Cost Analyst

Description

Job Summary: We are seeking a Senior Cost Analyst to perform strategic management, analysis, and optimization of costs, with strong collaboration across operational departments, accounting, and executive leadership. Key Highlights: 1. Strategic involvement in cost management and optimization. 2. Collaboration with operational departments, accounting, and executive leadership. 3. Process improvement and digitalization focused on ERPs. We are looking for a **Senior Cost Analyst** to strategically manage, analyze, and optimize costs, with strong collaboration across operational departments, accounting, and executive leadership. **Key Responsibilities** **1\. Cost Control and Calculation** * Calculate direct and indirect costs by project, contract, construction site, product, or business unit. * Ensure data integrity in cost centers, production orders, service orders, and construction fronts. * Perform reconciliations of cost accounts (raw materials, labor, allocations, and indirect expenses). **2\. Variance and Margin Analysis** * Analyze variances between standard vs. actual costs and budgeted vs. actual results. * Identify root causes (mix, volume, price, operational efficiency, waste). * Generate insights and recommendations for cost reduction and margin improvement. **3\. Allocations and Allocation Criteria** * Define and refine allocation criteria for indirect expenses, overhead, and corporate costs. * Build more accurate cost absorption models. * Apply costing methodologies such as absorption costing, Activity-Based Costing (ABC), contribution margin, and activity-based costing. **4\. Pricing and Proposal Support** * Structure costs for pricing products, services, and contracts. * Support commercial, engineering, and operations teams in complex proposals. * Conduct financial and operational feasibility simulations and analyses. **5\. KPI Monitoring** * Track KPIs such as unit cost, gross margin, Opex/Capex per project, cost per man-hour, and productivity. * Prepare management reports and dashboards for leadership and executive management. **6\. Accounting Closing Support** * Ensure accurate cost accounting entries. * Review provisions, write-offs, inventory, and cost centers. * Collaborate with accounting and tax teams during monthly closings. **7\. Inventory and Consumption Management** * Analyze inventory movements and actual vs. planned consumption. * Identify losses, deviations, and waste, proposing corrective actions. **8\. Audit and Internal Controls** * Validate process compliance with internal policies. * Support internal and external audits. **9\. Process Improvement and Digitalization** * Automate routines and analyses (advanced Excel, Power Query, Power BI). * Participate in ERP implementation or enhancement (TOTVS RM, Protheus, SAP, Oracle). * Propose improvements to increase efficiency and data quality. **10\. Operational Interface** * Work collaboratively with engineering, maintenance, construction, procurement, and warehousing. * Translate operational data into financial and cost analyses. **Requirements** **Education:** * Administration, Accounting, Economics, or Engineering. **Preferred Specializations:** * MBA in Controllership, Corporate Finance, or Business Management. * Postgraduate degree in Cost Management, Controllership, or Auditing. * Specialization in Data Analysis or Business Analytics. **Professional Experience:** * Minimum of 3–5 years of solid experience in cost analysis (industrial, projects, construction, or contracts). * Experience with complex cost centers, allocations, COGS, Opex, and margins. * Experience in monthly closing processes and collaboration with accounting/tax departments. * Preferably experience in manufacturing, civil construction, industrial maintenance, or labor-intensive service sectors. * Involvement in pricing and commercial proposal development. * Experience in process improvement, digitalization, and ERPs. **Technical Knowledge:** * Costing methods (absorption, ABC, variable, standard costing). * Cost accounting principles and CPC standards (CPC 16 and CPC 47). * TOTVS RM ERP (strongly preferred). * Advanced Excel (mandatory) and advanced Power BI. * Knowledge of Power Query and SQL is considered a plus. * Inventory management, pricing, and cost-related KPIs. **Behavioral Competencies** * Critical and analytical thinking. * Systemic vision. * Negotiation skills. * Resilience and emotional control. * Strong results orientation.