Manufacturing Cost Accountant

Location: Winfrith Newburgh, England, United Kingdom
Starting Salary: £40,000-£45,000 DOE
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent, Onsite

The Role

The Manufacturing Cost Accountant plays a key role in ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and visibility of manufacturing costs across the business. Working closely with Finance, Production, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams, the role is responsible for project costing, inventory valuation, revenue reconciliation, variance analysis, and financial reporting. By providing timely cost insights and supporting continuous improvement initiatives, the successful candidate will help drive operational efficiency, profitability, and informed decision-making across NORCO’s manufacturing operations.

Key Roles & Responsibilities

• End-to-end project cost management, including material purchasing and subcontract reconciliation.
• Monthly sales reconciliation, including revenue recognition.
• Review and support the update of Bills of Materials (BOMs) and routings to ensure accuracy.
• Support standard cost updates and annual cost processes.
• Monitor overhead absorption and cost allocation accuracy.
• Analyse material, labour, and overhead variances.
• Investigate production cost variances and collaborate with operations to resolve issues.
• Review and reconcile staff costs against booked time and production output.
• Ensure all revenue streams are fully reconciled and departmental reporting is accurate, consistent, and reliable.
• Produce weekly and monthly cost reports and KPIs.
• Perform WIP checks and reconciliations.
• Support stock valuation, cycle counts, and inventory accuracy.
• Prepare cost journals and support month-end close.
• Provide cost insights and commentary to the Finance Director.
• Assist with budgeting and forecasting of manufacturing costs.
• Work closely with Production, Engineering, and Supply Chain teams.
• Provide financial insight to support operational decision-making.
• Challenge data integrity and drive continuous improvement in costing processes.

Qualifications

• Part-qualified or fully qualified CIMA, ACCA, or ACA.
• AAT Level 4 with strong manufacturing experience will also be considered.
• Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field preferred.

Recommended Experience

• 2–5 years of finance experience, including 1–2 years within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with costing, BOMs, routings, or production reporting.
• ERP/MRP system experience.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong understanding of manufacturing costing principles.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• High attention to detail and data accuracy.
• Strong Excel skills, including lookups, pivot tables, and modelling.
• Confident working with operational teams.
• Ability to challenge and improve processes.
• Good communication skills.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within a standard costing environment.
• Knowledge of lean manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience in WIP-heavy or engineered-to-order manufacturing environments.

Candidates are advised that this role will require you to complete and pass Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) checks and where applicable further National Security Vetting checks (NSV). Successful Candidates will be advised of the security vetting requirements subject to any job offer under conditions.

Vacancy Filled.