Role overview

Qualifications

Proactive mindset and willingness to identify variances as they occur
Analytical rigor with ability to dissect complex data (materials and labour) into actionable insights
Commercial edge with negotiation skills to challenge supplier relationships
Operational insight gained from multi-site automotive, manufacturing, or studio-based environments

Responsibilities

Real-Time Cost Surveillance: implement weekly cost variance tracking across all studios; maintain real-time dashboards for key cost drivers (labour, contractor spend, film and consumables, reworks and wastage) and monitor Actual vs Budget per studio
Threshold Management and Escalation: define spending thresholds with SLT; implement automated alerts for overspend, spending trends, and wastage; manage corrective action and escalation
Granular Wastage Performance Analysis: conduct deep-dive analysis into wastage attribution down to studio, job type, and installer; identify root causes and recommend training or process changes
Commercial Strategy: renegotiate terms with suppliers, consolidate spend across studios to leverage discounts, and lead regular re-tendering to secure competitive market rates

Key facts

Remote from: Africa
Full time
English

Hard skills

Procurement Budget Analysis Escalation Management Performance Analysis Notification Services Developing Training Materials Auditing Operational Reporting Supplier Management Consolidated Procurement Corporate Forecasting Process Improvement Stakeholder Communications

Other skills

Accountability
Accountability
Collaboration
Communication
Open Mindset
Problem Solving

About the company

Talent Shore

Staffing & Recruiting

Talent Shore connects top talent in South Africa with leading recruitment businesses in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States. We’re proud to be the first offshoring company, focussed on the recruitment sector, with a track record of successfully helping recruitment businesses to scale up through cost-effective talent acquisition and management. For companies, we take the risk out of the offshoring process by supporting your business to effectively scale your operations and maximise the productivity of your teams in the UK, Europe, USA and South Africa. South Africa has an amazing pool of talented and skilled professionals who can help your business grow. For SA employees, we are looking for Recruitment / Talent Acquisition / Admin / Compliance / Accounting specialists of varying levels of skill and experience. The international clients we work with offer excellent salaries, in-country support, professional development and real investment in your career growth. Reach out to our team today.

Company details

IndustryStaffing & Recruiting

Company size11 - 50

Links

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Job description

Cost Manager

Reporting to: Nabil

Key Responsibilities

1. Real-Time Cost Surveillance & Monitoring

ï· Live Tracking: Move beyond monthly reviews to weekly cost variance tracking across all studios.
ï· Operational Visibility: Maintain real-time dashboards for key cost drivers, including:

o Labour and Contractor spend.
o Film and Consumables.
o Reworks and material wastage.

ï· Budget Alignment: Own the Actual vs. Budget relationship per studio, ensuring every pound spent is continuously tracked against approved limits.

2. Threshold Management & Escalation

ï· Define Limits: In collaboration with the SLT, establish pre-defined spending thresholds for every cost line (e.g., film, labour, utilities).
ï· Automated Flagging: Implement systems to trigger immediate alerts when:

o A studio exceeds its allocated budget.
o Spending trends indicate a projected overspend.
o Wastage exceeds defined tolerance levels.

ï· Escalation Path: Manage the corrective action process, ensuring the right stakeholders are notified and an intervention plan is executed immediately.

3. Granular Wastage & Performance Analysis

ï· Film Attribution: Conduct deep-dive analysis into Paint Protection Film (PPF) and material usage against expected norms.
ï· Accountability Mapping: Attribute wastage and inefficiencies down to the Studio, Job Type, and Individual Installer level.
ï· Root Cause Correction: Identify the why behind wastage and recommend training or process changes to mitigate future loss.

4. Commercial Strategy & Supplier Aggression

ï· Continuous Renegotiation: Actively challenge and renegotiate terms for trade accounts, contractors, utilities, and service providers.
ï· Group Consolidation: Identify opportunities to consolidate spend across multiple studios to leverage volume discounts and drive group-wide savings.
ï· Re-tendering: Lead regular re-tendering exercises to ensure the group is always receiving the most competitive market rates.

5. Cost Justification & Ownership

ï· Line-by-Line Auditing: Ensure every cost line (recurring or ad-hoc) has a designated Owner, a clear Justification, and a defined Expected Value.
ï· Value Alignment: Challenge any spend that does not directly contribute to operational value or strategic goals.

Candidate Profile

ï· Proactive Mindset: You don't wait for the month-end report; you seek out variances as they happen.
ï· Analytical Rigor: Ability to dissect complex data (specifically in materials/labour) and turn it into actionable intelligence.
ï· Commercial Edge: A tough-but-fair negotiator who is comfortable challenging long-standing supplier relationships.
ï· Operational Insight: Ideally experienced in a multi-site automotive, manufacturing, or studio-based environment where material wastage is a critical KPI.
ï· Communication: Able to hold studio managers and installers accountable while maintaining a collaborative working environment.