Cost Controller - Field Operations at Heritage Energy Operational Services Limited

Department: Finance
Directly Reports: Senior Cost Controller

Job Summary

• This role is a critical financial stewardship position responsible for the end-to-end cost control and financial management of the Joint Venture's (JV) Field Operations activities.
• The incumbent provides strategic cost analysis, ensures robust budgetary control, and maximises profitability through rigorous forecasting and cost optimisation.
• The role demands an expert who can navigate the complexities of the Nigerian E&P landscape, effectively manage JV partner relationships, and provide insightful financial analysis to guide executive decision-making.

Key Accountabilities

• Assist with cost-tracking monitoring.
• Create financial forecasts and gather financial data to support the preparation of AFEs.
• Monitor contracts and expenditure with a view to obtaining activity cost reduction against value creation and budget tracking.
• Ensure alignment with Contracts & Procurement and Finance.
• Prepare monthly accruals, cash flow estimates for the financial analysts and variance narrative.
• Ensure compliance with contracts to ensure timely and correct payment of vendor invoices.
• Review and code invoices to ensure they match with SAP.
• Distribute invoices for operational approval.
• Resolve contractual vendor disputes.
• Manage external partner audits in association with analysts.
• Prepare response to audit information requests
• Maintain a cost analysis of actual expenditure for input to budget with costs.

Qualifications & Experience

• Experience: Minimum of 8 years of experience in a similar cost engineering or cost control role, with at least 5 years of experience in the Oil and Gas E&P sector in Nigeria and notable industry contractors.
• Technical & Industry Knowledge:
  • Deep understanding of the Nigerian Upstream Oil & Gas industry, specifically the financial and operational mechanics of Joint Ventures (JVs) and Production Sharing Contracts (PSCs).
  • Extensive experience in cost estimating, forecasting, variance analysis, and project controls.
  • Proficiency in major ERP systems, such as SAP or Oracle.
• Behavioural & Leadership Skills:
  • High Level of Commercial Acumen: Demonstrated ability to understand the "why" behind the numbers and make sound commercial recommendations.
  • Expert Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence and ability to present complex financial information effectively to senior stakeholders and JV partners.
  • Proactive & Performance-Driven: A self-starter who not only analyzes data but also actively seeks out inefficiencies and implements solutions to drive cost reductions.
  • Stakeholder Management: Proven ability to build strong relationships and effectively manage interfaces with engineering, operations, procurement, finance, and external partners.