Cost Management Accountant
Manufacturing Industry
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Cost Management Accountant to join a growing manufacturing business. This role is ideal for a finance professional with strong standard costing expertise who enjoys working closely with operational teams to drive performance, improve profitability, and support strategic decision-making.
Reporting to the Finance Director, you will play a key role in maintaining robust cost accounting processes, analysing cost variances, and ensuring accurate product costing across a diverse product portfolio. Working alongside finance, commercial, operations, and production teams, you will help deliver meaningful insights that support business growth and operational efficiency.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop, maintain, and enhance standard cost accounting systems and procedures.
- Establish and maintain standard costs across all products, ensuring regular review and accuracy.
- Analyse actual costs against standard costs and investigate variances to identify key trends and opportunities.
- Partner with production and operational teams to ensure standard costing principles are effectively applied.
- Support the development and implementation of cost accounting policies and procedures across the business.
- Review stock valuation processes to ensure alignment with standard costing methodologies and accurate financial reporting.
- Prepare and present cost analysis reports and recommendations to senior management.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities where required.
About You
To be successful in this role, you will possess a strong background in management accounting within a manufacturing or production environment and demonstrate a proactive approach to improving financial performance.
Essential Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related discipline.
- ACA, ACCA, or CIMA qualified, or part-qualified with significant relevant experience.
- Previous experience in a management accounting role, ideally within manufacturing, FMCG, or a similar operational environment.
- Proven expertise in cost accounting, standard costing, product costing, and variance analysis.
- Strong experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning.
- Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookups, and data analysis.
- Experience using ERP and accounting systems such as SAP, Sage, Access, or equivalent.
- Ability to produce and interpret management accounts, KPI reports, and financial analysis.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders across finance and non-finance functions.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Desirable Skills
- Experience within manufacturing, supply chain, or production-focused finance environments.
- Knowledge of sustainability reporting, waste reduction initiatives, or operational efficiency programmes.
- Experience with Power BI or other business intelligence and reporting tools.
Key Competencies
- Strong commercial awareness and understanding of operational cost drivers.
- Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
- High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
- Ability to identify opportunities for improvement and deliver practical solutions.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Collaborative approach with the ability to build effective working relationships across departments.
- Professional integrity and discretion when handling confidential information.
- Adaptability and resilience within a changing business environment.
What's on Offer?
This is an excellent opportunity to join a dynamic manufacturing business where you can make a tangible impact on financial performance and operational efficiency. You'll work closely with senior leadership and play a key role in supporting the continued growth and success of the organisation.
