Finance Manager – Cost Control

hello chef; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A fast-growing food production company in Dubai is seeking a Finance Manager - Cost Control to oversee accurate costing and financial governance. The successful candidate will work closely with operations, engaging in hands-on management and ensuring that financial data is reliable. The role includes strong involvement in both financial systems and on-ground operations, making it crucial for maintaining the company's contribution margin. Competitive compensation and generous benefits are offered, suitable for someone who enjoys both strategic financial insights and active teamwork.

Benefits

Biannual performance reviews

22 days annual leave

Annual flight allowance

Premium medical coverage

50% discount on meals

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of recipes, yield management, and costing flows.
• Ability to connect financial variances to production and inventory behavior.
• Capable of navigating ERP/WMS systems for data validation.

Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate costing and reliable inventory data.
• Maintain financial governance and oversee month-end review.
• Drive corrective action through clear communication.

Skills

Costing discipline

Forensic thinking

Operational insight

ERP literacy

Problem-solving

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Finance Manager - Cost Control

Hello Chef is growing fast - scaling production, expanding our menu, and improving the systems that power great customer experiences. As we grow, tight cost control and accurate data have become essential to protecting our contribution margin.

We’re hiring a Finance Manager - Cost Control to strengthen the financial backbone of our operations. You’ll partner closely with our Food and Operations teams to keep recipe costing accurate, inventory data reliable, and cost variances tightly managed. This is not a desk-only finance role - you’ll spend a lot of time on the production floor and in the warehouse to understand processes, validate data, and spot issues early.

This is a high-impact role for someone who thrives at the intersection of finance, systems, and on-the-ground operations - and wants to help build a disciplined, efficient, and scalable food production environment.

Mission

Grow Hello Chef’s contribution margin by ensuring accurate costing, reliable inventory data, and consistent cost discipline.

Accountabilities

• Costing Discipline & COGS Accuracy: Deliver consistently accurate theoretical COGS by ensuring recipe, yield, supplier price, and costing data remain reliable and up to date.
• Inventory Integrity & Variance Reduction: Maintain accurate inventory and costing data and ensure cost variances are clearly understood, well-explained, and reduced over time.
• Financial Governance & Month-End Review: Ensure month-end close and finance operations run smoothly and accurately through effective oversight of outsourced partners and our senior accountant.

Competencies

• Costing Discipline & Forensic Thinking: Understands recipes, yields, shrink, and costing flows; quickly spots inaccuracies and root causes.
• Operational & Inventory Insight: Connects financial variances to real production and inventory behaviour; understands where leakage occurs.
• ERP & Systems Literacy: Navigates ERP/WMS systems confidently to validate costing and inventory data; identifies and corrects discrepancies.
• Communication & Cost Partnership: Explains insights clearly; builds trust and alignment with Ops, Food, and Procurement; drives corrective action constructively.
• Ownership & Follow-Through: Takes responsibility for accuracy and outcomes; closes loops and maintains consistent financial discipline.
• Problem-Solving & Precision: Breaks down complex issues and arrives at clear, accurate, practical conclusions.

What We Offer

• Market-competitive compensation with biannual performance reviews.
• 22 days annual leave, annual flight allowance, relocation support if moving to Dubai.
• Premium medical coverage (mental health, dental, optical), plus generous parental leave.
• 50% Hello Chef discount and weekly food tastings.
• A high-feedback, high-growth culture — clarity through job levels, frequent reflections, and real ownership.