Cost Accountant

We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognised as the global benchmark for sustainability, quality and integrity. Our 99,600 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.

Our brand promise – when you need to be sure – underscores our commitment to trust, integrity and reliability.

The Cost Accountant will play a key role in supporting regulatory and cost recovery activities, ensuring that funded and regulated services are accurately costed, allocated and reported in a transparent and compliant manner.

This role is responsible for maintaining robust cost recovery models, ensuring full traceability to underlying financial data, and supporting high‑quality financial reporting for internal governance and external regulatory submissions.

Cost Accounting & Cost Recovery

• Analyse, monitor and maintain cost structures across regulated and funded services.
• Apply approved cost allocation methodologies, including the allocation of direct, indirect and shared costs.
• Ensure all reported costs are evidence‑based, fully traceable and compliant with regulatory and contractual requirements.
• Monitor cost movements, identify variances and provide clear explanations across reporting periods.

Cost Models & Financial Analysis

• Maintain and update cost recovery models and related reporting tools (primarily Excel‑based).
• Reconcile model inputs to underlying financial systems, including the general ledger.
• Reflect changes in assumptions such as inflation, activity volumes or regulatory adjustments.
• Perform scenario, forecast and sensitivity analysis to support submissions and decision‑making.

Reconciliations, Controls & Governance

• Reconcile cost recovery outputs to management accounts and the general ledger.
• Investigate discrepancies and prepare clear supporting documentation suitable for audit and regulatory review.
• Maintain strong audit trails, documentation standards and version control across all reporting artefacts.

Reporting & Stakeholder Engagement

• Prepare cost schedules, reconciliations and explanatory commentary for internal governance and regulatory submissions.
• Support responses to regulator or client queries, audits and requests for clarification.
• Work closely with finance, operational and regulatory stakeholders to validate assumptions and inputs.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve cost accounting processes, control frameworks and reporting methodologies.
• Contribute to strengthening financial governance and transparency standards.

Essential

• Professional accounting qualification (ACA, ACCA, CIMA) or actively working towards qualification.
• Strong experience in cost accounting, management accounting or regulatory finance.
• Advanced Excel skills, particularly in financial modelling and cost analysis.
• High attention to detail with strong analytical and reconciliation capability.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly to both finance and non‑finance stakeholders.

Desirable

• Experience working in a regulated environment or public‑sector funding model.
• Experience supporting audits or regulatory submissions.

To be considered for this role, you must hold a valid and eligible work permit or visa that authorises you to work in Ireland.

At SGS, we believe in rewarding our employees for their hard work and commitment. As part of our team, you will be eligible for:

• Competitive pension scheme and life assurance
• 22 days annual leave (increasing with service) plus bank holidays
• Length of service awards
• Health and wellbeing initiatives

SGS is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recruit, hire, train and promote individuals without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetics, or any other protected characteristic.

APPLY NOW for full consideration. If you are selected for interview or further consideration, we will contact you directly.