Cost Controller

Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB); Kuala Lumpur; On-site; MYR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Pengurusan Aset Air Berhad (PAAB) in Kuala Lumpur seeks an experienced Cost Controller to lead project cost control and financial planning. You will budget, forecast, monitor variances, and report cost performance to senior management and board-level committees.

Role requires strong analytical skills, ERP proficiency (SAP 4HANA preferred), and excellent communication to coordinate with treasury, project, and operations teams.

Qualifications

• Recognized Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, or Business Administration.
• 5–8 years' experience in cost control, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.
• Experience in CAPEX/OPEX management and large infrastructure environments.

Responsibilities

• Manage project costs through budget planning, monitoring, forecasting, and reporting.
• Provide timely cost performance information and identify variances and risks.
• Coordinate cost reports and analyses for senior management and key stakeholders.
• Monitor cash flows, commitments, and accruals; support procurement and contracting.
• Prepare monthly cost dashboards and management reports.
• Review contracts from cost management perspective.

Skills

Budgeting & Forecasting

Cost Control

Financial Analysis

Stakeholder Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance/Business Administration

Tools

SAP 4HANA

Job description

Main responsibilities:

Effectively manage and control project costs throughout the project lifecycle by ensuring proper budget planning, cost monitoring, forecasting, analysis, and reporting. Provide accurate and timely information on project cost performance, highlight significant variances, potential cost overruns and financial risks, and recommend appropriate actions to support effective cost management and successful project delivery.

Coordinate the preparation and submission of project cost reports, financial analyses, forecasts, management papers for Senior Management, Top Management, Board Committees and the Board of Directors, as well as relevant stakeholders, including the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Ministry of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (PETRA).

Tasks:

1. Project Cost Monitoring & Control

• Support the Operations team in maintaining project cost budgets.
• Ensure all project costs are correctly allocated to the relevant project WBS, as well as OPEX and CAPEX.
• Ensure the accurate and complete recognition of project costs incurred, including Interest During Construction (IDC).
• Monitor approved project cost budgets against actual expenditure incurred.
• Identify cost overruns, unusual spending and cost variances.
• Analyse significant cost variances, identify root causes and provide recommendations for resolution.
• Monitor payment schedules, retention, advances and other significant cash flow items.
• Monitor and ensure the proper recognition of committed costs, actual costs and accruals.

2. Project Cost Forecasting

• Regularly update project cost forecasts, including cash flow requirements.
• Highlight potential cost overruns before they occur.
• Assess the financial impact of changes in project scope or schedule.
• Support the Treasury and Corporate Finance teams in assessing project cash flow requirements.
• Coordinate with the Finance and Project teams to align project expenditure with cash flow requirements.
• Analyse planned versus actual project cash flows.
• Highlight significant deviations from approved cash flow projections.

3. Change & Variation Control

• Assess the financial impact of project changes.
• Ensure approved changes are reflected in the project budget and forecast.

4. Project Cost Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare monthly project reports, including financial analysis of major projects.
• Monitor cost trends and project financial performance.
• Support management in identifying appropriate corrective actions.
• Prepare project cost dashboards and management reports.

5. Commercial & Contract Cost Management

• Review project contracts from a cost management perspective.

Requirements:

• Recognized Degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration or its equivalent;
• At least 5 - 8 years' experience in cost control, management accounting, financial planning and analysis, project finance or related functions.
• Experience in monitoring project costs, budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis.
• Experience in CAPEX and OPEX management would be an advantage.
• Experience in a large organization, infrastructure, utilities, construction or project-based environment would be an advantage.
• Experience in ERP systems and financial reporting tools is preferred.
• Experience in SAP 4HANA would be an added advantage.
• Proficiency in spoken and written English and Bahasa Malaysia is required;
• Excellent report writing, presentation and public speaking skills are essential;
• The candidate should possess good leadership attributes and be energetic;
• Being self-motivated, analytical, resourceful and having strong integrity are important qualities; and
• A good working attitude and willingness to travel are expected.