Construction Cost Controller: Advanced Excel & Forecasting

CQ Search Group Ltd.; Vaughan; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

CQ Search Group Ltd. is seeking an experienced Cost Control Analyst for our Vaughan, Ontario site to oversee cost analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and cost-control activities across construction projects.

The ideal candidate will be highly analytical, advanced in Excel, and able to translate data into practical cost-saving recommendations. Collaboration with project management, finance, and senior leadership is essential to keep projects on budget and on forecast.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in cost control, financial analysis, project controls, or similar in construction.
• P.Eng is a great asset.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering is a must.
• Strong understanding of construction project costs including labour, materials, subcontractors, equipment, and change orders.
• Proven experience with budgeting, forecasting, cost tracking, and variance analysis.
• Advanced Excel skills with large datasets.
• Expert-level Excel: formulas, Pivot Tables, Pivot Charts, dashboards, and automated reporting.
• Ability to translate data analysis into practical cost-saving recommendations.
• Experience preparing operational reports for senior management.
• Strong understanding of project financial controls and construction cost structures.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to work onsite and collaborate with project, finance, procurement, and construction teams.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and analyze project costs across labour, materials, equipment, subcontractors, and other project expenses.
• Develop, maintain, and monitor project budgets, forecasts, and cost projections.
• Analyze actual costs versus budget and forecast, identify variances, investigate causes.
• Interpret financial data to identify cost-saving opportunities and risks.
• Provide actionable cost-control advice to senior leadership.
• Develop and maintain detailed cost-control reports, dashboards, and management reports.
• Track subcontractor costs, change orders, invoices, purchase orders, and expenditures.
• Monitor labour and material costs against budgets and forecasts.
• Identify cost trends and communicate financial impacts to leadership.
• Collaborate with project managers to improve cost visibility and forecasting accuracy.
• Build financial models and reporting tools using advanced Excel functions.
• Create Pivot Tables, Pivot Charts, dashboards, and automated reports.
• Consolidate large datasets from multiple sources for management reporting.
• Support monthly and quarterly forecasting and reforecasting.
• Assist with project closeout, cost reconciliation, and final performance analysis.
• Provide senior leadership with clear analysis of performance, risks, and opportunities.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Analytical thinking

Communication skills

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering

P.Eng designation beneficial

Tools

Excel

Pivot Tables

Pivot Charts

Dashboards/Reporting

Job description

CQ Search Group Ltd. is seeking an experienced Cost Control Analyst for our Vaughan, Ontario site to oversee cost analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and cost-control activities across construction projects.

The ideal candidate will be highly analytical, advanced in Excel, and able to translate data into practical cost-saving recommendations. Collaboration with project management, finance, and senior leadership is essential to keep projects on budget and on forecast.