Cost Accountant

Saint-Gobain Limited; England; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction materials company in the UK is seeking an experienced Cost Accountant to work in one of their manufacturing sites. This full-time role involves analyzing costs, establishing standard prices, and providing financial insights to enhance operational efficiency. Candidates should be CIMA/ACCA/ACA qualified with a solid background in manufacturing. The position offers opportunities for flexible working arrangements and collaboration with diverse teams.

Qualifications

• Hands-on manufacturing exposure with a strong grasp of standard costing.
• Ability to move between financial data and the shop floor.
• Experience in a multi-site or manufacturing environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain standard costs for manufactured products.
• Update costs based on operational changes.
• Provide insights into cost trends and operational efficiency.

Skills

Proactive problem solver

Strong business partner

Curious and analytical

Clear communicator

Education

CIMA/ACCA/ACA qualified (or equivalent)

Tools

SAP knowledge

Job description

At Saint‑Gobain, we’re shaping the future of construction – creating materials, systems and solutions that make buildings more sustainable, more efficient, and built for the needs of tomorrow. As a global leader in light and sustainable construction, we succeed when we understand our costs deeply, challenge assumptions, and use financial insight to drive better decision‑making.

We are looking for an experienced Cost Accountant with a manufacturing background – someone who understands how products are made, where value is created, and how variances, standards, and cost drivers influence performance on the shop floor. You may have worked under different job titles, but if you know how to manage and interrogate product cost, you’re what we’re looking for.

This is an opportunity to be a true finance partner – working closely with operational teams, analysing cost and performance data, and shaping decisions that directly influence efficiency, profitability, and future growth.

The role is full‑time based in one of our manufacturing sites in the South Midlands / South West region.

What you’ll do

As a Cost Accountant at Saint‑Gobain, you will help us understand what it really costs to manufacture our products and where we can improve. Key responsibilities include:

• Establishing and maintaining standard costs for manufactured products and services.
• Updating costs based on material, labour, overheads, depreciation and operational changes.
• Analysing fixed and variable costs, identifying trends, risks and opportunities.
• Recommending changes to improve cash flow, margins and operational efficiency.
• Preparing monthly or quarterly reports for senior leadership, including inventory reserve analysis.
• Submitting accurate financial and cost accounting reports on time, every time.
• Translating data into meaningful insight for operations – explaining the so what?
• Working closely with production, supply chain and site teams to understand on‑ground cost drivers.
• Supporting process improvement, digitalisation and ERP optimisation.
• Guiding and supporting finance colleagues, answering queries and coordinating workflow where needed.

What we’re looking for

You’ll be an experienced cost‑focused finance professional – CIMA/ACCA/ACA qualified (or equivalent) – with hands‑on manufacturing exposure and a strong grasp of standard costing, variance analysis and product margin drivers. You can move comfortably between the numbers and the shop floor, influencing non‑finance colleagues and turning complex data into practical decisions that improve performance.

• proactive problem solver who goes beyond reporting to identify improvements.
• strong business partner, comfortable working with operational teams across multiple sites.
• curious and analytical, with the drive to optimise systems and processes. SAP knowledge is an advantage.
• clear communicator who can explain financial insight in a practical, engaging way.
• Thought leader who supports a transparent, accountable, and supportive team culture.
• Experience in a multi‑site or manufacturing environment (including FMCG or other complex industries) would be an advantage.

Saint‑Gobain is the worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction improving daily life through high‑performance solutions. From wherever you are, let your unique personality and our values guide you every day to invent a more sustainable world.

We understand that a diverse workplace is not only a more enjoyable place to be, but also facilitates better decision making and innovation. So, whoever you are, and whichever Saint‑Gobain business you join, you can be sure of a warm welcome with us.

Flexibility

The world of work is changing. At Saint‑Gobain, we’re always open to new ways of working. Everyone has different needs and commitments. We’ll happily discuss any need you might have for this role: flexible hours, job‑sharing, part‑time working, or anything else that matters to you. We can’t promise to meet every request when we’re recruiting. But we do promise to listen.

If you match our criteria, we will be in touch to discuss your experience and more about you as a person, we look forward to hearing from you.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Finance and General Business

Industries

Manufacturing and Construction