At Terracotta – Driving Business Growth in Recruitment, Outsourcing & Corporate Services
We are a leading outsourcing company in the UAE, delivering recruitment, manpower, visa outsourcing, EOR/PEO, business setup, PRO services, and corporate solutions across the region.
We are currently hiring an experienced Project Cost & Budgeting Controller to support one of our key clients within the power and utilities sector in Abu Dhabi on a 12-month contract.
The ideal candidate will have strong experience in project cost control, budgeting, accruals, contract financial management, invoicing, and project cost reporting. This is a hands-on role supporting the financial control of a portfolio of approximately 25–30 projects, working closely with Finance, Project Management, Procurement, Accounts Payable, contractors, and suppliers.
Position: Project Cost & Budgeting Controller
Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE – Onsite
Employment: 12-Month Contract
Key Responsibilities
Project Cost Control & Budgeting
- Monitor project expenditure against approved budgets, forecasts, and commitments
- Track actual spend, outstanding commitments, liabilities, and forecast costs across multiple projects
- Maintain project cost trackers and provide bi-weekly cost and budget reporting
- Analyse budget variances and identify potential cost overruns
- Support project forecasting and maintain visibility over upcoming financial commitments
Accruals & Financial Control
- Prepare and maintain monthly accrual schedules across project contracts and suppliers
- Work with Project Managers and contract owners to identify costs incurred but not yet invoiced
- Reconcile accrual balances against subsequent invoices and payments
- Support month-end, quarter-end, and year-end financial close activities
- Ensure accurate and timely recording of project-related costs
Contracts, Invoicing & Payments
- Maintain financial oversight of project contracts, including contract values, amendments, commitments, milestones, and outstanding obligations
- Monitor activities and deliverables against contractual and budget requirements
- Review contractor and supplier invoices against contracts, purchase orders, and approved deliverables
- Coordinate with Accounts Payable to ensure invoices are processed and paid on time
- Track outstanding invoices and support the resolution of payment-related issues
- Monitor upcoming payment obligations to support project cash-flow planning
Procurement & Stakeholder Support
- Support purchase requisitions, purchase orders, tender evaluations, and other procurement activities
- Ensure procurement commitments remain aligned with approved project budgets
- Work closely with Finance, Project Management, Procurement, contractors, and suppliers
- Maintain accurate financial, procurement, and contractual documentation for audit and compliance purposes
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field
- Approximately 4–8 years of relevant experience in project cost control, project finance, project accounting, budgeting, procurement finance, or cost management
- Strong hands-on experience with project budgets, cost tracking, commitments, forecasting, and variance analysis
- Practical experience with accrual accounting and financial close activities
- Experience managing contracts, contractor invoices, payment tracking, and financial obligations
- Strong Microsoft Excel and analytical skills
- Experience with SAP, Oracle, or a similar ERP system is preferred
- Experience within power, utilities, energy, EPC, infrastructure, engineering, or construction is desirable; candidates from other project-intensive industries will also be considered
- Demonstrated ability to manage the financial control of multiple projects simultaneously
- Strong stakeholder management, communication, and organizational skills
- Currently based in the UAE with immediate or short-notice availability preferred
