Cost Accountant

Responsibilities

Costing & Production Finance

• Maintain and update Bills of Materials (BOMs) for all products across Fresh, Processed and CPM departments.
• Validate standard costs, including raw materials, ingredients, packaging, labour, and overhead allocations.
• Monitor and analyse actual vs standard cost variances, including raw material usage, yield losses, waste and trimmings, and rework and WIP variances.
• Work closely with Production Managers to investigate and resolve discrepancies.

Inventory & Stock Control

• Oversee accurate daily, weekly and month end stock reconciliations for raw materials, WIP and finished goods.
• Verify and reconcile production run sheets, consumption records, and stock movement reports.
• Analyse yield performance per product line (e.g., deboning, mincing, tumbling, cooking, slicing).
• Ensure accurate allocation of stock to departments and stores, including frozen, dry, and raw materials stores.
• Support cycle counts and full stock counts; investigate stock variances and recommend corrective action.

Month End Responsibilities

• Prepare and post accruals, provisions, cost allocations, and production costing journals.
• Maintain and reconcile the General Ledger for all production related accounts.
• Calculate month end inventory valuations (RM, WIP, FG) in line with TBMC policy.
• Prepare monthly manufacturing financial reports, including gross margin by product line, yield & variance analysis, cost of poor quality (COPQ), and waste/scrap reporting.

Debtors & Creditors Support (Manufacturing Related)

• Verify supplier invoices for accuracy of cost allocations (ingredients, raw materials, PPE, packaging, consumables).
• Monitor recovery income and internal charges between Fresh, Processed and CPM units.
• Assist with debtor invoicing where internal or external charges apply.

Operational Reporting & Business Partnering

• Provide finance support to Production, Planning, Maintenance, Engineering and Quality teams.
• Participate in daily/weekly operational meetings to present cost, yield and variance insights.
• Identify cost saving opportunities and efficiency improvements.
• Support CAPEX feasibility calculations and post implementation reviews.

Compliance & Internal Controls

• Ensure adherence to food manufacturing financial controls, HACCP linked stock handling controls (e.g., traceability, waste recording, batch tracking), company policies, IFRS, and audit requirements.
• Support internal and external audits with accurate documentation and reconciliations.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Cost Accounting, Management Accounting, or equivalent (NQF 7).
• CIMA, SAIPA, or similar certification advantageous.
• 3–5 years' experience in cost accounting within a manufacturing or FMCG environment (meat processing preferred).

Knowledge and Skills

Technical Competencies

• Strong understanding of manufacturing cost structures.
• Advanced Excel; ERP costing modules; stock/production systems and SAP.
• Knowledge of basic accounting principles, IFRS, and inventory management.
• Analytical ability with excellent attention to detail.

Behavioural Competencies

• Problem-solving and analytical thinking.
• Planning and organising.
• Relationship building and collaboration.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast paced production environment.
• High levels of integrity.
• Clear written and verbal communication.