COST ACCOUNTANT

CONTRACT POSITION - 5 MONTHS Key purpose: To model, interrogate and provide insights on detailed cost and profitability information in support of both current operational management decisions and planning for the future. Duties and responsibilities: • Prevent wastage and identify process improvements to contain and reduce costs • Provide input into costing projects involving a segment, business unit, function or country/region (as applicable) • Influence creative business solutions, optimise processes and inform strategic decisions through cost modelling and data analysis • Build, run and execute profitability models and provide required reports for business • Provide feedback to the business on monthly and ad hoc analysis and reports to support decision making • Build and calculate cost models and work within established work and service processes • Conduct review and scenario planning to provide guidance on budgetary process in terms of spend and forecast adjustments • Develop new insights into situations and apply innovative solutions to make organisational improvements • Provide input into the development of the tactical strategy, and develop and implement a supporting operational strategy • Build working relationships across teams and functional lines to enhance work delivery, collaboration and innovation • Deliver internal and external customer service excellence through adherence to quality service standards • Continuously assess own performance through seeking timely, and clear feedback and request training where appropriate. • Prepare and complete monthly costing journals in line with SLA methodology • Responsible for planning and running of budget and forecast processes • Build and maintain costing models • Prepare costing and ad-hoc reports on a monthly basis • Report on periodic variances and their causes • Identify, control and escalate potential risks which may lead to increased costs. • Manage costs within approved budget to achieve cost efficiencies Qualifications and experience: • Matric • Minimum Qualification - Relevant Diploma/ Undergraduate Degree in Finance, Costing, Mathematics or similar • Preferred Qualification - Relevant postgraduate degree, Financial or analytical modelling, qualifications, CIMA or ACCA • Experience - 3 to 5 years experience in costing/commercial/ finance/pricing, of which 1 to 2 years ideally at a junior specialist level • Knowledge and experience in Analytics Costing/Pricing principles • CIMA/Associate General Accounting (SA)/ACCA or SAIPA will be advantageous • Strong SQL and / or Power BI skills • Banking / Financial Services Industry exposure