Cost Accountant
Job Summary
Position Summary
The Cost Accountant Business Partner is responsible for delivering accurate costing profitability analysis budgeting forecasting and financial insights to support operational and strategic decision-making across the organization. The role acts as a key finance business partner to operational commercial and project teams ensuring that management has reliable financial information to drive profitability cost optimization and sustainable business growth.
The successful candidate will possess strong analytical capabilities commercial awareness and the ability to translate financial data into actionable business recommendations.
Key Responsibilities
Cost Management
- Develop maintain and continuously enhance project product and service costing models.
- Monitor actual costs against budgets forecasts and established cost standards.
- Analyze cost variances and provide recommendations to improve financial performance.
- Review and validate overhead allocation methodologies and cost absorption rates.
- Identify cost-saving opportunities and support initiatives aimed at improving operational efficiency.
- Ensure accurate allocation of direct and indirect costs across projects and business units.
Business Partnering
- Partner closely with operations procurement commercial and project teams to improve profitability and business performance.
- Provide financial guidance and commercial support for pricing decisions tenders proposals and contract evaluations.
- Support management in evaluating strategic initiatives business opportunities and investment decisions.
- Deliver meaningful financial insights and recommendations to support informed decision-making.
Budgeting & Performance Management
- Support the preparation of annual budgets forecasts and long-term financial plans.
- Conduct budget versus actual analysis and investigate significant variances.
- Develop profitability margin and performance reports for management review.
- Monitor key business drivers and recommend actions to achieve financial objectives.
- Assist business units in developing realistic financial targets and performance measures.
Financial Analysis
- Perform break-even sensitivity and scenario analyses to support strategic planning.
- Evaluate new business opportunities investment proposals and operational improvement initiatives.
- Develop financial models and business cases to support management decisions.
- Identify trends risks and opportunities impacting financial performance.
Reporting & Compliance
- Prepare accurate and timely management reports KPI dashboards and financial analyses.
- Ensure costing and profitability reports are aligned with business and reporting requirements.
- Support internal and external audits by providing required schedules reconciliations and supporting documentation.
- Ensure compliance with company policies accounting standards and internal control procedures.
- Support continuous improvement initiatives within finance and business operations.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Gross Margin Improvement
- Budget vs. Actual Accuracy
- Cost Savings Achieved
- Project and Service Profitability
- Forecast Accuracy
- Timeliness and Accuracy of Management Reporting
- Financial Analysis Quality
- Business Partner Effectiveness
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelors Degree in Accounting Finance Cost Accounting or a related discipline.
- Professional qualification such as CMA ACCA CPA CA or equivalent is highly preferred.
- Minimum 58 years of relevant experience in Cost Accounting FP&A Commercial Finance or Business Partnering roles.
- Experience within contracting engineering telecom technology manufacturing or project-based organizations will be considered a strong advantage.
Technical Skills
- Strong knowledge of Standard Costing Actual Costing and Activity-Based Costing (ABC).
- Proven experience in project costing profitability analysis and margin management.
- Ability to review BOQs contracts commercial agreements and pricing structures.
- Advanced budgeting forecasting and financial modeling skills.
- Proficiency in ERP systems such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central SAP Oracle or equivalent.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills including financial modeling data analysis and reporting.
- Experience with Power BI or other business intelligence tools.
- Strong understanding of commercial finance principles and financial controls.
Knowledge of IAS/IFRS
- IAS 2 Inventories
- IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers
- IAS 36 Impairment of Assets
- IFRS 8 Operating Segments
Core Competencies
- Commercial Acumen
- Business Partnering
- Strategic Thinking
- Analytical and Critical Thinking
- Financial Modeling & Decision Support
- Problem Solving
- Communication & Presentation Skills
- Stakeholder Management
- Professional Skepticism
- Continuous Improvement Orientation
- Integrity & Accountability
Additional Application Requirements
To support the evaluation process applicants are requested to provide the following information:
- Do you have any additional experience certifications achievements or relevant expertise that is not reflected in your CV If yes please provide details.
- Please confirm your current salary and salary expectations.
Compensation Note
Please note that the salary budget for this position is fixed and restricted within the companys approved compensation structure. Unfortunately we are unable to exceed the approved budget range for this role. Candidates are encouraged to apply only if their salary expectations align with the allocated budget.