Senior Specialist Cost Accounting

Our client is a leading UAE-based manufacturer specialising in precision-engineered systems for the defence and aerospace sectors. As a regional market leader, the company leverages advanced technologies in optics, propulsion, and guidance systems, delivering world-class products with speed and agility. They are part of a larger, well-established industrial group and operate in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Specialist in Cost Accounting to join the finance team. This hands‑on role is responsible for costing, budgeting, forecasting, and monthly closing activities. The position involves performing financial functions related to the accuracy, recording, analysis, and presentation of financial operations for a complex manufacturing environment.

• Project Costing: Gain a full understanding of specific projects undertaken; interpret contracts 100% and explain financial results for each project. Prepare monthly project financial statements, clearly explaining results month‑to‑date, year‑to‑date, and project‑to‑date.
• EAC Calculation: Prepare Estimated at Completion cost calculations for each project.
• Product Costing: Prepare and validate product costing for all products included in each project.
• Manufacturing Accounting: Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge of the manufacturing accounting system to understand production floor performance and evaluate expected monthly financial results.

• Coordinate and prepare the annual budget and forecasting process.
• Prepare monthly management reports for senior management.
• Upload monthly management reports to group systems (Hyperion / corporate portal).

• During monthly closing, ensure proper expense classification by cost centre, transfer expenses related to WIP specific to projects, transfer general expenses to WIP general, calculate finished goods based on EAC, and calculate cost variance based on real WIP available on the production floor compared with GL.
• Create new assets in SAP and verify against the approved Capex budget.
• Prepare cash flow forecasts to monitor inflows and outflows.
• Prepare Letters of Credit / Letters of Guarantee and coordinate with banks and other departments.
• Perform variance analysis between budget and actual costs.
• Provide assistance and coordination to auditors for interim and full‑year audits.
• Promote teamwork to ensure timely achievement of objectives and KPIs for both the finance department and the organisation as a whole.
• Prepare monthly and ad hoc reports for senior management.

• Bachelor's degree in Finance or Accounting
• CMA, CIMA, CPA, ACCA, or equivalent (mandatory)
• Minimum 10 years in costing and budgeting within a manufacturing environment
• Manufacturing – defence, aerospace, industrial, engineering or oil & gas preferred
• Project costing, product costing, EAC, standard costing, variance analysis, WIP accounting, budgeting, forecasting, cash flow
• Must demonstrate experience across GL, costing, commercial, and project accounting

• Extensive years of progressive experience in manufacturing, costing and budgeting.
• Proven experience in project accounting and product costing
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• Strong understanding of manufacturing accounting systems and production floor performance evaluation.
• Professional certification (CMA/CIMA/CPA/ACCA) is non‑negotiable
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• SAP experience is essential – must have hands‑to‑hand usage in a manufacturing setting.
• Candidates must be hands‑on and willing to multitask across GL, costing, commercial, and project accounting.