Port Cost Controller

MSC Cruises Management (UK) Limited; Wales; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cruise line operator in the United Kingdom is seeking a Port Cost Controller to oversee financial management of port costs. This role involves monitoring expenses, preparing budgets, and collaborating closely with global finance teams. Ideal candidates will hold a relevant degree and possess 3-5 years of experience in financial roles, particularly within the cruise or maritime industry. Strong analytical and Excel skills are essential for success in this position.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in cost control or financial analysis, preferably in cruise/maritime industry.
• Proven ability in financial modelling and handling large datasets.
• Strong analytical background focusing on forecasting and variance analysis.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and control expenses related to port charges.
• Prepare and maintain budgets and forecasts in partnership with port operations.
• Build and improve dashboards for visibility into port charges and trends.

Skills

Cost control

Financial analysis

Data crunching

Communication skills

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or related field

Tools

Excel

ERP systems (e.g. SAP)

Financial reporting tools

Job description

Purpose

We are seeking a Port Cost Controller to support the financial oversight, cost control and optimisation of port-related expenses within our local entity, while working in close collaboration with our global headquarters (HQ).

Impact

Cost Control & Financial Oversight

• Monitors and controls expenses related to port charges across all destinations (e.g., pilotage, towage, berthing, terminal handling, agency fees, waste disposal).
• Tracks costs across categories such as port authorities, local vendors, service providers and overhead allocations.
• Supports month‑end close activities and prepares variance analysis for port cost centres.
• Prepares and maintains budgets and forecasts in partnership with port operations and global finance stakeholders.
• Reconciles actuals vs. budget/forecast and performs detailed variance analysis, recommending corrective actions as needed.
• Maintains a clear cost attribution model to ensure transparency and accountability across itineraries, ships, and ports.

Business Partnering & Collaboration

• Acts as finance partner for Port Operations teams, collaborating with HQ Finance, Marine Operations, Itinerary Planning and Procurement.
• Provides financial guidance and insights to help port and operations leaders manage their cost structures and make data‑driven decisions.
• Ensures alignment of cost allocation methodologies, reporting standards, and planning timelines with global finance processes.

Reporting & Data Integrity

• Builds, maintains and improves dashboards and reporting tools that offer clear, real‑time visibility into port charges, cost trends, KPIs and benchmarks.
• Serves as the go‑to analyst for data crunching, working with large, complex datasets to extract insights, identify inefficiencies and support business cases or ad‑hoc requests.
• Supports improvements in financial systems, automation and data governance to enhance reporting quality, speed and transparency.
• Champions data integrity, cost accuracy and strong internal controls across all financial outputs.

Risk & Efficiency Management

• Identifies cost optimisation opportunities across port operations and supports their execution at the local level.
• Conducts scenario analysis, business case evaluations and cost restructuring assessments (e.g., port selection, service provider negotiations).
• Ensures adherence to corporate policies, internal controls and accounting standards.

Journey so far

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in cost control, financial analysis or controlling roles, preferably in cruise/maritime industry.
• Proven ability in data crunching, financial modelling and working with large datasets across multiple systems.
• Proficiency in Excel, ERP systems (e.g. SAP) and financial reporting tools.
• Strong financial and analytical background, with a focus on cost control, forecasting and variance analysis.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across technical and non‑technical teams.
• Self‑driven, proactive, and organized, capable of managing multiple priorities with minimal supervision.

Essentials

• Full Right to Work in the UK required.