Cost Controller

UGL; Geelong; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

UGL Geelong Refinery seeks an experienced Cost Controller to own cost control, forecasting and financial reporting for the contract. You will partner with Contract Manager and Finance to ensure accurate cost performance and data integrity in SAP, enabling timely month-end close and commercial insights.

This role offers exposure to senior stakeholders, a long-term maintenance contract and opportunities for career development within a large national organisation.

Qualifications

• Experience as Cost Controller or similar project-based finance role.
• Strong SAP experience in complex project/maintenance environments.
• Advanced Excel skills for reporting, forecasting, reconciliations, and rate builds.
• Experience preparing forecasts and cost-performance analyses for month-end.

Responsibilities

• Own all cost control activities across the refinery contract.
• Conduct cost centre reviews and provide cost performance insights.
• Support month-end close activities and financial reporting.
• Review and maintain WBS and project cost data.
• Forecasting collaboration with Finance and Contract Leadership.
• Prepare regular commercial and financial reports.
• Maintain labour and rate models; manage rate escalations.
• Monitor WIP, project costs and contract performance.
• Ensure SAP data integrity; support invoicing and reconciliations.

Skills

Cost control

Forecasting

Financial reporting

Advanced Excel

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

SAP

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Geelong Refinery | Cost & Commercial Focus

Build your career with one of Australia's leading industrial maintenance contracts

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Cost Controller or Project Cost Administrator to take ownership of all cost-related activities supporting the Geelong Refinery contract.

Working closely with the Contract Manager and key operational stakeholders, you'll play a critical role in ensuring accurate financial reporting, forecasting, cost control and commercial performance across one of UGL's flagship maintenance environments.

With the support of an experienced and highly collaborative Contract Manager, this role offers visibility across both operational and financial aspects of the contract.

About the role

Based at the Geelong Refinery, the Cost Controller is responsible for managing cost control, forecasting, reporting and financial administration activities for the contract. You will work closely with operational leaders and Finance to provide accurate cost performance reporting, support month-end activities, maintain SAP data integrity and contribute to the ongoing financial success of the contract.

This role would suit someone who enjoys working with data, partnering with stakeholders and identifying opportunities to improve commercial outcomes.

What we offer

• Geelong Refinery based role.
• Opportunity to work on a long-term essential services contract.
• Exposure to senior operational and commercial stakeholders.
• Career development opportunities within a large national organisation.
• Access to UGL employee benefits and wellbeing programs.
• A supportive team environment with a highly respected Contract Manager.

Key responsibilities

• Own all cost control activities across the refinery contract.
• Conduct cost centre reviews and provide cost performance insights.
• Support month-end close activities and financial reporting.
• Review and maintain Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and project cost data.
• Partner with Finance and Contract Leadership to support forecasting activities.
• Work closely with Contract Manager and key stakeholders on contract forecasts and financial planning.
• Prepare regular commercial and financial reports.
• Build and maintain labour and charge-out rate models, manage rate escalations.
• Monitor work in progress, project costs and contract performance.
• Maintain the integrity of financial and commercial data within SAP.
• Support invoicing, claims, reconciliations and other commercial administration activities.
• Assist with budgeting, forecasting and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Have a clear understanding of all pay rates, relevant Awards, EBA's and contracts relevant to the project
• Ensure consistency between client systems and SAP

About you

• Experience as a Cost Controller, Project Cost Administrator, Commercial Administrator or similar project-based finance role.
• Strong SAP experience and confidence working within complex project or maintenance environments.
• Advanced Excel skills, including reporting, forecasting, reconciliations and rate buils.
• Experience preparing forecasts, analysing cost performance and supporting month-end reorting.
• Exposure to project controls, contract administration or maintenance services environments.
• Power BI experience or the ability to develop reporting dashboards (highly regarded).
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage competing deadlines.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills.

About UGL

UGL is a diversified services company delivering critical assets and essential services across a broad range of industries. As part of the CIMIC Group, UGL partners with major customers throughout Australia to provide end-to-end engineering, construction and maintenance solutions.

At UGL, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone can thrive. We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, culturally diverse candidates and people living with disability.