Senior Cost Accountant

About the Job

This role is open to local candidates only. Employment Type: Full-Time Sector: (Tobacco Manufacturing) Job Summary We are seeking an experienced Senior Cost Accountant to oversee cost accounting activities and support financial planning and analysis within a large-scale manufacturing operation. The successful candidate will be responsible for monitoring production costs, analyzing variances, maintaining accurate inventory valuation, and providing management with actionable financial insights to improve operational efficiency and profitability. The role requires deep practical knowledge of cost cards, standard costing, product costing, and variance analysis , with the ability to establish, maintain, and analyze standard costs across products and production processes. Key Responsibilities Develop, maintain, and monitor cost accounting systems, procedures, and controls. Prepare, maintain, and regularly review detailed cost cards for products , including raw materials, packaging, direct labor, manufacturing overhead, and other relevant production costs. Establish, maintain, and analyze standard costs for products and production processes. Perform regular reviews and updates of standard costs based on changes in raw material prices, labor costs, production processes, overheads, and other cost drivers. Calculate and analyze product costs, manufacturing expenses, and inventory valuations. Analyze actual costs versus standard costs and investigate material, labor, overhead, purchase price, usage, and production variances. Prepare monthly cost reports, cost variance analyses, and management reports with clear explanations of significant deviations. Monitor raw material consumption, production costs, labor costs, and overhead allocations. Review production bills of materials (BOMs), recipes/formulations, routings, and other cost components to ensure accurate product costing. Support the development and maintenance of accurate product costing models within the ERP system. Support budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning activities. Reconcile inventory balances and investigate discrepancies. Ensure accurate recording of manufacturing transactions in the ERP/accounting system. Assist in month-end and year-end closing activities related to cost accounting. Identify cost-saving opportunities and support process improvement initiatives. Collaborate closely with production, procurement, warehouse, and finance teams to ensure accurate cost reporting and product costing. Monitor changes in supplier prices and assess their impact on product standard costs and profitability. Support margin and profitability analysis by product, customer, or product category where required. Ensure compliance with company policies, accounting standards, and internal controls. Support internal and external audits by providing required financial data and documentation. Qualifications & Requirements Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. Minimum 4 years of experience in cost accounting, preferably within a manufacturing environment. Deep practical knowledge of cost cards, standard costing, product costing, and cost variance analysis. Proven experience in preparing and maintaining product cost cards and standard cost structures. Strong understanding of cost accounting principles, inventory management, manufacturing costs, and financial reporting. Experience analyzing actual versus standard costs and identifying the causes of cost variances. Good understanding of BOMs, raw material consumption, direct labor, manufacturing overhead, and production costing. Experience with ERP systems and advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reporting skills. Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. Professional accounting certifications are an advantage. Language Requirements Fluent in Kurdish, Arabic, and English (written and spoken). Competencies Strong attention to detail and accuracy. Excellent analytic