Manpower, on behalf of our client, a leading logistics provider, is seeking a Cost Controller to join its team in Nicosia.
The successful candidate will oversee operational costs, with particular focus on employee overtime, service-provider working hours and deliverables, fleet expenditure, purchases, and general operating expenses. The role combines daily monitoring with financial analysis to strengthen cost visibility, identify discrepancies, and support effective spending decisions.
This position is suited to an analytical, detail-oriented professional with experience in accounting, cost control, or purchasing, who is comfortable working closely with operational teams and challenging expenditure constructively.
Key Responsibilities
Employee Overtime Monitoring
- Review employee overtime daily, checking recorded hours against attendance records, operational requirements, and relevant approvals.
- Monitor overtime costs by department, team, or activity, identifying unusual patterns and budget variances.
- Liaise with Operations, HR, and Payroll to clarify discrepancies and support accurate overtime reporting.
- Recommend improvements to overtime tracking, approval procedures, and cost management.
Service-Provider Cost and Performance Monitoring
- Review service providers’ working hours, agreed rates, and completed deliverables against contractual terms and operational records.
- Verify that invoiced services reflect work performed and supporting documentation.
- Investigate discrepancies relating to hours, charges, or deliverables with the relevant teams and providers.
- Track service-provider expenditure and highlight opportunities to improve cost efficiency without compromising service quality.
Fleet Cost Control
- Monitor fleet-related expenditure, including fuel, maintenance, repairs, leasing, insurance, and other operating costs.
- Analyse costs by vehicle or cost category to identify trends, irregularities, and opportunities for improvement.
- Review supporting invoices and records, working with the fleet and operations teams to resolve discrepancies.
- Prepare regular summaries of fleet expenditure and flag significant or unexpected costs.
Purchasing and Expense Review
- Review purchase requests, purchase orders, supplier invoices, and operating expenses for accuracy, supporting documentation, and appropriate approval.
- Compare purchases against agreed prices, quotations, and delivery records, where applicable.
- Monitor spending against approved budgets and flag unplanned or excessive expenditure.
- Work with Purchasing, Finance, and Operations to improve spending controls and purchasing discipline.
Reporting and Process Improvement
- Prepare regular cost reports covering overtime, outsourced services, fleet operations, purchases, and general expenses.
- Analyse actual expenditure against budgets and explain significant variances.
- Maintain accurate cost-tracking records and provide management with clear, actionable findings.
- Identify weaknesses in existing controls and recommend practical improvements.
- Support budgeting and forecasting by providing reliable operational cost data.
Candidate Profile
Qualifications and Experience
- Academic qualification in Accounting, Finance, Mathematics, Engineering, Economics, or a related certification ( ACCA / ACA ).
- Relevant professional experience in accounting, cost control, purchasing, or a similar role involving expenditure monitoring and financial analysis.
- Experience working at a level requiring independent analysis, cross-functional coordination, and ownership of reporting.
- Experience within logistics, transport, distribution, warehousing, or another operationally intensive environment will be considered an advantage.
Skills and Competencies
- Strong numerical ability and analytical thinking, with close attention to detail.
- Ability to interpret operational data, identify discrepancies, and translate findings into practical recommendations.
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills, including formulas, pivot tables, and data analysis.
- Familiarity with accounting software, ERP systems, or purchasing platforms will be considered an advantage.
- Confidence in following up on discrepancies and constructively challenging unsupported costs.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage daily checks alongside periodic reporting.
- Clear communication skills and the ability to work effectively with Finance, HR, Operations, Purchasing, and external service providers.
- High standards of integrity, confidentiality, and accountability.
- Fluent in Greek and English
Working Arrangement
- Location: Nicosia, Cyprus
- Work model: On-site
- Working days: Monday–Friday
- Seniority: Mid-Senior Level