Cost Controller - Manufacturing

Cost Controller – Manufacturing Salary: Competitive and based on experience Location: Dubai

Keywords: Finance Business Partner, Manufacturing, Data Analysis, Power BI, Budgeting, Forecasting, Cross-functional Collaboration, Sustainability, Business Intelligence, Process Optimisation

A leading global manufacturer is seeking a highly skilled Cost Controller to join their Dubai-based operations team. This is an exceptional opportunity for you to play a pivotal role in shaping the financial future of a business that stands at the forefront of specialist filter solutions and scientific services, with a presence spanning over 120 countries. As a Cost Controller, you will be instrumental in providing timely, relevant, and accurate financial insights that empower senior management to make informed decisions. You will thrive in an environment that values collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement, while supporting the company’s mission to deliver sustainable solutions for today and tomorrow. The organisation offers a truly international platform, exposure to cutting-edge digital transformation initiatives, and the chance to work alongside knowledgeable professionals who are committed to growth and excellence. Flexible working opportunities and ongoing training ensure your professional development remains a priority.

• Join a globally recognised manufacturing leader with operations across Europe, America, and Asia, offering you unparalleled exposure to international best practices and diverse business challenges.
• Be at the heart of digital transformation within finance by driving automation, data visualisation, and business intelligence adoption—especially through Power BI—enhancing both efficiency and insight generation.
• Enjoy flexible working opportunities and access to continuous training programmes designed to support your career progression in a supportive and inclusive environment.

What you'll do:

As a Cost Controller – Manufacturing based in Dubai, you will become an integral part of the operations finance team responsible for delivering high-quality financial analysis that underpins strategic decision-making. Your day-to-day activities will involve collaborating with colleagues across different functions to extract meaningful insights from large datasets using advanced analytical tools such as Power BI. You will be tasked with developing dashboards that bring clarity to key performance indicators while ensuring seamless integration of multiple data sources for automated reporting. By actively engaging in budgeting cycles and forecasting processes, you will help shape the company’s financial direction. Your ability to communicate findings effectively will be crucial as you work alongside operational leaders worldwide to monitor cost-saving initiatives. In this role, your commitment to process optimisation will directly contribute to the company’s continued success in delivering sustainable solutions on a global scale.

• Deliver timely, relevant, and accurate financial information and insightful analysis to support decision-making by senior management across multiple regions.
• Develop robust data extraction processes and create advanced dashboards using Power BI to provide visibility into key business metrics for site management teams.
• Identify actionable insights from complex datasets to drive sustainable profitable growth and optimise conversion costs as well as fixed overheads against budgeted targets.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional teams—including Supply Chain, Manufacturing Operations, Procurement, and Group Finance—to foster strong interdepartmental relationships that enhance performance.
• Lead monthly tracking of cost improvement actions, ensuring clear communication of progress with global manufacturing teams and facilitating effective action monitoring.
• Drive the digital transformation journey within the finance function by increasing utilisation of business intelligence tools and automating core financial workflows for greater efficiency.
• Integrate diverse internal and external data sources seamlessly to enable comprehensive business analysis and optimisation of reporting processes.
• Contribute significantly to annual budgeting and monthly forecasting cycles by developing templates that streamline end-to-end planning activities.
• Perform detailed price, mix, and volume analyses aimed at margin improvements while proactively participating in various business improvement projects as required.
• Manage all aspects of financial reporting and analysis activities—including standard reporting production, ad hoc requests, presentation materials preparation, and non-pricing profitability analysis—in accordance with defined standards.

What you bring:

To excel as a Cost Controller – Manufacturing, you will bring extensive experience gained from working within fast-paced manufacturing environments where precision and reliability are paramount. Your background should include significant involvement in financial planning & analysis (FP&A), coupled with hands-on expertise in leveraging technology—particularly Excel and Power BI—for enhanced reporting capabilities. You are adept at navigating complex regulatory landscapes while applying sound accounting knowledge across varied operational contexts. Your approach is grounded in collaboration; you understand the importance of nurturing positive relationships with colleagues from different departments to achieve shared objectives. With proven skills in synthesising large volumes of data into concise recommendations for senior management, you are comfortable managing multiple priorities simultaneously without compromising quality or accuracy. Your proactive attitude towards process improvement ensures that you consistently seek out opportunities for efficiency gains while supporting broader organisational goals.

• At least 8-10 years’ experience in finance roles with a minimum of 6 years focused on financial planning and analysis within a manufacturing environment is essential for success in this position.
• Demonstrated expertise in extracting actionable insights from complex datasets using advanced Excel skills; proficiency with Power BI is highly desirable for driving data visualisation initiatives.
• Comprehensive understanding of accounting principles, regulatory frameworks, and their practical application across diverse operational areas ensures accuracy in all financial outputs.
• Proven ability to take ownership of tasks or processes from inception through completion while maintaining meticulous attention to detail under tight deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal skills are required for building collaborative relationships with stakeholders across supply chain, operations, procurement, group finance teams, and site leadership.
• Experience developing value-added financial analyses that inform executive-level decision-making is vital for contributing meaningfully to business growth strategies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities enable you to synthesise complex information into clear executive summaries suitable for senior audiences.
• A track record of successfully managing annual budgeting cycles as well as monthly forecasting activities demonstrates your dependability in critical planning functions.
• Familiarity with integrating multiple internal/external data sources for seamless automation of business analysis supports efficient workflow optimisation within finance functions.