Cost Control Specialist

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

Position Overview

Our client is seeking an experienced Cost Control Analyst with a strong background in the construction industry to oversee cost analysis, budgeting, forecasting, and cost-control activities across construction projects.

The successful candidate will be highly analytical and advanced in Excel, with the ability to interpret financial and operational data, identify cost trends and variances, and translate findings into practical cost-saving recommendations.

This role will work closely with project management, finance, operations, subcontractors, and senior leadership to ensure projects remain financially controlled and aligned with budgets and forecasts. The position is onsite in Vaughan, Ontario.

Key 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 significant variances, and investigate the underlying causes.
• Interpret financial and operational data to identify cost-saving opportunities and potential cost overruns.
• Prepare recommendations and provide actionable cost-control advice to senior leadership.
• Develop and maintain detailed cost-control reports, dashboards, and management reporting packages.
• Track subcontractor costs, commitments, change orders, invoices, purchase orders, and project expenditures.
• Monitor labour and material costs against project budgets and forecasts.
• Identify cost trends and risks early and communicate potential financial impacts to project leadership.
• Work with project managers and site teams to improve cost visibility, forecasting accuracy, and financial performance.
• Build financial models and reporting tools using advanced Excel functions and formulas.
• Create and maintain Pivot Tables, Pivot Charts, dashboards, automated reports, and data-analysis models.
• Consolidate large datasets from multiple sources and transform raw data into meaningful management reports.
• Support monthly and quarterly forecasting and reforecasting activities.
• Assist with project closeout, cost reconciliation, and analysis of final project performance.
• Provide senior leadership with clear analysis of project performance, risks, trends, and opportunities for improvement.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in cost control, financial analysis, project controls, or a similar role within the construction industry.
• P.Eng is a great asset.
• Bachelors 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 the ability to work with large datasets.
• Expert-level knowledge of Excel formulas, Pivot Tables, Pivot Charts, dashboards, and automated reporting.
• Strong ability to interpret data and convert 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 effectively with project, finance, procurement, and construction teams.