Cost Accountant (Business Partner)

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

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, Cost Accounting, or a related discipline.
• Professional qualification such as CMA, ACCA, CPA, CA, or equivalent is highly preferred.
• Minimum 5–8 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 company's 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.