Senior Cost Accountant / Finance Manager

SUMMARY:
A well-established and growing manufacturing and installation company operating in the branding and marketing sector is seeking a highly experienced Cost Accountant to lead its finance function.
The business operates in a high paced jobbing-shop, project-driven manufacturing environment, producing custom-built solutions with varying one-off cost structures, lead times, and installation components. This role is critical to ensuring accurate costing, margin protection, financial control, and system integrity across the business.
The ideal candidate will bring deep hands-on manufacturing costing experience, strong Sage ERP expertise, and the ability to develop and implement financial policies, procedures, and controls suitable for a growing, operationally complex organisation.
This is a senior, hands-on role combining cost accounting excellence with full financial management responsibility.

POSITION INFO:
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 ERP
Drive 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.