Senior Cost Accountant​/Finance Manager

Position: Senior Cost Accountant / Finance Manager
Location: Pinetown

Key Responsibilities Costing, Margins & Project Accounting 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 ERPDrive 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.