Country Finance Controller

What if your work could change millions of lives?

At Mitrelli, that’s exactly what we do: building schools, hospitals, water systems, energy networks, and more across Africa. Every day, our teams deliver projects that transform lives, bringing access to essential services such as energy, water, healthcare, education, housing and beyond. Together, We build potential.

We create sustainable, meaningful impact by partnering with governments, financial institutions, and public entities to design affordable, innovative solutions that bring enduring improvements to millions of citizens in the countries where we operate. From hospitals and schools to energy, water, agriculture, housing, and more, our projects touch every aspect of life, always with the highest standards and a long-term commitment to future generations.

About the role:

We are seeking a Project Finance Controller to join our Finance team in Luanda, Angola.

The Project Finance Controller will be responsible for controlling and monitoring the financial performance of projects, ensuring costs, commitments, forecasts, and contractual obligations remain aligned with approved budgets and business objectives.

This role acts as a key financial partner to Engineering, Production, Procurement, and Project Management teams, providing financial visibility, challenging cost decisions, identifying risks, and supporting effective decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

Working closely with local teams and Group Finance, the role will ensure accurate project financial reporting, strong cost governance, contract financial control, and continuous improvement of project performance management processes. The successful candidate must be fluent in English and have at least an intermediate level of Portuguese.

** CVs must be submitted in English**

What Experience Must Be Evident in the CV

Candidates must clearly demonstrate:

• Minimum 10 years of progressive finance experience, combining Big 4 audit/advisory background with hands-on industry experience in financial control, project control, or business controlling roles.
• Professional finance qualification (SAICA, CA, CPA, ACCA, CMA, or equivalent).
• Proven experience controlling project or operational financial performance, including cost monitoring, forecasting, variance analysis, financial reporting, and management recommendations.
• Strong ability to challenge business stakeholders (Engineering, Operations, Production, Procurement, or Project teams) by analysing financial data and influencing cost decisions.
• Hands-on experience managing project financial controls, including contractor invoices, progress certificates, variation/change orders, claims, retentions, bank guarantees, and contractual financial obligations.
• Advanced Excel skills with strong ability to develop financial models, analyse complex data, and prepare management reports. Experience with ERP systems is required.

Key Responsibilities:

Project Financial Control & Performance Management

• Monitor and control project financial performance, ensuring actual costs, commitments, and forecasts remain aligned with approved budgets and business objectives.
• Analyse project cost performance, identify deviations, risks, and opportunities, and provide recommendations to improve financial outcomes.
• Challenge Engineering, Production, Procurement, and Project teams on cost decisions, financial assumptions, and project performance.
• Prepare and present project financial reports, including budget status, cost evolution, forecasts, variance analysis, and key financial risks to local management and Group Finance.
• Maintain accurate project financial visibility through effective cost tracking, reporting mechanisms, and performance indicators.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Cost Management

• Lead project budgeting, forecasting, and cost review processes, ensuring accurate financial planning throughout the project lifecycle.
• Monitor project cash flow, committed costs, expected final costs, and financial exposure.
• Develop and maintain financial models, dashboards, and reports to support decision-making and project performance monitoring.

Contract & Commercial Financial Control

• Provide hands-on financial control of project contracts, including contractor invoices, progress certificates, variation/change orders, claims, retentions, and payment applications.
• Review contractual commitments and ensure financial impacts are correctly assessed, approved, and reflected in project forecasts.
• Monitor compliance with contractual financial obligations, including bank guarantees, advance payment guarantees, performance guarantees, and related financial securities.
• Partner with Procurement and Contract Management teams to identify and mitigate commercial and financial risks.

Governance, Controls & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure compliance with internal financial controls, approval processes, reporting standards, and Group governance requirements.
• Support the improvement of project financial control processes, reporting quality, tools, and procedures.
• Act as a financial business partner between Finance, Operations, Engineering, Production, Procurement, and Group stakeholders.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or related field.
• Professional finance certification is mandatory (SAICA CA(SA), CPA, ACCA, CMA, or equivalent).
• Minimum 10 years of progressive finance experience, including Big 4 audit/advisory background combined with hands-on experience in industry.
• Minimum 4 years of post-Big 4 experience in financial control, project finance, business controlling, cost control, or similar roles within complex operational environments.
• Proven experience monitoring and controlling project financial performance, including budgets, actual costs, commitments, forecasts, variance analysis, and financial reporting.
• Strong experience partnering with operational teams, challenging cost assumptions, identifying financial risks, and providing recommendations to support business decisions.
• Hands-on experience with contract financial management, including contractor invoices, progress certificates, variation/change orders, claims, retentions, bank guarantees, and payment controls.
• Advanced Excel capability, including financial modelling, data analysis, complex reporting, and financial performance dashboards.
• Experience working with ERP systems and financial reporting tools.
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior stakeholders, including Finance Leadership, Engineering, Production, Procurement, Project Teams, and Group Finance.
• Fluency in English and Portuguese, both written and spoken.