Cost Control Lead

KBR Careers; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

KBR Careers Australia is seeking a Cost Control Lead to drive cost management across a portfolio of major infrastructure projects in Adelaide. You will lead a team of cost controllers, oversee budgeting, forecasting and reporting, and ensure alignment with project scope while partnering with delivery, commercial, engineering and finance teams.

You will bring extensive experience in project controls, strong analytical skills, and the ability to coach and develop teams in a complex multi-project

Qualifications

• Relevant qualifications in Finance, Commerce, Business, Project Controls or related discipline.
• Significant experience in cost control, project controls, commercial management or portfolio reporting.
• Strong understanding of lifecycle cost management principles.
• Advanced analytical and financial reporting capabilities.
• Experience working across complex, multi-project environments.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Excel and project controls/reporting systems.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with coaching and developing teams.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Cost Controllers across a diverse portfolio of infrastructure projects.
• Oversee portfolio-wide cost control, forecasting, budgeting and reporting activities.
• Develop and maintain robust cost management processes, systems and governance frameworks.
• Analyse cost performance, identify trends and provide proactive recommendations to key stakeholders.
• Ensure alignment between budgets, commitments, forecasts and approved project scope.
• Lead month-end reporting and portfolio performance reviews.
• Provide strategic cost management advice to senior leadership and project teams.
• Manage change control processes to ensure cost and schedule baselines remain aligned with approved scope.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across reporting, analytics and project controls functions.
• Collaborate closely with project delivery, commercial, engineering and finance teams.

Skills

Cost controls

Project controls

Commercial management

Portfolio reporting

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Leadership coaching

Problem solving

Education

Finance / Commerce / Business / Project Controls or related discipline

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Project controls systems

Job description

Title: Cost Control Lead Cost Control Lead | Adelaide, SA

Lead Cost Performance Across Major Infrastructure Delivery. Working closely with Program Directors, Project Managers, Commercial teams and key stakeholders, you will provide strategic cost leadership and insights that enable informed decision-making and successful project outcomes.

The Opportunity

As the Cost Control Lead, you will lead cost management activities across a large-scale capital works portfolio, ensuring robust cost controls, accurate forecasting and effective reporting processes are embedded throughout project delivery. You will also play a key role in mentoring and developing cost control professionals while driving continuous improvement across systems, processes and reporting frameworks.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor a team of Cost Controllers supporting a diverse portfolio of infrastructure projects
• Oversee portfolio-wide cost control, forecasting, budgeting and reporting activities
• Develop and maintain robust cost management processes, systems and governance frameworks
• Analyse cost performance, identify trends and provide proactive recommendations to key stakeholders
• Ensure alignment between budgets, commitments, forecasts and approved project scope
• Lead month-end reporting and portfolio performance reviews
• Provide strategic cost management advice to senior leadership and project teams
• Manage change control processes to ensure cost and schedule baselines remain aligned with approved scope
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across reporting, analytics and project controls functions
• Collaborate closely with project delivery, commercial, engineering and finance teams

About You

You are a proven project controls or cost management professional with experience supporting large capital programs in infrastructure, utilities, engineering, defence, transport, mining or construction environments.

You will bring

• Relevant qualifications in Finance, Commerce, Business, Project Controls or a related discipline
• Significant experience in cost control, project controls, commercial management or portfolio reporting
• Strong understanding of project lifecycle cost management principles
• Advanced analytical and financial reporting capabilities
• Experience working across complex, multi-project environments
• High proficiency with Microsoft Excel and project controls/reporting systems
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to coach and develop teams
• A proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement

Why Join Us?

You’ll be part of a high‑performing Project Controls team delivering some of Australia’s most critical infrastructure and defence programs. KBR offers exposure to large, complex projects and the opportunity to work alongside experienced Project Managers and commercial leaders. We support long‑term career growth through challenging assignments, global capability sharing, and a culture that values collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

KBR Values

Our KBR Values - We Value Our People, We Deliver, We Are People of Integrity, We Empower, We Are a Team of Teams - embody our people centric organisation. Our culture, and our genuine focus on our people is a major factor in our success and we want you to be part of our journey.

KBR — Delivering Solutions, Changing the World.

KBR brings together the best and brightest to deliver science, technology and engineering solutions that help governments and companies around the world accomplish their most critical missions and objectives. In everything we do, we are guided by our ONE KBR Values:

• We Value Our People – We create diverse, inclusive environments in which each person can feel safe, respected and valued, and where everyone has opportunities to grow and reach their full potential.
• We Deliver – We are uncompromising in our commitment to deliver innovative, high-quality, technology‑led solutions for our customers and exceptional, sustainable value for all our stakeholders.
• We Are People of Integrity – We value honesty, trust, courage, fairness, prudence and tenacity. We believe doing what’s right for the planet, the communities where we work, and our people is good for business.
• We Empower – We empower our people with a shared purpose, the right tools and the supportive culture they need to be proactive decision‑makers, to be adaptive to change, and to succeed.
• We Are a Team of Teams – We have a will to succeed, but we value the achievements of our team of teams over individual accomplishments. Our collective focus makes us a better, stronger, more effective company.

We have also embedded environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles in every business operation and corporate function. Not only are we committed to operating safely, sustainably and equitably, but we are also committed to using our capabilities and expertise to help our customers accomplish their sustainability goals.

Worldwide, KBR employs a diverse workforce approximately 29,000 people strong, with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries. At KBR, We Deliver.