Kenny-Whelan (A specialist division of the CPL group) are hiring a Management & Cost Accountant to be based at our clients HQ in Citywest.
Position Overview: Cost & Management Accountant
Reporting to the Project Costing Commercial Lead, we are seeking a detail oriented and analytical Cost & Management Accountant to support the financial performance analysis of multiple customer projects within our LV switchgear project portfolio. This role is critical to ensuring accurate cost tracking, forecasting and financial reporting across a range of data centre client projects. The ideal candidate will work closely with Program and Project Managers, Finance and Operations teams to provide insights that drive informed decision-making and project success.
Key Responsibilities:
Product & Service Costing
Own and maintain standard cost cards for all products and services, including LV switchgear, critical power systems and service offerings
Develop and update bill of materials (BOM) costing for manufactured and assembled power units as material inputs, labour rates or specifications change
Design, maintain and communicate overhead allocation and absorption costing rates across the business
Perform periodic cost reviews to ensure standard costs reflect current operational and market reality
Support make vs. buy and outsourcing decisions with structured financial analysis and clear recommendations
Cost Centre Reporting & Analysis
Produce monthly cost centre P&L reports and distribute to budget holders with clear, actionable commentary
Partner with departmental managers to help them understand, manage and challenge their cost base
Perform purchase price variance (PPV), material usage and labour efficiency analysis
Investigate cost and margin variances, identifying root causes and recommending corrective actions to Operations and Commercial leadership
Identify and quantify cost reduction and efficiency opportunities across CEL's manufacturing and project operations
Profitability & Margin Analysis
Produce profitability analysis by product, service line, channel and region monthly
Prepare gross margin bridges explaining movements vs. prior period, budget and forecast
Collaborate on sales and margin analysis to support commercial pricing and contract decisions
Ensure alignment between cost reporting and revenue recognition policies, particularly for long-term data centre project contracts
Inventory Accounting & COGS
Own inventory valuation in line with company accounting policy, covering raw materials, WIP, finished goods, spare parts and power equipment stock
Perform monthly COGS reconciliation, working with the Finance Ops Team and Financial Reporting Accountant on supporting data
Reconcile inventory and WIP balances between SAP and operational project trackers
Coordinate periodic stock counts and resolve reconciling differences in a timely manner
Budgeting & Forecasting Support
Support on operational cost line inputs for the annual budget and rolling forecast cycle
Model the cost impact of volume changes, new contracts, material price movements and operational decisions
Participate in project review meetings, providing financial insight and constructive challenges
Track and report cost KPIs including budget adherence, cost-to-complete accuracy and forecast variance
Process Improvement & ERP
Develop standardised cost models, financial templates and reporting tools to improve speed and consistency of analysis
Enhance automation and digitisation of cost tracking across the project and product lifecycle
Improve data accuracy, SAP discipline and financial governance across manufacturing and project operations
Train operational and project teams in financial control processes, cost tools and best practice
Qualifications & Experience:
Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting or a related field
ACA, ACCA or CIMA qualified
3-5 years of experience in cost or management accounting
Strong knowledge of standard costing, overhead allocation and absorption costing
Experience of product or job costing methodologies
High proficiency in Excel and financial modelling
Experience with ERP systems, particularly SAP
Experience in manufacturing, engineering, construction, energy or data centre environments
Exposure to bill of materials (BOM) costing and WIP accounting
Power BI or equivalent BI / reporting tool experience
Familiarity with IFRS 15 revenue recognition for long-term contracts
Experience partnering with project or programme managers in a project-based business
Background in process improvement or ERP implementation
To apply please send your CV to [email protected]