Cost Accountant (Kiambu, Kenya) – Full Time, Experienced

Cost Accountant (Kiambu, Kenya) – Full Time, Experienced

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About Twiga

Twiga is a leading B2B e-commerce company in Africa, dedicated to creating fair and reliable markets for agricultural producers, food manufacturers, and retailers. Our mission is to modernize African retail by building a closed ecosystem anchored on affordable access to food and grocery across urban cities. We leverage technology, mobile ubiquity, and modern distribution and logistics to fulfill our ambition of revolutionizing retail in Africa.

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Role Summary

As a Cost Accountant at Twiga, reporting directly to the Chief Accountant, you will play a pivotal role in the analysis, assignment, and allocation of costs related to trading goods. Your primary responsibility will be ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of profitability reporting and inventory valuation. Additionally, you will be accountable for the precision of the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), Gross Profit (GP), and inventory valuation reported. Your role will involve highlighting inefficiencies in costs and inventory management, contributing directly to the profitability and operational efficiency of Twiga.

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Key Responsibilities

Cost Accounting

• Activity-Based Costing (ABC): Objectively determine cost bases and drivers to accurately assign costs to specific services or products.
• Standard Costing System: Develop and implement an efficient standard costing system, regularly assessing variances between standard (efficient) and actual costs, providing actionable insights and recommendations.
• Inventory Costing: Ensure all inventory-related costs and gains (e.g., rebates, trade discounts, credit notes, surcharges) are accurately accounted for in product costing and inventory valuation.

Margin Health, Profitability, and Variance Reporting

• Daily Checks: Implement a system for daily gross checks on revenues and COGS, flagging any inconsistencies against expected Gross Profit (GP).
• Gross Margin Analysis: Report on the quantum, percentage, and health of the Gross Margin (GP), providing in-depth analysis of revenue and volume mix across categories, products, and SKUs. Highlight variances between target GP and realized GP, offering insights on profitability by segment.
• Price Optimization: Identify, follow-up, report, and escalate mispriced products, ensuring all items are sold at optimal prices.

Inventory Valuation & Value Preservation

• Inventory Reconciliation: Accurately value and reconcile inventory, taking into account all associated input costs (both variable and fixed).
• Abnormal Losses: Identify and compute unaccounted or abnormal inventory losses, presenting actionable insights and recommendations.
• Inventory Reporting: Report monthly closing inventory values to the insurance provider, initiating insurance claims for insurable losses. Ensure adherence to company inventory policies at all holding locations.

Cost Control

• Direct Cost Efficiencies: Report on cost governance around direct costs, including electricity, generator fuel, Ethelyn gas, warehousing, and labor (casuals) costs.
• Logistics Costs: Track and report on all costs within logistics, dispatch, and last mile sub-processes that impact COGS, such as transport costs, dispatch costs, and returns, analyzing efficiency variances.

Systems and Processes Management

• System Reconciliation: Continuously reconcile underlying reports from systems outside the ERP with accounting numbers as per ERP, focusing on Gross Profit and Inventory Valuation.
• Process Improvement: Lead improvements in inventory and facilities-related modules within the accounting system, reporting discrepancies between the main ERP and other integrated systems like WMS/DMS.

Reporting

• Month-End Close Activities: Participate in assigned month-end close activities as per the checklist, ensuring deadlines are met.
• Comprehensive Reports: Present detailed reports with trends, insights, concerns, and recommendations clearly elaborated.

Other Responsibilities

• Stock Taking: Participate in regular physical stock-taking exercises for trading goods alongside the accounting team.
• Fixed Asset Verification: Engage in the regular fixed asset verification and tagging exercise, collaborating with the wider accounting team.
• Crate/Pallet Verification: On a quarterly basis, partake in the business-wide crate/pallet physical verification exercise, recommending write-offs for losses.

Self-Management

• Performance Management: Model Twiga’s culture, proactively manage your performance, and adhere to the performance objectives set. Participate in monthly 1-on-1 performance discussions and quarterly reviews, instituting corrective action where necessary.
• Learning and Development: Take charge of your learning and development, adhering to the annual leave plan agreed upon with the line manager.
• People Management: Comply with people management policies, contributing to a positive and productive work environment.

Compliance

• Policy Adherence: Comply with all organizational policies, procedures, and statutory guidelines, minimizing and mitigating risks to the organization.
• Audit and Compliance: Close gaps identified during audits, risk reviews, or other assessments, taking corrective and preventive actions within agreed timelines.

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Academic and Professional Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree: A degree from a recognized accredited university, preferably in accounting, economics, commerce, or a related field.
• Professional Qualification: A qualified accountant (CPA-2) or ACCA equivalent.

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Relevant Skills & Experience

• Experience: Three (3) to five (5) years of accounting experience in a busy operational environment, with significant exposure to inventory and cost accounting.
• Credit Management: Good knowledge of credit management standards (IFRS), policies, and regulations, as well as financial accounting statements.
• Analytical Skills: Advanced analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Strong organizational abilities, with the capability to prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Consultative Skills: Strong consultative and influencing skills, with the ability to build robust working relationships across all levels and bring together stakeholders.
• Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly and concisely communicate technical and non-technical information.
• Technical Proficiency: Strong proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Adaptability: Results-oriented, flexible, and adaptable to rapid change, with comfort working in a fast-paced, high-demand environment.
• Integrity: Enthusiastic, decisive, pragmatic, resilient, and forthright, with unquestionable integrity.
• Willingness to Travel: Able and willing to travel as required.

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TELEGRAM CHANNEL

Twiga is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Twiga is committed to equal treatment for all applicants. We deeply care about making Twiga a place where everyone can learn, grow, and make an impact. We do not charge applicants any fees and have not authorized any agents to levy fees on our behalf. If you encounter any such requests, please report the incident to our hotline at +254 (0) 709 258 000.