POSITION IS FOR A REPUTED JEWLERY BRAND IN COIMBATORE.

Role Purpose:

The Assistant General Manager - Costing will be responsible for designing, implementing and managing cost accounting systems, cost controls, margin analytics and profitability reviews across the manufacturing operations. The role will partner with production, procurement, finance and business teams to ensure accurate product cost determination, track variances, drive cost optimisation and support strategic decisions. The ideal candidate will be CMA qualified and possess strong manufacturing cost accounting experience, preferably in jewellery or related high-value, precision manufacturing industry.

Key Responsibilities:

Cost Accounting & Analysis:

- Establish and maintain the costing framework for all product lines (gold, silver, platinum, diamond jewellery) including direct material, labour, overheads and other manufacturing costs.

- Determine standard cost per unit, cost sheets, cost driver identification.

- Regularly compute actual cost vs standard cost, analyze variances (material, labour, overheads) and provide meaningful insights for management action.

- Ensure costing systems are aligned with corporate accounting, inventory and ERP systems.

- Work with procurement and stores to ensure material consumption, scrap/wastage, jewellery losses/dust recovery are captured and costed appropriately.

- Monitor yield, process losses, rework, refurbishments and cost impact thereof.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Margin Management:

- Work with finance & business teams to prepare annual cost budgets, rolling forecasts and monthly cost reports.

- Provide margin analysis by product, collection, model and support decisions on pricing, product mix, discontinuation of non-profitable models.

- Identify cost improvement opportunities, lead continuous improvement initiatives in manufacturing costing, waste reduction, process efficiency.

- Drive cost savings projects and track savings realisation.

Manufacturing & Operations Interface:

- Partner with manufacturing/production team to understand process flows (casting, fabrication, finishing, plating, gem- setting, polishing) and cost implications.

- Review manufacturing KPIs (unit output, scrap, machine utilisation, yield, labour productivity) from a costing perspective.

- Develop and monitor cost benchmarks for key process steps and propose improvements.

- Liaise with quality, maintenance, stores and logistics teams to ensure all cost elements are captured and controlled.

Reporting & Compliance:

- Prepare monthly/quarterly/annual costing reports for senior management highlighting variances, cost trends, margin impact, and improvement actions.

- Ensure compliance with accounting standards (including Ind AS / IFRS if applicable), internal audit requirements and cost audit (if applicable).

- Participate in statutory and internal audit reviews for costing and manufacturing expense matters.

- Maintain documentation of costing methodologies, assumptions, and periodic reviews.

Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management:

- Lead the costing team (cost accountants, cost analysts) - build capability, monitor performance, ensure timely delivery of costing outputs.

- Act as the key interface between finance, operations, procurement and business teams for all costing-related matters.

- Provide coaching/training to non-finance stakeholders on cost awareness, cost drivers and margin impact.

Desired Profile / Qualifications & Experience:

- Qualified Cost & Management Accountant (CMA) from Institute of Cost Accountants of India.

- Minimum 10-15 years of relevant experience in manufacturing cost accounting, preferably in jewellery, metals, precious items or precision manufacturing industry.

- Demonstrable experience in implementing costing systems, cost control, margin improvement, manufacturing operations interface.

- Strong analytical skills, comfortable working with large volumes of data, cost modelling tools, Excel and ERP systems.

- Good business acumen, ability to interpret cost data into actionable business insights, support strategic decisions.

- Excellent stakeholder management skills - able to work with production, procurement, business units and senior management.

- Leadership experience - leading and developing a team of cost/accounting professionals.

- Strong communication skills (English & Tamil preferred) and ability to present cost-information clearly to senior management.

- High integrity, process-oriented mindset, ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Key Success Indicators:

- Accurate standard cost determination across product lines and timely monthly cost reports.

- Variance analysis delivered with actionable insights and visible cost improvement/margin uplift.

- Successful identification and implementation of cost-savings initiatives (e.g., reduction in scrap/waste, improved yield, reduced overheads) with measurable impact.

- Smooth interface with operations and procurement leading to improved cost behaviour and manufacturing productivity.

- Team built and maintained with strong cost accounting discipline, timely deliverables and stakeholder satisfaction.

- Contribution to margin improvement, better product-mix decisions and increased profitability of manufacturing operations.