Senior Cost Controller

Fortescue; Perth; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Fortescue is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Controller to join the Major Projects team in Perth, WA. You will budget, forecast, and report costs across a portfolio of major projects, ensuring strong financial discipline and cost visibility.

You will partner with project teams to support decision-making and maintain cost controls across the project lifecycle, including WBS alignment and procurement activities. This role requires strong analytical skills and effective stakeholder communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Commerce, Finance or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in project controls across complex construction, engineering, resources or renewable energy environments.
• Experience delivering project controls across full lifecycles from estimates to close-out.
• Proven capability managing cost control for mid-to large-scale capital projects and progress reporting.
• Strong understanding of budgeting, cost tracking, cashflow forecasting and analysis.
• Experience on major or mega projects with international interfaces or multi-stakeholder environments.
• Knowledge of contracting and procurement integration with cost engineering activities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with practical solutions.
• Excellent communication and reporting skills for stakeholders at all levels.
• Advanced Excel and MS Office; Omega PIMS experience is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Implement and maintain cost management systems to support budgeting, forecasting and performance analysis.
• Manage project cost and progress reporting with timely insights and actions.
• Apply WBS to ensure alignment across systems and cost tracking.
• Deliver monthly cost reporting, variance analysis and EVM insights.
• Manage VOWD, commitments, resource forecasting and EAC/ETC processes.
• Oversee work packages for cost compliance with the Project Controls Plan and contractor invoicing.
• Review contractor claims, purchase orders and payment certificates against contracts.
• Manage accruals, cost allocations and financial close against cost centres and WBS.
• Ensure change management (PCN) is reflected in forecasts and reporting.
• Monitor SAP data and support procurement; mentor junior cost controllers.

Skills

Cost control

Budgeting

Forecasting

Earned value management (EVM)

Cost reporting

Project controls

Stakeholder communication

Analytical/problem solving

Multi-stakeholder environments

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Commerce or Finance

Tools

Excel

Omega PIMS

SAP

Job description

About Us

Fortescue is both a proud West Australian company and a global green solutions business. We are recognised for our culture, innovation and industry-leading development of infrastructure, mining assets and green energy initiatives.

Our Opportunity

Fortescue has multiple opportunities for experienced Senior Cost Controllers to join our Major Projects team, supporting a diverse portfolio of significant projects across the business.

These roles offer the opportunity to contribute across a suite of major projects, including our decarbonisation program and greenfield mining expansions. Working across projects at different stages of development and delivery, you will play an important role in maintaining strong financial discipline, cost visibility and project performance.

As a Senior Cost Controller, you will partner with project teams to provide accurate budgeting, forecasting, cost reporting and analysis, while strengthening cost management systems and processes. You will bring commercial insight to project decision-making and help ensure our major projects are delivered with effective financial oversight and control.

This is an opportunity to build your experience across a varied and evolving major projects portfolio while contributing to projects that support Fortescue's operational growth and decarbonisation ambitions.

Work Location:

Perth – Fortescue’s Perth office is located on the traditional lands of the Whadjuk Noongar people

Roster:

Monday to Friday

Key Responsibilities

• Implement and maintain cost management systems, processes, and procedures to support consistent project cost control, budgeting, forecasting, and performance analysis.
• Manage project cost and progress reporting, ensuring accurate, timely insights and identification of actions to maintain baseline targets
• Apply and maintain the project Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to ensure alignment across systems, reporting, and cost tracking
• Deliver monthly cost reporting, variance analysis, and performance insights using earned value management (EVM) techniques
• Manage Value of Work Done (VOWD), commitments, resource forecasting, and Estimate at Completion (EAC) / Estimate to Complete (ETC) processes
• Oversee work packages to ensure cost compliance with the Project Controls Plan and validate contractor progress and invoicing
• Review contractor claims, purchase orders, and payment certificates, ensuring alignment with contracts and project performance
• Manage accruals, cost allocations, and financial close processes, ensuring accurate recording against cost centres and WBS
• Ensure effective change management processes (PCN) are applied and reflected in cost forecasts and reporting
• Monitor and audit cost systems and SAP data, supporting procurement activities and mentoring junior cost controllers to ensure accuracy and continuous improvement.

Qualifications And Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Commerce, Finance, or a related discipline, with project management or recognised project controls certification desirable
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in project controls roles across complex construction, engineering, resources, or renewable energy environments
• Demonstrated experience delivering project controls across full project lifecycles, from early estimates through to execution and close-out
• Proven capability managing cost control functions for mid to large-scale capital projects, including development of progress reporting methodologies
• Strong understanding of project controls principles, including budgeting, cost tracking, and cashflow forecasting and analysis
• Experience working on major or mega projects, including exposure to international interfaces or multi-stakeholder environments
• Sound knowledge of project services, contracting, and procurement disciplines and their integration with cost engineering activities
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to apply practical solutions in dynamic project environments
• Highly effective communication and reporting skills, with the ability to present insights and recommendations to stakeholders at all levels
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and MS Office tools, with experience in project systems such as Omega PIMS advantageous.

Our Commitment

Fortescue is deeply committed to providing a safe culture that builds respect, fosters inclusiveness, and values diversity. We celebrate individual strengths and team members from all backgrounds are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work. Our global workforce drives and promotes an inclusive culture, both within our organisation and throughout the communities we interact with across the world. Diverse backgrounds include First Nations Peoples, people with differing abilities, LGBTIQ+ community, gender, neurodiverse, cultural diversity, all age groups, and those with an intersectional or multiple diverse characteristics. We encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.

Fortescue reserves the right to close applications early should a suitable pool of candidates be identified. Fortescue will never contact you to ask for payment of any kind, whether directly or through a third party.