Sr Cost Controller

MVL Group; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 1,100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Global exposure

Job summary

MVL Group in Dubai, UAE, seeks a seasoned cost control executive to lead the cost control function across multiple geographies.

You will define processes, manage a global team, and partner with executive leadership to optimize budgets, forecasts, and project performance within the Construction and EPC sectors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in engineering, construction management, or related fields.
• 15+ years cost control, project controls or commercial management experience.
• 7–10 years in leadership overseeing cost control across multiple projects.
• Experience establishing or restructuring cost control departments.
• Strong leadership with senior stakeholders.
• Ability to translate audit findings into process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead Cost Control as a department reporting to the COO.
• Define standardized cost control processes and reporting across projects.
• Build and manage a multi-jurisdiction team of Cost Controllers.
• Develop budgets within 30 days of project award and formal handover.
• Create monthly cost reporting linking budget, variations, costs, and contingencies.
• Provide forecasts, risks and performance insights to executives.
• Coordinate with Accounting for cost data capture and allocations.
• Support change orders and procurement cost visibility.
• Collaborate with Planning to align schedule and cost reporting.
• Participate in executive meetings and advise CEO/COO.

Skills

Cost control

Project controls

Leadership

Budgeting

Reporting frameworks

Stakeholder management

Process design

Audit findings

Team building

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Finance, or equivalent

Tools

Deltek

Job description

Job Description:

Dubai, UAE

Posting Date: Jul-20, 2026

Location & Relocation

Willing to work in Dubai, UAE

Project Details

• Dubai Office

What's in It for You?

• Attractive compensation package with strong career growth opportunities.
• Work across international project jurisdictions for strong global exposure.

Qualifications & Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Finance, or equivalent
• 15+ years of experience in cost control, project controls, or commercial management within construction, EPC, or government contracting environments
• At least 7-10 years in a leadership or managerial capacity overseeing cost control functions across multiple projects and geographies
• Demonstrated experience establishing or restructuring a cost control department, including process design, reporting frameworks, and team building
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to establish credibility and authority across multiple departments and senior stakeholders
• Excellent problem-solving mindset with the ability to translate audit findings and strategic direction into actionable process improvements

Key Responsibilities

• Establish, lead, and develop the Cost Control function as a dedicated department reporting to the COO, covering all project jurisdictions
• Define and implement standardized cost control processes, procedures, and reporting frameworks across the entire project portfolio, consistent with industry best practice and the recommendations of the independent cost control review
• Build and manage a team of Cost Controllers allocated across jurisdictions, with clear reporting lines to the COO and day-to-day coordination with Project Directors, VPs, Finance, and Planning teams
• Oversee the development of approved project budgets within 30 days of project award, ensuring a formal commercial handover process from the Proposals team to the Execution team is completed within the first weeks following award
• Establish a comprehensive monthly cost reporting framework linking initial budget, approved budget, budget transfers, variations, commitments, actual costs, ETC, EAC, margins, and contingency within a single standardized report structure
• Ensure Project Directors have full visibility of forecasts, risks, opportunities, and overall financial performance, and actively own project budget performance and corrective actions
• Coordinate with the Accounting department to ensure accurate and timely capture of cost data from Deltek, and resolve issues related to cost allocation, overhead distribution, and charge code accuracy
• Provide cost impact assessment and cost estimates for change orders and modifications, supporting the Commercial/Contracts function which owns the change management process
• Oversee subcontractor payment certification support, back-charge administration, and procurement commitment visibility
• Collaborate with the Project Controls Director (Planning/Scheduling) to ensure integrated schedule and cost reporting, while maintaining clear functional separation between cost control and planning responsibilities
• Participate in executive management meetings and provide strategic cost performance insights to the CEO, COO, and EVPs