Manufacturing Cost & Pricing Analyst

Wicksteed Leisure Limited; Kettering; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturer of playground equipment in Kettering seeks a Manufacturing Cost & Pricing Analyst to ensure accurate product costing and competitive pricing. The role involves collaboration with Finance, Operations, and Engineering teams, focusing on profitability and data management. Ideal candidates have a strong analytical background, proficiency in Excel, and experience with costing in a manufacturing environment. Join a well-established company offering an attractive salary and benefits, including 25 days of holiday and a pension scheme.

Benefits

Attractive salary

Pension scheme

25 days holiday

Early finish on Friday's

Qualifications

• Background in finance, commercial analysis, or costing within manufacturing.
• Experience in ERP/MRP systems.
• Proactive and organized approach.

Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate costing updates following design changes.
• Provide clear costing reports to management.
• Support supplier negotiations with cost breakdowns.

Skills

Analytical skills

Excel proficiency

Communication skills

Commercial awareness

Costing experience

Tools

Quotewerks software

Sage200

Job description

Manufacturing Cost & Pricing Analyst

Full Time / Permanent

Location: Kettering,
Contract Type: Full Time/Permanent
Reporting to: Finance Director and Operations Director
Hours: Full time, Monday – Friday 8:30am – 5pm

We have an exciting opportunity for a Manufacturing Cost & Pricing Analyst to join our team. You will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy and consistency of all product costing and pricing across the Wicksteed Leisure portfolio. The role works closely with Finance, Operations, Engineering, and Procurement to ensure cost accuracy, competitive supplier pricing, and commercially sound decision-making. This position is key to driving profitability, supporting product development, and ensuring Wicksteed Leisure maintains competitive and commercially viable pricing.

Wicksteed Playgrounds are the UK’s leading manufacturer and supplier of play and Leisure equipment and have been designing, manufacturing, installing, landscaping and maintaining playgrounds since 1918.

OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE

• Background in finance, commercial analysis, costing, or similar within a manufacturing organisation.
• Comfortable analysing large amounts of data across products and product groups.
• Strong Excel skills and a good eye for detail.
• Confident communicating across multiple teams.
• Commercially minded with a proactive, organised approach.
• Experience in manufacturing/engineering, ERP/MRP – ideally Sage200.

YOUR MAIN DUTIES WILL INCLUDE

Product Costing & Analysis

• Ensuring costings are updated promptly following design changes, supplier updates, or operational improvements.
• Supporting Sales and Finance with cost-based pricing recommendations and margin analysis.
• Providing clear, concise costing reports to management.

Supplier & Procurement Support

• Working with Procurement and Operations to benchmark material and component costs.
• Supporting supplier negotiations by providing cost breakdowns, alternative material analysis, and price‑comparison data.
• Identifying opportunities for cost reduction, supplier consolidation, or improved commercial terms.

Commercial Insight & Decision Support

• Preparing gross margin reviews, and product profitability reporting.
• Supporting new product development with forecast costing and margin analysis.

Data & Systems Management

• Reviewing BOMs to ensure consistency and accuracy across products and ranges.
• Maintaining costs and pricing on Quotewerks software.
• Validating time standards and labour inputs by collaborating with Production & Operations teams.
• Ensuring BOM accuracy and supporting engineering with updates when required.

Workload & Task Management

• Managing workload independently, ensuring deadlines are met and priorities are clear.
• Driving improvements in costing processes, documentation, and controls.
• Working collaboratively across departments, acting as the key point of contact for costing queries.

WHY WICKSTEED LEISURE

• Attractive salary
• Pension scheme
• 25 days holiday along with bank holidays
• Early finish on Friday’s (4pm)
• Access to offers and services available through HR software
• Potential to receive company incentives
• Long service award
• Be part of a well‑established, innovative company
• Work closely with multiple departments and influence key decisions
• Opportunity to develop your commercial and operational experience

From playground design and engineering to sales and installation, our comprehensive range of playground services would not be possible without the experienced and diverse team at the heart of Wicksteed.

If you are commercially minded, analytical, and looking to take ownership of a key function within a growing business, we would love to hear from you. Please submit a short letter of application along with your CV to [e-mail].

Wicksteed is an equal opportunities employer – applicants will not be excluded on the grounds of sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, race, marital status, disability, age, religion, belief, or sexual orientation.