Cost Control Lead – Project Controls & Forecasting

Fortescue; Western Australia; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortescue in Perth, Western Australia, is seeking a Lead Cost Engineer to oversee cost management across major projects within our mining and green energy portfolio. You will lead the cost control function, develop budgets, forecasts, and reporting frameworks, and mentor a team of cost controllers to deliver accurate, timely insights.

Reporting to the Manager Project Controls, you will define WBS structures, coordinate with Planning and procurement, review contracts and payment certificates in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Commerce, Finance, or related discipline; project management or internationally recognised project controls certification desirable
• 8+ years’ experience in project controls roles within complex construction, engineering, resources, or renewable energy environments
• Demonstrated experience establishing, managing, and reporting cost control frameworks for large-scale capital projects
• Proven capability developing and managing progress measurement and reporting methodologies across complex project portfolios
• Strong experience leading, managing, and developing high-performing cost control teams
• Sound understanding of project control processes, including transition from study estimates to approved project budgets
• Expertise in project cost, cashflow forecasting, analysis, and performance reporting across full project life cycles
• Exposure to all project phases from concept through execution, including project stage-gate processes and governance requirements
• Strong proficiency with project cost control systems, finance systems, reporting applications, and database administration (experience with Omega PIMS advantageous)
• High-level communication and stakeholder engagement skills, supported by advanced capability in Microsoft Excel and the MS Office suite.

Responsibilities

• Lead project cost management, reporting systems, processes, and procedures to ensure accurate and timely cost control, budgeting, forecasting, cashflow, progress reporting, performance analysis, and identification of actions required to maintain approved baseline targets.
• Provide leadership, mentoring, and development for cost controllers, building capability and consistent performance across the team.
• Coordinate cost management activities within the broader Project Controls function, ensuring strong alignment with Planning and other control disciplines.
• Define and apply the project Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to ensure consistency across systems, processes, and reporting.
• Support contracting and procurement activities, including review of contracts, purchase orders, payment certificates, and setup within CMS and SAP.
• Manage month-end processes, including VOWD, accruals, cost allocations, and reconciliation across cost centres and WBSs.
• Forecast cost to complete, identify cost risks, and implement mitigation strategies to prevent overruns against baseline budgets.
• Deliver monthly reporting, variance analysis, earned value management (EVM) performance measurement, and contractor claim evaluations.
• Monitor, audit, and reconcile cost management systems and SAP data, escalating material variances and maintaining strong stakeholder relationships aligned with Fortescue’s values.

Skills

Leadership

Cost control

Project controls

Stakeholder management

Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Commerce/Finance

Tools

Omega PIMS

SAP

CMS

Job description

Fortescue in Perth, Western Australia, is seeking a Lead Cost Engineer to oversee cost management across major projects within our mining and green energy portfolio. You will lead the cost control function, develop budgets, forecasts, and reporting frameworks, and mentor a team of cost controllers to deliver accurate, timely insights.

Reporting to the Manager Project Controls, you will define WBS structures, coordinate with Planning and procurement, review contracts and payment certificates in