Cost Controller - Qatar

Position Overview

The Cost Controller role is based in Qatar and covers full cost control responsibilities for projects and operations within the country. This position is part of the Cost Control & Project / Management Accounting family and ensures precise, timely accounting compliance with both local statutory and Group reporting requirements.

Role Purpose

Accountable for delivering comprehensive cost control oversight for Qatar, enabling management to access accurate and up-to-date insights on project and operational expenses, commitments, work-in-progress (WIP), accruals, budgets, and cost-to-complete metrics.

Geographic and Organizational Scope

• Primary working location: Qatar
• Responsible for full cost control coverage across Qatar
• Must harmonize processes across entities and coordinate with local teams while adhering to country-specific statutory and banking regulations
• Ensure standardization of accounting processes and documentation; escalate local exceptions to senior finance leadership as necessary

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all cost control activities for Qatar, ensuring complete and punctual capture of project and operating costs
• Monitor project budgets, commitments, actuals, accruals, purchase orders, subcontractor expenses, and other cost factors
• Reconcile project costs between various operational systems such as procurement, warehouse, accounts payable, payroll, and general ledger
• Supervise WIP, cost-to-complete, unbilled costs, and project-related accruals in collaboration with Finance and Operations teams
• Generate monthly cost reports including budget vs actual analyses and explanations of significant variances
• Validate cost allocation methods ensuring correct assignment to projects, cost centers, profit centers, and analytic accounts
• Assist in revenue recognition and project accounting by supplying dependable cost data for percentage-of-completion and IFRS 15 compliance assessments
• Detect cost leakages, duplicate charges, unauthorized spendings, and control weaknesses and suggest corrective measures
• Support month-end close activities, handle audit inquiries, and produce comprehensive cost control schedules for management reporting
• Promote cost transparency and automation utilizing Odoo/ERP systems, Excel, Power Query, Tableau dashboards, and standardized reporting formats

Closing and Reporting

• Adhere to the approved close calendar submitting all schedules, journal entries, and reconciliations on time
• Investigate irregular balances or material changes, providing clear clarifications
• Maintain audit-ready documentation for all material items and adjustments
• Support both management and external/statutory reporting needs

Accounting Standards and Compliance

• Apply consistent Group accounting policies and adhere to relevant IFRS standards, especially IFRS 15 concerning revenue recognition and project accounting
• Report any unusual or complex accounting decisions to senior accounting or finance leadership

ERP and Data Automation

• Manage accurate master data within Odoo/ERP systems, maintaining project, cost center, and analytic records according to authority limits
• Ensure transactions are supported with approved documentation and comply with segregation of duties
• Leverage Excel and business intelligence tools like Power Query, Power Pivot, and Tableau to automate routine reconciliations and reports
• Identify and recommend automation for manual or error-prone processes
• Participate in ERP testing, user acceptance testing, and process improvement initiatives

Controls and Risk Management

• Comply fully with authorization matrices, duties segregation, access controls, and prescribed accounting procedures
• Maintain thorough supporting documentation and a clear audit trail for all transactions
• Identify and promptly escalate any control failures, suspicious transactions, potential fraud, or duplicate payments
• Assist internal and external audits and ensure timely resolution of audit findings
• Safeguard confidential financial information

Stakeholder Management

• Engage regularly with Chief Accountant, Finance leadership, and various finance departments such as GL, AR, AP, Treasury, and Cost Control
• Collaborate with Operations, Project Management, Commercial, Procurement, HR, Tax, Legal, Compliance, external auditors, banks, IT, and Group management

Authority and Escalation

• Operate within approved delegation of authority and accounting policies
• Approve or review transactions strictly within defined approval matrices
• Escalate significant, risky, or policy-sensitive transactions appropriately
• Do not bypass segregation of duties or create unsupported manual journal entries
• Resolve local operational issues and escalate cross-border matters affecting consolidated reporting or compliance

Performance Indicators

• Accuracy and quality of project cost reporting
• Effectiveness of budget versus actual variance analysis
• Precision in cost-to-complete estimates
• Quality of WIP and accrual reconciliations
• Control weaknesses identified and mitigated
• Timely delivery of monthly cost reports

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• Professional accounting certifications are an advantage
• Strong expertise in double-entry accounting, month-end closing, reconciliations, financial reporting, and internal controls
• Proficient in Excel; experience with Power Query, Power Pivot, Tableau, and ERP systems such as Odoo or SAP preferred
• Experienced in managing multi-entity and multi-currency environments with disciplined document control
• Excellent analytical, communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills
• Fluent in professional English; Arabic language skills beneficial for regional roles
• Typically possesses 2 to over 5 years of relevant accounting experience depending on assignment complexity

Behavioral and Technical Competencies

• Meticulous attention to detail and accuracy
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability
• Knowledge and application of IFRS and accounting policies
• Expertise in reconciliations and data analysis
• Discipline in processes and internal controls
• Fluency with ERP platforms and data literacy
• Effective communication and stakeholder engagement
• Ability to manage deadlines and handle month-end pressures
• Commitment to continuous improvement and automation

Scope Note

This job description outlines the intended scope of operations as of the hiring date. Specific responsibilities related to legal entities, banking, tax, statutory approvals, and delegation authorities adhere to local laws, Group policies, and organizational design.