Finance Manager Operations (Costing) at Smith Garb

Key Focus Areas

Advanced Costing & Operational Finance


Lead end-to-end product costing across large SKU portfolios and multiple sites
Manage cost centre and product cost controlling (SAP CO-PC)
Own standard costing structures including BOMs, routings, and overhead allocations
Investigate purchase price and production variances through structured root cause analysis
Drive continuous improvement in costing methodologies and cost transparency


Analytical & Problem-Solving Leadership


Interpret complex operational data to identify risks, trends, and improvement opportunities
Conduct deep-dive variance investigations supported by data and costing research
Operate confidently in fast-moving or ambiguous environments
Support forecasting and scenario modelling to guide operational decisions


SAP & Technology-Enabled Finance


Leverage SAP FI/CO or S/4HANA (ACDOCA, CO-PA, CO-PC advantageous) to extract real-time decision-support insights
Use advanced Excel (large dataset analysis, Power Query, Power Pivot) to build robust financial models
Maintain integrity of product master data and cost components within ERP systems


Business Partnering in Complex Structures


Partner across manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, and sales functions
Operate effectively within multi-regional or matrix environments
Translate financial complexity into clear, actionable insights for operational leaders
Challenge assumptions constructively and support strategic pricing and profitability decisions


Financial Modelling & CAPEX


Build detailed business cases and capital investment models
Provide structured financial insight to senior leadership and auditors
Support working capital optimisation initiatives


What We're Looking For


BCom Honours in Management Accounting
CIMA / CA(SA) / ACCA
5 - 8 years' experience in senior cost or operational finance roles
Proven experience in complex manufacturing environments with high SKU volumes
Deep understanding of cost drivers, COGS build-ups, and manufacturing variances
Advanced Excel capability (large datasets and modelling)
Strong SAP exposure (FI/CO essential; S/4HANA advantageous)
Experience operating within regional or global structures