Cost Analyst

The Mission

In a repair environment where every project is a "one-off," profitability depends on precise data. We are looking for an analytical powerhouse to take ownership of our Job Costing and Price Planning. You will ensure that every hour worked and every gram of material used is accounted for, ensuring our pricing is both competitive and profitable. If you love building complex spreadsheets and finding the "story" behind the numbers, this role is for you.

What You’ll Do

• In-Depth Job Costing: Analyze completed repair projects to compare "Estimated vs. Actual" costs. You will identify where we went over budget and why.
• Dynamic Price Planning: Develop and maintain sophisticated pricing models in Excel that account for fluctuating material costs, specialized labor rates, and overhead.
• Margin Protection: Work closely with the workshop and sales teams to ensure that unique, custom jobs are priced for profit, not just for volume.
• Excel Architecture: Create, audit, and optimize spreadsheets that automate quoting logic and financial reporting. You will be the "owner" of our internal costing tools.
• Variance Reporting: Spot trends in repair costs (e.g., "Why is the prep time on Pump Type-X increasing?") and provide actionable data to management.

The Ideal Candidate

• The Excel Architect: You don't just use Excel; you master it. Lookups (V/X), Pivot Tables, and nested "IF" statements are your native language.
• The Profit Protector: You understand that a R10 error in costing, multiplied by 100 jobs, is a major problem. You have a "bottom-line" mindset.
• Analytical Curiosity: You don’t just report the numbers; you investigate them. You want to know why a specific repair process is costing more than anticipated.
• Precision-Driven: You believe a spreadsheet is only as good as its weakest cell. You audit your own work obsessively.

Required Skills

• Advanced Excel Skills: (Mandatory) High proficiency in data modeling, formulas, and large dataset management.
• Financial Literacy: Strong understanding of COGS (Cost of Goods Sold), gross margins, and overhead allocation.
• Industry Experience: Previous experience in job costing for manufacturing, construction, or heavy repair is highly preferred.
• Logical Reasoning: Ability to translate physical shop-floor processes into numerical data.

The "Excel Challenge" (To Filter Applicants)

To ensure we find a true specialist, we require all applicants to complete the following:

"In your application, please briefly describe the most complex Excel model or 'Job Costing' sheet you have ever built. What problem did it solve, and what was the most advanced formula or feature you used to make it work?"

Note: Shortlisted candidates will be asked to perform a practical Excel assessment involving a sample repair job costing scenario.

Job Type: Full-time

Work Location: In person

Pay: R18 000,00 per month

Work Location: In person