Cost Manager – Automotive

About the role

The Cost Manager leads product costing across the automotive product lifecycle, delivering accurate cost estimates, competitive quotations and ensuring sustainable profitability. You will support new business acquisition, product launches and continuous cost optimisation while working closely with engineering, program management and purchasing teams.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare cost models and customer RFQs to achieve target profitability.
• Develop and maintain standard costs for materials, labour, machine rates, tooling, packaging, logistics and overhead.
• Partner with Engineering and Program Management on APQP, engineering changes, product launches and lifecycle cost management.
• Review and validate BOMs, routings, cycle times and manufacturing assumptions.
• Analyse programme profitability, price variances, labour efficiencies, scrap, rework and manufacturing variances.
• Support Purchasing with supplier quotation analysis, should‑cost modelling and cost‑reduction initiatives.
• Ensure accurate inventory valuation, ERP costing master data and compliance with financial controls.
• Prepare cost reports, budgets, forecasts and profitability analyses for business decisions.
• Lead continuous cost‑improvement and value‑engineering projects.
• Develop and lead the Cost Accounting team, fostering cross‑functional collaboration.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field.
• Professional certification (CMA, CPA, ACCA or CIMA) preferred.
• Proven experience in new product launches, programme profitability and cost optimisation.
• Strong knowledge of automotive manufacturing processes (stamping, welding, machining, injection molding, painting, assembly).
• Hands‑on experience with ERP systems and advanced Microsoft Excel.

Required skills

• ERP systems
• Microsoft Excel