Assistant Factory Cost Controller

Unilever PLC; Jeddah; On-site; SAR 120,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Unilever Saudi Arabia in Jeddah seeks a Cost Accountant to ensure operational excellence by delivering accurate factory cost accounting, strong financial controls and actionable cost insight. You will support month-end closing, inventory governance and cost improvement across the BUL factory.

You will join a team that values impact for people and the planet, working with cross-functional partners to drive cost efficiency and financial reporting accuracy.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance is required.
• 2–3 years’ relevant experience in cost accounting or manufacturing finance.
• Proficiency in financial software and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong attention to detail, control awareness and analytical problem-solving.

Responsibilities

• Production Cost Control: Track, analyze, and control manufacturing costs including materials, labor, utilities and overheads.
• Variance Analysis: Analyze actual vs standard and budgeted costs, identify drivers and allocate costs.
• Budgeting and Planning: Develop and maintain factory budgets with production and engineering.
• Cost Optimization: Identify and track cost-saving initiatives across materials and processes.
• Performance Reporting: Prepare regular production financial reports and analyses for management.
• Month End Closing: Deliver accurate month-end cost accounting including allocations and adjustments.
• AUC & Fixed Asset Management: Monitor asset balances and CAPEX projects, ensure capitalization and accounting.
• Inventory and Standard Cost Governance: Support standard costing, inventory valuation and material analysis.
• Business Partnering: Collaborate with production and finance to align cost controls with company objectives.

Skills

Cost accounting

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance

2–3 years’ relevant experience in cost accounting

Tools

Microsoft Excel

ERP systems

Job description

Job Purpose

This role exists to ensure operational excellence that enables our brands to thrive by delivering accurate factory cost accounting, strong financial controls, and actionable cost insight. You will support month-end closing, inventory and fixed-asset governance, management reporting, savings tracking, and cost improvement across the BUL factory. You’ll be part of a team that believes in doing work that matters — for people and the planet.

Job Purpose

This role exists to ensure operational excellence that enables our brands to thrive by delivering accurate factory cost accounting, strong financial controls, and actionable cost insight. You will support month-end closing, inventory and fixed-asset governance, management reporting, savings tracking, and cost improvement across the BUL factory. You’ll be part of a team that believes in doing work that matters — for people and the planet.

Because here, we don’t just hire for jobs. We invite you to be part of something bigger.

Key Responsibilities

• Production Cost Control: Track, analyze, and control manufacturing costs, including raw and packaging materials, labor, utilities, overheads, depreciation, and other production-related expenses.
• Variance Analysis: Perform detailed analysis of actual versus standard and budgeted costs, identify key cost drivers and variances, investigate root causes, and ensure accurate allocation of manufacturing costs.
• Budgeting and Planning: Develop and maintain factory and manufacturing budgets in collaboration with production, engineering and other relevant functions.
• Cost Optimization: Partner with cross-functional teams to identify, quantify, and track cost-saving initiatives across materials, production processes, utilities, waste, labor, and factory overheads.
• Performance Reporting: Prepare regular production financial reports and performance analysis for management.
• Month End Closing: Deliver accurate and timely month-end cost accounting, including allocations, charge-outs, reclassifications, accruals and write-offs with complete support.
• AUC & Fixed Asset Management: Monitor AUC balances and CAPEX projects, ensuring timely asset capitalization and accurate asset accounting.
• Financial Controls and Compliance: Ensure compliance with accounting standards and internal control procedures.
• Inventory and Standard Cost Governance: Support standard costing, inventory valuation, material consumption analysis, stock adjustments, and related controls to ensure accurate product costing and financial reporting.
• Business Partnering: Work closely with production and finance teams to align cost control efforts with overall company objectives. Build business cases for projects by analyzing costs, benefits, and potential risks to support investment decisions
• undefined

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
• 2–3 years’ relevant experience in cost accounting, manufacturing finance or related role.
• Proficiency in financial software and Microsoft Excel.
• Strong attention to detail, control awareness and analytical problem-solving.
• Knowledge of ERP systems is often required.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional accounting or finance certification such as CMA, CPA, CIMA, ACCA, or an equivalent qualification is preferred.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.