Port Cost Controller
| Posting date: | 21 November 2025 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 21 December 2025 |
| Location: | UB11 1AF |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | MSC Cruises Management (UK) Limited |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 15545 |
Summary
Your 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).
This role serves as a key financial liaison, responsible for ensuring that all port-related costs — including port agency fees, pilotage, towage, berthing, terminal handling, waste disposal and other port services — are accurately tracked, analyzed and reported in alignment with corporate financial objectives and governance standards.
The ideal candidate will combine strong analytical and data-crunching capabilities, high attention to detail and the ability to partner effectively across finance, operations and port operations teams both locally and internationally. This is a hands-on role with end-to-end responsibility for budgeting, forecasting, accruals, performance monitoring and cost optimisation of port charges.
Your 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 prepare 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 perform 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 optimization opportunities across port operations and support 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
Your 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
Your Essentials
- Full Right to Work in the UK required
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).
This role serves as a key financial liaison, responsible for ensuring that all port-related costs — including port agency fees, pilotage, towage, berthing, terminal handling, waste disposal and other port services — are accurately tracked, analyzed and reported in alignment with corporate financial objectives and governance standards.
The ideal candidate will combine strong analytical and data-crunching capabilities, high attention to detail and the ability to partner effectively across finance, operations and port operations teams both locally and internationally. This is a hands-on role with end-to-end responsibility for budgeting, forecasting, accruals, performance monitoring and cost optimisation of port charges.
Your 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 prepare 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 perform 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 optimization opportunities across port operations and support 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
Your 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
Your Essentials
- Full Right to Work in the UK required