Project Cost Accounting Support Manager - Local Emirati Talent

About the role

EDGE, an advanced technology group focused on defence and emerging technologies, is hiring a Project Cost Accounting Support Manager (Local Emirati Talent) in Abu Dhabi. The role owns the financial tracking, governance and reporting of Non-Recurring Engineering (NRE) and New Product Introduction (NPI) costs across the entity's business, including its drone development programmes covering tactical, MALE and large HALE UAV platforms. It works closely with Engineering, Program Management and FP&A to ensure development spend is accurately captured, capitalized in line with IAS 38 and controlled against approved budgets.

Key responsibilities

• Own end-to-end financial tracking of all NRE and NPI costs across drone development programmes, including large UAV and HALE platforms.
• Prepare cost business cases for each R&D stage-gate (concept, PDR, CDR, production release) with Engineering and Program Management.
• Drive design-to-cost discipline, set and track cost targets at each stage-gate and escalate variances.
• Lead month-end settlement of development and prototype production orders in EBS/SAP CO, ensuring NPI actuals are allocated to the right program and cost object.
• Coordinate with FP&A so development costs feed into cash flow, month-end close and project settlement.
• Manage IAS 38 R&D cost capitalization, including asset schedules, capitalization triggers and amortization profiles.
• Model cost structures for new manufacturing processes, including automation and composite/additive manufacturing investments.
• Conduct make-vs-buy analysis for major sub-systems and components, and develop cost learning-curve models for large UAV scale-up.
• Lead and mentor a team of costing analysts and act as finance business partner to Engineering leadership.
• Support internal and external audit requirements on R&D capitalization and government/customer cost audits.

Required profile

• 8-12 years of cost accounting experience, with a strong track record in NPI/R&D finance.
• Qualified accountant (CIMA/ACA or equivalent); strong working knowledge of IAS 38 is essential.
• Deep understanding of stage-gate product development and design-to-cost principles.
• Demonstrated experience building cost architectures for complex, large-scale engineered systems (aerospace, defence or comparable high-tech manufacturing).
• Engineering or technical degree background strongly advantageous.
• English proficiency required.

Required skills

• Hands-on SAP CO experience; familiarity with development order and WBS settlement.
• IAS 38 R&D cost capitalization.

What we offer

• Tax-free salaries that are highly competitive.
• Benefits that may include family visas, annual flight tickets, medical insurance for you and your dependents, and education allowances for children.
• A learning academy and digital learning platforms, plus career support.