Project Cost Controller

About the role

The Project Cost Controller will oversee financial performance across the entire project lifecycle, ensuring budgets are maintained and costs are accurately tracked. This role provides critical financial insights to support decision‑making and drive project profitability.

Key responsibilities

• Maintain the project Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Budget at Completion (BAC).
• Allocate project costs using approved cost coding and accounting principles.
• Monitor actual costs versus budget, analysing variances by discipline, cost centre or WBS.
• Track purchase orders, subcontractor commitments and remaining budgets to enforce cost control.
• Maintain commitment registers and procurement cost records in partnership with procurement and project teams.
• Reconcile manpower utilisation against the approved staffing plan and assist with debit note preparation.
• Prepare and update forecasts, including Estimate at Completion (EAC) and Estimate to Complete (ETC).
• Support cash‑flow forecasting and progress curve development.
• Conduct Earned Value Management (EVM) analysis, reporting Cost Performance Index (CPI) and Schedule Performance Index (SPI) with variance explanations.
• Incorporate approved price adjustments and escalation provisions into forecasts.
• Produce monthly cost control reports, financial dashboards and performance analyses.
• Coordinate cost reporting with Joint Venture partners where applicable.
• Collaborate with Finance, Procurement, Commercial and Project Management teams to ensure financial accuracy.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, internal controls and governance requirements.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years experience in cost control, project finance, accounting or financial analysis, preferably in construction, infrastructure, engineering or rail projects.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, forecasting and cost allocation principles.

Required skills

• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Cost Performance Index (CPI) and Schedule Performance Index (SPI) analysis
• Budgeting and forecasting