Second: Job Objective

The Cost Accountant is responsible for preparing and analyzing the cost of manufactured products, monitoring direct and indirect cost elements, linking them to actual production quantities, verifying the integrity of raw material and packaging material consumption, analyzing variances between actual and planned costs, and preparing periodic reports that assist management in increasing production efficiency, improving profit margins, and reducing waste and costs.

Third: Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Calculating Production Cost

• Prepare and calculate the actual cost of manufactured products and items.
• Calculate the cost per unit produced for each item and production volume.
• Determine product cost components according to approved cost elements.
• Prepare the cost of new products in coordination with relevant departments.
• Update product costs when raw material prices or production elements change.
• Monitor production order costs and compare them with standard or planned costs.

2. Monitoring Raw Materials and Inventory

• Monitor the cost of raw materials, auxiliary materials, and packaging materials.
• Review raw material purchase prices and their impact on product cost.
• Reconcile material movement between warehouses, production, and the accounting system.
• Review inventory balances and ensure the accuracy of accounting valuation.
• Participate in periodic and surprise inventory counts.
• Analyze variances resulting from inventory counts and verify their causes.
• Monitor stagnant, slow-moving, and damaged materials and report on them.

3. Monitoring Production

• Review production orders and planned vs. actual quantities.
• Reconcile material quantities issued for production with those actually consumed.
• Monitor scrap and loss rates during production stages.
• Analyze variances in raw material consumption.
• Coordinate with the production and warehouse departments to verify the causes of discrepancies.
• Monitor work-in-progress and determine its cost according to approved accounting procedures.

4. Calculating and Analyzing Scrap

• Monitor material quantities and scrap resulting from production operations.
• Prepare periodic reports on scrap rates for each line or product.
• Compare actual scrap rates with standard or approved rates.
• Analyze the causes of increased scrap and submit appropriate recommendations.
• Verify the recording of scrap and damaged goods according to approved procedures.

5. Indirect Industrial Costs

• Collect and analyze indirect industrial expenses.
• Allocate industrial costs to products based on appropriate allocation bases.
• Monitor costs of electricity, water, gas, maintenance, spare parts, and other industrial expenses.
• Monitor direct and indirect labor costs related to production.
• Review industrial expense allocation bases and ensure their suitability for the nature of the activity.

6. Variance Analysis

• Prepare an analysis of variances between actual cost and standard or estimated cost.
• Analyze variances in raw material prices and quantities.
• Analyze production, scrap, and consumption variances.
• Identify the causes of increased product costs.
• Report findings to management with the necessary recommendations to address variances.

7. Financial and Cost Reports

• Prepare production cost reports periodically.
• Prepare cost reports for each item and product.
• Prepare profit margin reports by product or production line.
• Prepare raw material consumption reports.
• Prepare scrap and damaged goods reports.
• Prepare cost variance and deviation reports.
• Provide necessary data for preparing budgets and financial estimates.
• Provide information and reports requested by financial management and senior management.

8. Pricing and Profitability

• Provide management with the necessary data to determine product prices.
• Analyze the profit margin for each product or product group.
• Study the impact of changes in raw material prices on product profitability.
• Calculate the expected cost of new products.
• Support management in feasibility studies for adding new products or production lines.

9. Control and Reconciliation

• Ensure the accuracy of recording transactions related to costs and inventory.
• Reconcile production data with warehouse and accounting data.
• Review accounting entries related to costs and inventory.
• Ensure the application of approved financial policies and procedures.
• Contribute to the development of control procedures for raw materials, inventory, and production.
• Maintain the confidentiality of financial and cost data and reports.

Fourth: Food Factory Related Tasks

• Monitor the cost of food raw materials according to actual purchase prices.
• Monitor the cost of packaging materials, containers, and labels.
• Calculate the cost of mixing, processing, and packaging according to production stages.
• Monitor material consumption rates for each recipe or production formula.
• Review standard quantities of materials used in the manufacture of each product.
• Analyze variances between the approved production recipe and actual consumption.
• Monitor production losses resulting from manufacturing, packaging, or storage.
• Track products from raw materials to the final product.
• Coordinate with production, quality, and warehouses regarding damaged goods, scrap, and reprocessing.
• Calculate the cost of reprocessed or returned products according to accounting procedures.
• Contribute to determining the true cost of a product before its launch or pricing.

Fifth: Educational Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Preferably holding certificates or specialized courses in:
  • Cost Accounting.
  • Management Accounting.
  • Financial Data Analysis.
  • Inventory Management.
  • Manufacturing and Production Costs.

Sixth: Required Experience

• Appropriate experience in accounting, preferably in the field of cost accounting.
• Previous experience in food factories or production plants is preferred.
• Experience in calculating product costs and analyzing production costs.
• Experience in dealing with inventory, production orders, and stock-taking.
• Ability to analyze cost variances and deviations.
• Experience in ERP systems and accounting and inventory systems is preferred.

Seventh: Skills and Abilities

• Proficiency in using Excel and preparing reports and analytical tables.
• Ability to analyze data and costs and draw conclusions.
• Good knowledge of financial accounting and cost accounting.
• Ability to handle large volumes of data.
• High accuracy in auditing and calculations.
• Ability to detect errors and discrepancies.
• Good report writing skills.
• Ability to work and coordinate with production, warehouse, procurement, quality, and sales departments.
• Ability to work under the pressure of deadlines and monthly closings.
• Maintain the confidentiality of financial and commercial information.

Eighth: Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The performance of the Cost Accountant is evaluated based on several indicators, most notably:

1. Accuracy of product cost calculation.
2. Accuracy and speed of preparing monthly cost reports.
3. Accuracy of reconciling inventory and production with accounting records.
4. Error rate in cost calculations.
5. Speed of detecting and analyzing variances.
6. Accuracy of scrap and damaged goods reports.
7. Adherence to financial closing deadlines.
8. Quality of product cost and profit margin analysis.
9. Accuracy of raw material and packaging cost data.
10. Contribution to discovering opportunities for cost reduction and waste minimization.

Tenth: Authorities

• Access to data and documents related to costs, production, and inventory within the limits of authority.
• Request necessary documents and data for preparing and analyzing costs.
• Request clarifications from relevant departments regarding variances in production or inventory.
• Submit observations and recommendations related to costs and waste to financial management.
• Participate in stock-taking and reviews related to inventory and production.

Eleventh: General Responsibilities

• Commitment to the financial systems, policies, and procedures approved by the company.
• Maintain the confidentiality of financial and cost information.
• Adherence to the factory's internal systems and regulations.
• Adherence to safety and security requirements while in production areas.
• Maintain documents, records, and data assigned to him.
• Perform any other duties related to the nature of the work assigned by the direct supervisor.

Ultimate Job Objective

Ensure accuracy and transparency in determining the cost of food products, improve control over raw materials, production, and inventory, reduce waste and unnecessary costs, and provide reliable financial and analytical information that helps management in pricing, increasing profitability, improving production efficiency, and making operational and strategic decisions.