Job Description

Job Title: Cost Manager

Location:

Milton Keynes

Salary:

52k + 8% performance-based bonus

Working Arrangement:

Hybrid

Sector:

Manufacturing / Engineering / Technology

About the Company:

Our client is a well-established, globally integrated technology group operating across several critical industries. With operations spanning multiple continents and a strong emphasis on innovation and operational excellence, the company supports large-scale projects with precision-engineered solutions. They pride themselves on fostering a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and financial transparency. Due to ongoing growth, they are seeking a

Cost Manager

to join their finance function and contribute to project cost oversight and financial performance.

Role Overview:

As

Cost Manager

, you will play a vital role in the financial success of large-scale, capital-intensive projects. You will be responsible for

cost controlling, forecasting, and project finance involvement

, ensuring accurate budget planning, variance analysis, and financial reporting. This position requires close collaboration with operations, finance, and engineering stakeholders to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget. The role reports directly to the

Finance Director

.

Key Responsibilities:

Cost Accounting System Setup:

Establish and manage cost accounting structures for materials, labour, and third-party services, including project billing and maintenance within SAP (setup, closure, and cost centre creation).

Standard Costing Maintenance:

Maintain annual standard cost calculation schemes covering materials, labour, and overhead to support accurate pricing for products and projects.

Cost Tracking & Variance Analysis:

Monitor actual project costs versus planned costs, perform variance analysis, and explain discrepancies.

Internal Reporting:

Generate regular financial reports tailored for internal stakeholders to support decision-making.

Audit Support:

Contribute to internal and external audit processes by ensuring documentation and reporting compliance.

Policy Compliance

: Align with broader controlling standards, ensuring procedures and processes follow organisational policies.

Project Budget Oversight:

Plan, monitor, and review project budgets, and provide insights via Actual vs. Plan comparisons.

KPI & Forecast Reporting:

Track financial performance, produce key performance indicator (KPI) analyses, and prepare forecast reports with commentary.

Revenue and Cost Control:

Ensure accurate cost and revenue tracking in accounting systems, including the setup and upkeep of planned cost structures.

Expenditure and Asset Analysis:

Analyse, approve, and report on cost centre expenditures, carry out profitability studies, and support evaluations of assets and liabilities.

Candidate Requirements:

Proven experience in cost control, project finance, or management accounting.

Advanced SAP experience

(Essential - project setup, cost tracking, reporting). Strong analytical capability with a methodical and detail-oriented mindset. Confident in financial reporting and working under pressure to meet tight deadlines. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; approachable and collaborative. Able to adapt in a dynamic environment with shifting priorities. Flexible to travel for potential training or onboarding as required.

Benefits of the Role:

Competitive base salary and performance-related bonus. Company-contributed pension scheme. Health & wellbeing support via Simply Health. Career development and international training opportunities. Inclusive and supportive team culture.

How to Apply:

To apply or for more information, please contact our recruitment team at:

+44 116 216 0927

charlee@hitchintechnologies.com

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 52,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension Health & wellbeing programme Work from home
Work Location: In person