Cost Accountant

JOB ADVERT

About The Role

The Cost Accountant is responsible for providing financial and cost analysis across the Cleaning and Security Divisions. The role focuses on monitoring site profitability, analysing financial performance and variances, managing cost centres, supporting costing activities and ensuring accurate financial information to support management decision-making.

The Cost Accountant will also be responsible for monitoring consumable and labour costs, administering CAPEX processes, maintaining costing parameters, supporting pricing activities and assisting with new site and supplier costing.

The Cost Accountant will report directly to the Financial Manager.

What You Will Bring

Qualifications

• Matric Certificate.
• Finance or Accounting qualification.
• Previous experience using accounting software; SAP Business One (SAP B1) will be advantageous.
• Good computer literacy, particularly in Microsoft Excel and spreadsheet-based financial analysis.

Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• 2-3 years’ Experience in cost accounting, financial analysis and management reporting.
• Experience analysing Profit and Loss statements, site profitability and financial variances.
• Experience with budgeting, costing, forecasting and financial planning.
• Knowledge of labour, consumable and chemical cost monitoring.
• Experience with fixed asset management and CAPEX administration.
• Experience with costing, pricing and financial reporting.
• Knowledge of cost centre management and financial controls.
• Experience within the Cleaning, Security or service-related industry will be advantageous.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills.
• Excellent reconciliation and attention-to-detail skills.
• Strong problem-solving and investigative abilities.
• Ability to interpret financial information and identify trends, variances and potential risks.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work accurately under pressure and meet strict deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with different stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to prepare and present financial information clearly to Management.
• Strong business acumen and commercial awareness.
• Ability to handle confidential financial information with discretion.

What You Will Be Doing

• Review and analyse Profit and Loss (P&L) statements per site and client, identifying loss-making sites, high gross profit margins, misallocations, and active and inactive sites nationally.
• Compile, review and analyse high-level monthly Income Statement/P&L reports per Key Account Manager nationally.
• Compile Income Statements per Division/Service nationally.
• Re-cost current Security and Cleaning sites based on employee complement, services rendered and current billing.
• Monitor and investigate overhead misallocations, including salary and vehicle allocations.
• Prepare and monitor consumable/chemical-to-wage revenue reports.
• Audit consumable usage and labour costs against approved site budgets.
• Investigate unfavourable variances and provide feedback and recommendations to Management.
• Prepare and report on site profitability for Management.
• Create and maintain cost centres.
• Check and correct multi-value and linking errors.
• Update and maintain costing module parameters and shift patterns.
• Create and maintain stock codes for warehouse items.
• Create and maintain price lists on SAP.
• Assist with new supplier costing processes, including chemical and pricing comparisons.
• Prepare price increase impact reports for Management.
• Assist with costing projects and other financial analysis as required.
• Review and approve CAPEX expenditure within the applicable approval threshold.
• Maintain and accurately record fixed assets at site level.
• Review stock transfers between warehouse and stores and assess accuracy.
• Facilitate the movement and transfer of assets between sites.
• Liaise with Operations to verify the existence and accuracy of fixed assets at site level.
• Assist with contract management for existing and new sites.
• Compile the Top Client Report on a quarterly basis for Management reporting.
• Provide financial and costing support to the Financial Manager.
• Prepare ad-hoc financial reports and analysis as required.
• Ensure all financial information and reports are accurate, complete and submitted within required deadlines.

Important Note

All interested candidates must submit their applications via HR Simplify. If you are not contacted as a shortlisted candidate within 2 weeks of the closing date, please consider your application unsuccessful.

As per Excellerate Services Recruitment and Selection Policy, all equity procedures will apply, as the Company is committed to promoting internally. The Company reserves the right to seek external candidates should no suitable internal applications be received.

Excellerate Services is committed to striving for diversity and equitable representation in our workforce. Preference may thus be given to suitably qualified candidates as identified in our Employment Equity Plan. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.