Reporting to: Business Unit Head

Location: Blackheath, Western Cape

Purpose of the role:

The Junior Cost Accountant is responsible for the management and control of cost accounting and inventory functions within the manufacturing environment. This includes product costing, cost variance analysis, inventory control, and financial reporting. The role ensures accurate cost data is available to support operational and strategic decisions while safeguarding compliance with financial and inventory controls. The incumbent plays a critical role in improving operational efficiency, inventory accuracy, and profitability.

Key Responsibilities:

Product Costing & Analysis

• Implement and maintain standard costing for raw materials, WIP, and finished goods.
• Perform full absorption costing and cost recovery rate updates based on actual facility costs.
• Support NPD by preparing preliminary and final product costings.
• Analyze product margin variances (yield, volume, and price).
• Present cost performance and efficiency analysis to management.
• Overheads and Fixed Absorbtion Costing.

Inventory & Stock Management

• Take full accountability for inventory accuracy, valuation, and reporting.
• Coordinate cycle counts, monthly reconciliations, and full stock take.
• Manage risk stock and obsolete inventory provisions.
• Ensure ERP master data accuracy for all inventory items.
• Collaborate with production and warehouse teams to minimize discrepancies.

Bill of Materials (BOM) & Waste Control

• Create, maintain, and validate BOMs aligned to process flows and mass balances.
• Monitor waste factors, WIP accuracy, and investigate variances.
• Drive waste-reduction initiatives in partnership with production teams.

Financial Reporting & Month-End

• Post weekly and monthly journals related to costs and inventory.
• Prepare manufacturing cost reports and assist with segmental income statements.
• Provide financial support during month-end closing, ensuring accuracy and deadlines are met.

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Assist in labour and overhead costing for production budgets.
• Support CAPEX project costing, feasibility studies, and post-implementation reviews.
• Provide variance analysis against budget and forecast.

Compliance & Internal Controls

• Ensure compliance with cost accounting principles, internal controls, and audit standards.
• Support internal and external audit requirements relating to inventory and cost functions.

Process Improvement & Efficiency

• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives to streamline costing and inventory processes.
• Conduct time studies and facility efficiency reviews.
• Recommend system and process enhancements to improve accuracy and reduce cost leakage.

Skills and Competencies Required:

• Strong knowledge of costing, inventory management, and ERP systems.
• Analytical, detail-oriented, and highly accurate.
• Strong communication and reporting skills.
• Ability to perform under pressure in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Team player with collaborative problem-solving skills

Minimum Qualifications and Critical Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Cost and Management Accounting, Accounting, Financial Management, or Industrial Engineering.
• CIMA qualification (or working towards CIMA) is advantageous.
• 3 years’ experience in cost accounting within a manufacturing/FMCG environment.
• Strong experience in inventory control and valuation.
• Strong Proficiency in Microsoft Excel; knowledge of ERP systems (SYSPRO, QlikSense, Translution) advantageous.

Why Join Us?

• Play a key role in financial decision-making within a leading FMCG business.
• Take ownership of both costing and inventory management, driving operational excellence.
• Work in a collaborative, fast-moving environment where accuracy and insight make an impact.
• Develop your career in a business that values innovation, efficiency, and continuous improvement.

Application:

Please e-mail your CV (with references) to Elandi Jacobs at elandi@emcon.net.za; with a motivation highlighting why you should be considered for the position.
Application deadline: 12th of December 2025

In order to consider any application for employment, we will have to process your personal information. The Protection of Personal Information Act, 4 of 2013 (POPIA), provides that when one processes another’s personal information, such collection, retention, dissemination, and use of that person’s personal information must be done in a lawful and transparent manner.

To give effect to the above, we are required to provide you with information regarding the processing of your personal information. This information is recorded under the HR Processing Notice, which can be accessed and viewed on the Company website at https://www.libstar.co.za/legal/. Printed copies of this Processing Notice can also be accessed from the HR department. We kindly request that you read the HR Processing Notice to ensure that you understand how Libstar uses and processes your personal information.