Cost Control Specialist

About the Role

TalentHive is supporting a growing Saudi group in strengthening its Project Management Office (PMO) by appointing a Cost Control Specialist. This full-time position, located in Dammam, Eastern region, is not a traditional accounting or purely reporting role. It operates at the intersection of Finance and Operations, focusing on understanding cost movements, performance changes, operational profitability, and necessary actions across multiple operational businesses. The total monthly package for this role is up to SAR 13,000, plus standard company benefits.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze costs across various projects and operational activities.
• Analyze direct and indirect costs, cost structures, and allocations.
• Compare actual financial performance against approved budgets and forecasts.
• Identify cost variances, overruns, and their underlying drivers.
• Support budgeting processes and prepare or update cost forecasts.
• Analyze revenue, margins, and overall profitability.
• Apply cost-control methodologies, including Earned Value, CPI/SPI, and related performance measures where applicable.
• Translate financial and operational data into actionable management insights.
• Develop comprehensive cost reports, dashboards, and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Finance, and the PMO to understand the factors influencing financial figures.
• Identify opportunities for corrective action, stronger controls, and improved profitability.
• Contribute to strengthening cost-control processes and enhancing visibility across the organization.

Required Skills and Experience

Candidates should demonstrate practical experience in working with financial numbers and possess a solid foundation in cost control. The role requires the ability to interpret data and contribute to operational decision-making. Relevant experience includes:

• Cost control and cost analysis.
• Budgeting and forecasting.
• Budget vs. actual analysis.
• Understanding of direct and indirect costs, cost allocation, and cost structures.
• Variance and root-cause analysis.
• Revenue and profitability analysis, including gross profit, net profit, and margins.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM), CPI, and SPI.
• Management reporting and KPI development.
• Working collaboratively with operational teams.

Industry Background

The hiring team is interested in candidates who understand cost structures, profitability, forecasting, and Earned Value concepts while also being able to interpret financial reporting. Industry background is flexible and not limited to one specific sector. Relevant backgrounds may include:

• EPC & Construction
• Oil & Gas
• Industrial Services
• Heavy Equipment
• Equipment Rental
• Transportation & Logistics
• Manufacturing
• Infrastructure
• Facilities Management
• Other Operational / Asset-Intensive Businesses

This is not a Quantity Surveying position, and an engineering background is not essential. The primary requirement is for a professional who can bridge Finance and Operations with cost control at the core.

Career Development

This role offers the opportunity to contribute to a developing PMO and cost-control function within a growing organization. It provides exposure across different operational businesses, allowing for a broad impact beyond a single project. The position is suitable for individuals with solid hands-on cost-control foundations who can work with cost structures, budgets, actuals, variances, and reporting.