Senior Product Costing Lead

Position Description

About Lactalis Lactalis New Zealand, formerly known as Fonterra Brands NZ, is now proudly part of the Lactalis Group.

Here in Aotearoa, New Zealand, we employ more than 1,000 people across four manufacturing sites, two distribution centres and our corporate head office. Together, we produce some of the country’s most loved dairy brands, including Anchor, Fresh’n Fruity, Mainland and Kāpiti.

Our business also includes NZ New Milk, a specialised nutrition and infant formula manufacturer that produces premium products for global markets. We manufacture high-quality dairy products enjoyed by Kiwis here in New Zealand and consumers around the world.

Lactalis is a French family-owned business and the world’s largest dairy company. With a presence in 50 countries, employing around 90,000 people and a range of 2,000 dairy products. Lactalis is committed to contributing to the health and well-being of consumers around the world every day.

Our passionate and talented team is dedicated to nurturing the future of dairy, unlocking new opportunities and fostering innovation in nutrition and food.

The Opportunity Join a newly formed, collaborative team that’s building strong foundations and evolving the way product costing is managed across Lactalis New Zealand. As Senior Product Costing Lead, you’ll take ownership of accurate, reliable cost information, helping teams understand what drives product costs and supporting better pricing, forecasting and commercial decisions. Reporting to the Head of Industrial Management Control, you will:

• Own the accuracy and ongoing maintenance of product costings across materials and products, ensuring SAP data is complete, consistent and reliable
• Develop costings for new products and material activations, partnering with Innovation, Technical, Marketing and site teams
• Support month-end forecasting, cost revaluations and variance analysis across raw materials, packaging and overheads
• Translate complex costing information into clear commercial insights for Finance, Operations, Sales and pricing stakeholders
• Lead improvements to costing processes and support CapEx, site and cross-functional projects with robust financial analysis

About You You’re a detail-focused finance professional who understands how manufacturing works and can confidently connect operational activity with financial outcomes. Collaborative and adaptable, you enjoy working through complexity, building strong relationships and helping stakeholders understand the story behind the numbers. In addition to this, you will have:

• At least five years’ experience in a large or complex organisation, ideally within FMCG, dairy or manufacturing
• Product costing experience, or strong site-based manufacturing finance experience with the ability to build your costing expertise
• Advanced Excel capability and hands-on SAP experience, with SAP ECC experience particularly valuable
• A relevant Business, Accounting, Commerce or Finance degree, with CA, CPA or CIMA qualification preferred
• Exceptional attention to detail, strong analytical judgement and the communication skills to influence stakeholders across technical, operational and commercial teams

What We Offer

• Competitive pay and benefits
• Career development and progression opportunities within a global organisation
• A collaborative and supportive workplace culture where your contribution makes a real impact
• A strong commitment to safety, quality, innovation and sustainability
• Flexible working arrangements where possible

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

At Lactalis NZ, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome people from all backgrounds and are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to thrive.

Let’s make this your best move yet. Apply now and be part of a global business with local heart!