Role Overview
The Group Cost Accountant will lead and manage cost accounting activities across the group's food production and garment manufacturing operations. This role is responsible for ensuring accurate product costing, margin analysis, inventory control, and cost optimisation across multiple manufacturing sites.
The successful candidate will work closely with production, procurement, supply chain, and commercial teams to improve profitability, enhance cost visibility, and implement consistent costing methodologies across the group.
Key Responsibilities
Product Costing & Margin Management
- Develop, maintain, and review standard costing models for food and garment product lines
- Calculate and analyse material, labour, and overhead costs across multiple production sites
- Maintain accurate Bills of Materials (BOMs), recipes, and formulations within NetSuite
- Analyse gross margins by SKU, product category, customer, and channel
- Support pricing decisions through detailed cost and contribution analysis
- Monitor seasonal and commodity price fluctuations (e.g., fabrics, raw food materials)
Manufacturing Cost Control
- Perform variance analysis (material yield, wastage, labour efficiency, overhead absorption)
- Monitor production efficiency, waste levels, and yield performance
- Partner with factory managers to identify cost-saving and productivity improvements
- Evaluate make-vs-buy decisions and outsourcing opportunities
- Ensure accurate costing flows through NetSuite manufacturing and inventory modules
- Support inventory cycle counts and ensure accurate stock valuation (raw materials, WIP, finished goods)
Inventory & Compliance
- Ensure accurate inventory valuation in line with accounting standards
- Oversee costing of perishable goods and shelf-life management (food division)
- Manage costing for seasonal and trend-based inventory (garment division)
- Strengthen internal controls around inventory, procurement, and production reporting
- Support internal and external audit requirements
Budgeting & Forecasting
- Lead manufacturing cost budgets and forecasts across all group entities
- Analyse actual results against budget and forecast
- Provide insights into labour planning, capacity utilisation, and production volumes
- Support capital investment appraisals (machinery, automation, new lines)
Group Standardisation & Systems
- Implement consistent costing methodologies across food and garment divisions
- Act as the NetSuite costing lead, ensuring system integrity and optimal configuration
- Drive improvements in NetSuite manufacturing, BOM, and inventory modules
- Develop KPI dashboards for production and margin performance
Key Skills & Competencies
- Strong understanding of manufacturing cost structures
- Knowledge of food production costing (yield, wastage, shelf-life, batch costing)
- Knowledge of garment costing (fabric consumption, trims, CMT costs, seasonal cycles)
- Essential: Strong working knowledge of NetSuite ERP, including manufacturing and inventory modules
- Advanced Excel and financial modelling skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
- Commercial mindset with operational focus
Qualifications & Experience
- 3–5+ years experience in manufacturing cost accounting
- Proven hands-on experience using NetSuite in a manufacturing environment (essential)
- Experience in food, FMCG, textile, or garment manufacturing preferred
- Multi-site or group-level experience advantageous
