Senior Accountant

The Senior Accountant will be responsible for overseeing comprehensive accounting operations for our client’s paper and carton manufacturing facilities, ensuring accurate financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and effective internal controls. The role requires specialised expertise in manufacturing cost accounting, inventory management, and production variance analysis, combined with strong leadership capabilities to supervise and develop the accounting team. The Senior Accountant serves as a key business partner to manufacturing management, providing strategic financial insights and analysis to support operational efficiency and informed decision-making across production facilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain accounting systems and controls tailored to manufacturing operations, including inventory costing methodologies (FIFO, weighted average), work-in-progress tracking, and cost of goods sold calculations.

·       Oversee inventory management for raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods across manufacturing sites, ensuring accurate valuation and proper internal controls.

·       Conduct and coordinate physical stock takes and cycle counts, investigating and resolving inventory discrepancies promptly.

·       Monitor and analyse production costs, including direct materials, direct labour, and manufacturing overhead allocation.

·       Analyse material variances, labour efficiency, scrap rates, and overhead absorption to identify cost drivers and support operational decision-making.

·       Prepare detailed cost analysis reports comparing standard costs to actual costs, highlighting significant variances and their root causes.

·       Manage fixed asset registers, depreciation schedules, and capital expenditure tracking for manufacturing facilities, machinery, and equipment.

·       Coordinate with production managers to understand production planning, capacity utilisation, machine downtime, and their financial implications.

·       Support pricing decisions by providing accurate cost information and margin analysis for manufactured products.

·       Prepare financial statements and management reports for manufacturing operations, providing comprehensive insights into performance.

·       Manage inter-company transactions related to manufacturing entities, including material transfers, service charges, and royalties.

·       Prepare consolidation schedules and elimination entries for manufacturing entities as part of group reporting.

·       Coordinate and prepare for external annual audits and tax audits for manufacturing entities, serving as the primary liaison with auditors.

·       Analyse financial information for manufacturing operations, identify trends and variances, and alert management to material discrepancies or opportunities.

·       Prepare revenue projections and forecast expenditure for manufacturing entities, considering production cycles, order backlogs, and market conditions.

·       Develop and present financial status reports, business performance analyses, and manufacturing KPIs for management review.

·       Identify cost-saving opportunities, process improvements, and efficiency gains across manufacturing operations.

·       Lead month-end and year-end close processes for manufacturing entities, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.

·       Maintain and reconcile account balances, bank statements, balance sheets, and general ledger accounts for manufacturing operations.

·       Coordinate with banks and financial institutions for working capital facilities, trade finance, and cash flow management for manufacturing entities.

·       Create, review, and implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for manufacturing accounting policies and business processes.

·       Monitor and maintain comprehensive audit trails, internal controls, and documentation systems specific to manufacturing operations.

·       Investigate and resolve audit findings, account discrepancies, and regulatory queries related to manufacturing accounting.

·       Ensure timely and accurate completion of statutory returns, tax submissions (corporate tax, VAT, withholding tax), and regulatory filings for manufacturing entities.

·       Supervise and mentor accounting staff assigned to manufacturing operations, including junior accountants and accounting assistants.

Professional Experience and Educational Background Required

•  Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Commerce, or related field; Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance, or Accounting is highly advantageous

·       CPA (K) qualification required; ACCA, CIMA, or other internationally recognised accounting qualification are highly desirable

·       Minimum 5-7 years of progressive accounting experience in the manufacturing sector, with at least 3 years in a senior or supervisory accounting role

·       Proven experience in manufacturing accounting, including inventory management, costing systems, production cost analysis, and variance reporting

·       Strong background in financial statement preparation, statutory audits, and regulatory compliance

·       Experience working with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics) with manufacturing modules in multi-company environments

·       Track record of implementing internal controls, accounting procedures, and process improvements in manufacturing settings

·       Experience managing and developing accounting teams

·       Exposure to tax compliance, VAT administration, and statutory reporting requirements

·       Experience liaising with external auditors, tax consultants, banks, and regulatory authorities

Key Competencies

• Expert knowledge of manufacturing cost accounting principles, including standard costing, variance analysis, and overhead allocation methods

·       Strong understanding of inventory valuation methods (FIFO, weighted average, standard cost) and their application in manufacturing environments

·       Proficiency in accounting principles, standards (IFRS, IAS), and best practices

·       Advanced skills in financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and manufacturing financial modelling

·       Comprehensive understanding of tax legislation, VAT, and corporate tax as applicable tothe  manufacturing sector

·       Expertise in designing and implementing internal controls specific to manufacturing operations

·       Advanced proficiency in ERP systems with manufacturing modules and Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, advanced formulas)

·       Understanding of manufacturing processes, production planning, and their impact on financial performance