Cost Accountant

Introduction:

The Cost Accountant is responsible for managing, analysing, and controlling cost-related activities within the business, with a particular focus on fleet operations, vehicle maintenance, diesel management, insurance claims, and inventory costing.

The role requires exceptional communication and writing skills, extensive interaction with insurers, operational staff, and suppliers, and a good understanding of vehicle repairs, workshop processes, and fleet cost controls. The incumbent ensures accuracy, compliance, and efficiency in all fleet-related financial transactions and supports operational decision-making through accurate reporting and cost analysis. Interact daily with the Workshop Manager and team, procurement team, and drivers - especially when handling insurance claims and operational issues. The successful candidate will work closely with inventory, including workshop parts, diesel, tyres, and ongoing cost updates.

Reporting to: Financial Manager

Duties & Responsibilities:

Fleet Administration & Compliance

• Maintain, update, and file all fleet registration (NATIS) documents, including transfers of ownership, license plate changes, and document control.
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date fleet records and compliance across all region.
• Manage vehicle fines, conduct duplication checks, and resolve discrepancies.
• Oversee tracker presence and monitoring for compliance and cost impact.
• Manage cross-border documentation requirements for company vehicles.
• Maintain forklift serial number records and ensure asset data accuracy.

Insurance & Risk Management

• Manage full accident claim workflow with insurance brokers: incident logging, documentation, follow-ups, negotiations, and settlement.
• Process additions and removals of vehicles from insurance schedules.
• Draft clear, professional written communications, claim summaries, and supporting documents.
• Maintain and update fleet-related procedures, SOPs, and risk management documentation (pre-trip checklist, diesel requisition procedures, insurance claims processes, workshop buying workflow, etc.).

Cost Accounting, Analysis & Reporting

• Perform standard cost vs. purchase price variance (PPV) analysis and investigate discrepancies.
• Maintain inventory pricing in ERP system, including diesel, paraffin, and component price updates.
• Create and capture new stock codes for workshop and fleet components.
• Conduct monthly reconciliations and stock movement reports.
• Process approved inventory adjustments on the system.
• Process journals as and when required.
• Perform detailed diesel consumption analysis, usage trends, variance reporting, and cost controls.
• Perform inventory cycle counts and month-end counts for workshop stores (tyres, fuel, spares) and report on variances.

Operational & Workshop Support

• Apply knowledge of vehicle repair processes and maintenance cycles to support operational costing accuracy.
• Ensure diesel requisition procedures are implemented, controlled, and correctly documented.
• Support workshop, fleet, and operations teams with costing, analysis, and internal reporting.

General Administration & Other Duties

• Prepare accurate fleet, cost, and inventory reports for management review.
• Ensure all costing activities comply with internal controls and financial policies.
• Prepare and update SOPs, policies, and workflows as required.
• Perform ad-hoc duties as assigned.

Desired Experience & Qualification:

• Diploma or Degree in Cost Accounting, Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• 3–5 years' experience in cost accounting, preferably in a fleet-intensive and heavy-industry environment.
• It is essential that candidates come from a manufacturing background and have practical experience in stock management, particularly bulk diesel, high-usage consumables, and managing fleet- and workshop-related costs.
• Experience with vehicle maintenance costing, insurance claims, or workshop operations highly advantageous.
• Strong ERP system experience (Syspro preferred).
• Knowledge of VAT, costing principles, and inventory management.

Paying R30K - R35K.