A leading organization in Dubai is looking for an experienced Senior Project Cost Accountant to oversee financial operations across fire protection and engineering projects. This position is responsible for project cost monitoring, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and ensuring compliance with company policies and contractual requirements.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The ideal candidate will work closely with project managers, procurement teams, and finance professionals to improve project profitability, maintain accurate financial records, and support business decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities
- Monitor project costs and maintain accurate financial records for labour, materials, subcontractors, equipment, and overhead expenses.
- Prepare monthly project financial reports, budget forecasts, and variance analysis for management review.
- Track project performance against approved budgets and recommend corrective actions when necessary.
- Support project billing, progress claims, final account reconciliation, and revenue recognition processes.
- Review subcontractor invoices, payment applications, and retention balances while coordinating approvals with internal teams.
- Prepare month-end journals, accruals, provisions, and financial reconciliations related to ongoing projects.
- Work with project and commercial teams to evaluate change orders, variations, and contractual claims.
- Assist in budgeting, tender preparation, and cost estimation by providing historical financial data and project analysis.
- Strengthen internal financial controls by monitoring project expenses and ensuring compliance with accounting procedures.
- Support internal and external audits by providing accurate financial documentation and reports.
- Develop dashboards and reporting templates to improve financial visibility and reporting efficiency.
- Provide guidance and support to junior accounting staff where required.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- Professional accounting qualification such as ACCA, ACA, CIMA, or an equivalent certification is preferred.
- Minimum 10 years of experience in project cost accounting within construction, engineering, fire protection, or building services industries.
- Strong understanding of project budgeting, cost control, revenue recognition, BOQs, contract variations, and financial reporting.
- Experience using ERP systems such as Oracle, SAP, or similar accounting software.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with strong analytical and reporting capabilities.
- Excellent communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple projects while meeting strict deadlines.
Preferred Skills
- Experience working on fire protection or MEP projects.
- Knowledge of UAE accounting regulations and industry practices.
- Strong commercial awareness and business partnering skills.
- Attention to detail with a proactive approach to financial analysis.
Key Performance Indicators
Success in this role may be measured by:
- Accuracy of project cost reporting
- Timely completion of monthly financial closing
- Forecast accuracy
- Project profitability improvement
- Effective cost variance management
- Audit compliance
- Financial reporting quality
Why Join?
This opportunity offers the chance to work on large-scale engineering projects in Dubai while contributing to financial planning, commercial performance, and project success. The organization provides a collaborative work environment with opportunities for career growth and professional development.