Cost Accountant

Ready to take ownership of the numbers behind a growing manufacturing operation? This Cost Accountant role offers the opportunity to become a key part of the finance team, providing the insight and challenge needed to drive better commercial and operational decisions.

You’ll play a pivotal role in understanding product costs, analysing manufacturing variances, supporting stock and WIP valuation, and uncovering opportunities to improve profitability. Working closely with operational leaders across the business, you’ll go beyond reporting the numbers by investigating what is driving performance and helping shape future decisions.

With hybrid working (3/2 split), a flexible working pattern with early starts and finishes, and a strong benefits package, this is a role for someone who wants to be close to the operation, influence change and make a tangible impact rather than simply produce reports.

Reporting to the Group Finance Manager, you will be responsible for:

• Own and maintain the manufacturing cost accounting process, providing accurate insight into production costs, margins and operational performance
• Manage standard costing processes, including setting, reviewing and updating product costs to ensure they accurately reflect material, labour and overhead assumptions
• Perform detailed variance analysis across manufacturing operations, investigating price, usage, labour and efficiency variances to identify root causes and improvement opportunities
• Analyse stock and work-in-progress (WIP) valuations, ensuring inventory is accurately reflected within the financial statements and highlighting risks or anomalies to the wider business
• Provide product and customer profitability analysis, supporting decision-making around pricing, margin improvement and commercial performance
• Interrogate ERP systems and operational data to identify trends, discrepancies and opportunities to improve financial and operational performance
• Work closely with manufacturing, supply chain and operational teams to understand cost drivers and translate financial data into meaningful business insight

What you will need:

• Qualified accountant (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or finalist, with experience in a similar role (Cost Accountant, Manufacturing Management Accountant, Finance Analyst, Finance Business Partner, Commercial Accountant) within manufacturing set ups
• Strong business partnering skills and a proactive, solutions-focused approach
• Advanced Excel skills, with experience in Power BI (ideal)
• Adaptability, drive, and a genuine appetite for change and improvement
• Experience working with multiple systems and large data sets

What you will get:

• 29 days holiday - option to buy up to 1 week of holiday annually
• Healthcare and cash plan
• Company Bonus
• Death in service benefit (4x salary)
• 5% employer pension contribution (salary sacrifice)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay
• EV car scheme, cycle to work, and home & tech salary sacrifice options
• Hybrid and flexible working hours
• Onsite parking

If you would like to find out more about this role, please apply with your CV or LinkedIn PDF. We look forward to hearing from you!

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