Cost Analyst

Our client in Paarl are looking for a Cost Analyst.

You are responsible to drive continuous improvement in the unit in order to maintain and improve operating efficiencies, reduce cost and improve sustainability. You will act as a custodian for the production batch/job management as well as stock management process. You will provide support to the process engineer and production staff, with a particular focus on tracking financial benefits around continuous improvement and value add projects.

**Responsibilities**:

- Perform data analyst, root-caused analysis and work with the cost accountant to implement process improvements to support issue resolution and optimizing production processes to eliminate losses, improve capacity, throughput and reduce conversion cost.
- Assist with mass balance calculations and monitoring of actual waste factors vs benchmarked standards.
- Monitor material issues and returns and ensure adherence to standard operating procedures.
- Track the financial benefits associated with the various improvement projects
- Work with the Production, R&D, Technology and Quality teams to support the desing of new systems and processes for the introduction of new products and the improvement of existing processes, with regard to financial benefits
- Ensure that jobs and batches are open and closed timeously
- Report on actual volumes and variances vs plan on a daily basis, escalating to cost accountant and site management for action, in order to minimize losses
- Assist Cost Accountant with variance analysis and validation monthly
- Training production staff to complete basic system transactions, to ensure that internal controls and standard practice is followed at all times
- Assist cost accountant with internal controls at the unit ensuring compliance with standard operating procedures and assist with preparation and support during audits and self assessments
- Attend stock takes and assist cost accountant to ensure compliance to standard operating procedure

Key foundational competencies:

- Analytical skill and ability to display problem solving qualities
- Intermediate to advanced excel skills
- Effective communication, Interpersonal skills, continuous learning, detail orientated, numerical acumen and accurate, self-motivated, high level personal discipline and deadline driven

**Experience**:

- Function - Graduate with a 3 years degree/diploma in costing, administration or related fields
- Industry - FMCG experience is required, exceptions will be considered, Oracle experience preferred

**Job Type**: Temporary

COVID-19 considerations:
Wear a mask

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Paarl, Western Cape: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (required)