Senior Cost Manager (Cost Control)

Turner & Townsend; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 540,000; Full time

Job summary

Turner & Townsend in Abu Dhabi is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager (Cost Control) to join our project finance team. You will be responsible for establishing and maintaining cost governance frameworks, managing project budgets, controlling expenditures and ensuring financial objectives are achieved.

You will lead budget development, forecasting, variance analysis, and provide strategic commercial recommendations to senior leadership and clients.

Qualifications

• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Finance, or Engineering.
• 10–15 years of experience on major projects.
• Knowledge of FIDIC contracts and change management.
• Experience with cost systems and ERP tools.
• Client-facing experience.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain cost governance frameworks across projects.
• Develop budgets, track expenditures, and forecast FAC/EAC.
• Lead monthly Budget versus Actual reviews and variance analysis.
• Prepare cash flow forecasts and risk-adjusted projections.
• Produce monthly commercial reports with KPI analyses and change order impacts.
• Coordinate change orders, variations, and claims with teams.

Skills

Budget development

Forecasting

Variance analysis

Stakeholder management

Cost discipline

Financial reporting

Education

Degree in Quantity Surveying

Tools

ERP cost control tools

Excel

Power BI

Earned Value Management (EVM)

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager (Cost Control) to join our project finance team in Abu Dhabi United Arab this role you will be responsible for establishing and maintaining comprehensive cost governance frameworks managing project budgets controlling expenditures and ensuring financial objectives are achieved. You will play a critical role in budget development cost forecasting variance analysis and providing strategic commercial recommendations to senior leadership and clients. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional analytical capabilities strong commercial acumen and a commitment to driving cost discipline and financial transparency across all project phases.

• Budget Development & Governance: Establish Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS) aligned with Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and contract pricing schedules. Develop validate and maintain baseline budgets including contingencies risk allowances and escalation provisions. Set up budget change control procedures approval thresholds and audit trails. Ensure alignment with contract terms and funding approvals.
• Cost Control & Forecasting: Implement cost control procedures covering commitments accruals cost of work performed and Forecast at Completion (FAC/EAC). Lead monthly Budget versus Actual (BvA) reviews and conduct root-cause variance analysis; drive corrective actions in collaboration with Project Managers. Maintain commitment ledgers for purchase orders and subcontracts verifying progress and measurements with Quantity Surveyors and Planning teams. Prepare and update cash flow forecasts for both project-to-date and at-completion scenarios.
• Reporting & Analytics: Produce comprehensive monthly commercial reports including BvA analysis Final Forecast Cost (FFC) EAC/FAC projections cash flow curves earned value metrics (CPI/SPI) risk exposure assessments and change order impacts. Present financial health to internal leadership and clients highlighting risks opportunities and recommended commercial decisions. Standardise dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs) for consistency and comparability across reporting periods.
• Change & Claims Management: Lead commercial evaluation of variations early warnings and change orders. Quantify cost and time impacts in coordination with Quantity Surveyors and Planning; maintain change logs and contingency drawdowns. Support claims substantiation and negotiation coordinating with Legal and Contracts teams.
• Risk Compliance & Audit: Maintain the cost risk and opportunity register translating identified risks into budget and contingency movements. Ensure compliance with governance frameworks approval protocols and documentation standards. Support internal and external audit activities and regulatory requirements.
• Stakeholder Management: Act as the central point of contact for budget and cost performance across Project Management Office (PMO) Finance Quantity Surveying Planning and Client teams. Coach project teams in cost awareness and commercial discipline fostering a culture of financial accountability and transparency.

Qualifications

• Degree in Quantity Surveying Commercial Management Finance or Engineering.
• Detailed knowledge of and experience in the real estate community development roadsutilitiesinfrastructure and airports working for a professional cost consultancy.
• Good knowledge in supply chain management.
• Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters such as different procurement routes valuemanagementand value engineering.
• Good knowledge with the latest construction materials in the market andexperienced ininfra material in line with the local authorities approved products.
• Demonstrable experience in client-facing roles professional approach and confidence in presenting to consultants and other project stakeholders.
• 10-15years relevant experience (major projects preferred).
• Strong knowledge of FIDIC/bespoke forms change management and claims.
• Proficient with cost systems (e.g. ERP cost control tools) Excel/Power BI; familiarity with EVM.
• Analytical detail-oriented and stakeholder-savvy communicator.

Additional Information

Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.

We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

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It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.

Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts are considered property ofTurner & Townsend and arenot subject to payment of agency order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited by the Recruitment Teamto submit candidates for review.

Remote Work

No

Employment Type

Full-time