Cost Accountant – Manufacturing & Industrial Sectors

Job description

We are seeking a highly analytical and detail-oriented Cost Accountant with strong experience in product costing, manufacturing finance, and profitability optimization across manufacturing and industrial sectors. The ideal candidate will be responsible for monitoring production costs, analyzing cost structures, improving operational profitability, and supporting strategic financial decision-making. The role requires expertise in standard costing, inventory valuation, variance analysis, budgeting, and cost optimization initiatives within manufacturing environments. Key Responsibilities Product Costing & Cost Analysis Prepare and maintain accurate product costing models for manufactured products. Analyze raw material, labor, overhead, and operational costs to determine product profitability. Develop and review standard costing systems and ensure regular updates. Conduct BOM (Bill of Materials) and routing validations for accurate costing. Monitor cost trends and identify opportunities for cost reduction and process improvement. Profitability Optimization Perform detailed profitability analysis by product, customer, project, and business unit. Support management with recommendations to improve margins and operational efficiency. Analyze production variances including material usage, labor efficiency, and overhead absorption. Identify cost-saving initiatives and participate in continuous improvement programs. Manufacturing Finance Support Work closely with production, procurement, supply chain, and operations teams. Support inventory management, stock valuation, and cycle count reconciliation. Monitor WIP (Work-in-Progress) and finished goods costing accuracy. Ensure compliance with accounting standards and internal financial controls. Reporting & Budgeting Prepare monthly cost reports, margin analysis, and MIS reports for management. Assist in budgeting, forecasting, and annual operating plan preparation. Support month-end and year-end closing activities related to manufacturing accounting. Provide financial insights for pricing strategies and investment decisions. ERP & Systems Maintain costing data within ERP systems such as Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or similar. Improve financial reporting automation and costing methodologies. Ensure data accuracy and integrity across costing and inventory systems. Qualifications & Experience Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or related field. Professional qualifications such as CMA, ACCA, CIMA, CPA, or CA preferred. Minimum 4–8 years of experience in cost accounting within manufacturing or industrial sectors.