Cost Control Engineer

Royal Gardens Contracting; United Arab Emirates; On-site; AED 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Royal Gardens Contracting is seeking a Cost Control Specialist in the United Arab Emirates. The role involves budget development, cost tracking, and forecasting for construction projects, ensuring financial accuracy and compliance with local standards.

Candidates should have a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related field, along with 3–7 years of relevant experience in UAE construction. Proficiency in Primavera P6 and SAP is essential.

Qualifications

• 3–7 years’ experience in cost control on UAE construction projects.
• Expertise in earned-value management and budget forecasting.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing project cost breakdown structure and budget.
• Track actual costs and produce cost reports.
• Perform month-end forecasting using earned value metrics.

Skills

Budget Development

Cost Monitoring

Forecasting

Stakeholder Coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or related discipline

Tools

Primavera P6

SAP

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Power BI

Job description

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Key Responsibilities

• Budget Development & Baseline
  • Assist in preparing the project cost breakdown structure and baseline budget in coordination with Estimation, Planning and Commercial teams.
  • Load budgets into cost-control and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Primavera P6) for ongoing tracking.
• Cost Monitoring & Reporting
  • Track actual costs—labor, materials, equipment, subcontractor claims—against the baseline; record and validate expenditures in the cost-control system.
  • Produce weekly/monthly cost reports, forecasts and KPI dashboards highlighting variances, trends and cash-flow projections.
• Forecasting & Variance Analysis
  • Perform month-end forecasting using earned value metrics (EVM): calculate CPI, SPI and EAC to predict cost outcomes.
  • Investigate cost variances, quantify impacts of scope changes and recommend mitigation or reallocation strategies.
• Change & Claims Control
  • Maintain a register of approved and potential change orders; assess financial impact and update forecasts accordingly.
  • Support contract claims by providing detailed cost analyses, substantiating entitlement and assisting negotiations.
• Risk Identification & Contingency Planning
  • Identify cost-related risks (market fluctuations, productivity shortfalls, schedule delays); quantify contingency needs and monitor utilization.
  • Collaborate with Project Managers to develop budget-protection measures and cost-recovery plans.
• Systems & Process Improvement
  • Implement and refine cost-control tools, templates and workflows to enhance accuracy and efficiency.
  • Train project teams on cost-tracking procedures, coding standards and reporting protocols.
• Stakeholder Coordination
  • Liaise with Planning, Commercial, Procurement and Finance to ensure alignment of schedule, contract and cost data.
  • Participate in project review meetings, presenting cost analyses and advising on financial decisions.

Qualifications

• Education:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Finance or related discipline.
• Experience:
  • 3–7 years’ experience in cost control or project-controls roles on UAE construction or infrastructure projects.
  • Proven expertise in earned-value management, budget forecasting and variance analysis.
• Technical Skills & Software:
  • Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 (Project & EVM modules), SAP (PS/CO) or equivalent ERP cost-control systems.
  • Strong Excel skills (pivot tables, macros) and familiarity with Microsoft Power BI or similar reporting tools.
• Knowledge & Certifications:
  • Solid understanding of FIDIC/NEC contract conditions, UAE Labour Law costing provisions and local procurement practices.
  • PMI-SP, AACEi PSP/EVM certification or PMP is an advantage.
• Core Competencies:
  • Excellent numerical, analytical and problem-solving abilities.
  • Strong communication and stakeholder-management skills in English (Arabic advantageous).
  • Detail-oriented, organized and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.