining robust costing systems that underpin the organisation’s financial health. Your day-to-day activities will involve analysing production variances, monitoring raw material usage, conducting inventory valuations, and identifying opportunities for margin improvement. You will collaborate extensively with procurement, operations, sales, and commercial teams to ensure accurate product costing and efficient manufacturing cost control. By preparing detailed cost reports and management accounts related to manufacturing operations, you will provide valuable insights that drive business decisions. Your role also includes supporting budgeting processes, forecasting future trends, assisting with new product development pricing decisions, and ensuring compliance with internal controls as well as regulatory requirements. Success in this position requires a keen eye for detail combined with strong interpersonal skills to influence stakeholders across departments. You will be instrumental in driving continuous improvement initiatives that optimise production efficiency while reducing waste. Your ability to deliver timely reporting on KPIs such as inventory accuracy or gross margin improvement will contribute significantly to the organisation’s pursuit of operational excellence.

• Develop, maintain, and review standard costing models for all products within the manufacturing portfolio, ensuring accuracy and compliance with company policies.
• Calculate and analyse product costs including raw materials, labour, packaging, and overheads to provide detailed insights into cost structures.
• Monitor actual manufacturing costs against established standards and investigate significant variances to support operational improvements.
• Perform inventory valuations in accordance with accounting standards while ensuring the integrity of product bills of materials (BOMs) and recipes/formulations.
• Conduct regular stock reconciliations, support cycle counts, annual stock takes, and analyse inventory movements such as wastage, shrinkage, and obsolete stock.
• Track direct labour costs and manufacturing overheads while collaborating with production teams to enhance operational efficiencies and cost controls.
• Review manufacturing processes regularly and assist in implementing continuous improvement initiatives aimed at yield loss reduction and material consumption optimisation.
• Prepare monthly cost reports and management accounts relating to manufacturing operations; analyse gross profit margins by product category, customer segment, and production line.
• Investigate cost variances and profitability fluctuations; prepare weekly/monthly KPI reports for management; support budgeting, forecasting, and long-term financial planning processes.
• Collaborate with Procurement on raw material pricing; partner with Operations/Production teams on efficiency initiatives; work with Sales/Commercial teams on pricing reviews; provide financial support for capital expenditure evaluations.

What you bring:

To excel as a Cost Accountant Manufacturing in this organisation you will bring proven experience from similar roles within food manufacturing or FMCG sectors. Your technical expertise spans advanced Excel usage alongside deep familiarity with ERP systems relevant to manufacturing environments. You possess thorough knowledge of standard costing practices including variance analysis which enables you to deliver accurate product costing information. Your background includes supporting budgeting cycles as well as preparing detailed management accounts that inform strategic decisions. Interpersonal skills are crucial—your ability to connect with colleagues across procurement, operations, sales/commercial functions ensures effective collaboration on efficiency initiatives. Attention to detail is second nature; you consistently maintain accurate records while meeting tight reporting deadlines. A continuous improvement mindset drives your approach towards process optimisation whether it’s reducing waste or enhancing yield management. Commercial acumen empowers you not only to analyse profitability but also influence pricing strategies that benefit the wider business network.

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Cost Accounting, Finance, Management Accounting or a related field is required for this role.
• Professional qualifications such as CIMA, SAICA, SAIPA or CGMA are preferred but not mandatory.
• 3-5 years’ experience in a Cost Accountant or Management Accountant role within food manufacturing or FMCG environments is highly desirable.
• Strong understanding of inventory management principles coupled with practical experience in high-volume manufacturing processes is essential.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills are necessary along with proficiency in ERP systems like SAP, Syspro, Sage X3 or Microsoft Dynamics.
• Demonstrated knowledge of standard costing methodologies including variance analysis is expected from successful candidates.
• Experience supporting budgeting/forecasting processes as well as delivering analytical reporting capabilities is important.
• Excellent communication skills combined with proven ability to build inter-personal relationships across departments are vital for success.
• High attention to detail paired with strong organisational/time-management skills enables you to meet reporting deadlines consistently under pressure.
• Continuous improvement mindset supported by commercial acumen allows you to identify cost-saving opportunities while nurturing collaborative partnerships.