Freelance Cost Controller
Contract: Freelance (initial 6-month assignment) Location: Belgium (hybrid, with regular presence at the client’s Brussels office) Start Date: As soon as possible
Overview
Our client is seeking an experienced Freelance Cost Controller to provide additional support to an established finance team during a period of increased operational activity. This is a hands-on operational role focused on the day-to-day review, validation and monitoring of operational costs rather than project-based finance work.
The successful consultant will join a collaborative finance function and work closely with senior team members to ensure the accuracy and integrity of cost-related processes.
Key Responsibilities
- Review, validate and analyse operational costs on a daily basis.
- Perform detailed invoice verification and reconcile costs against supporting documentation.
- Identify discrepancies and investigate cost variances.
- Ensure financial data is complete, accurate and processed in a timely manner.
- Work closely with Accounts Payable and operational stakeholders to resolve invoice queries.
- Support ongoing cost control activities and contribute to continuous process improvements.
- Assist with reporting and financial analysis where required.
- Use ERP and internal operational systems to support cost validation activities.
Requirements
- Previous experience in Cost Control, Financial Control, External Audit, Internal Audit, or a similar analytical finance position.
- Strong analytical mindset with excellent attention to detail.
- Comfortable working in a high-volume operational environment.
- Ability to quickly understand new processes and business operations.
- Experience reviewing invoices, identifying anomalies and performing financial checks.
- Strong Excel skills and experience using ERP systems (Oracle or similar is advantageous).
- Fluent English is essential; additional European languages are considered an asset.
Nice to Have
- Experience within a transport, logistics, manufacturing or other operationally intensive industry.
- Exposure to large-scale operational cost environments.
- Familiarity with Oracle Cloud or comparable ERP platforms.
Profile
The ideal consultant is someone who enjoys operational finance rather than transformation or implementation projects. They are comfortable managing repetitive but business-critical activities, have a naturally inquisitive approach to financial data, and are able to work independently after a short handover period.
This role would suit an experienced finance professional with a background in cost control, audit or financial analysis who is looking for a hands-on assignment within an international environment.