Cost Controller, Project Controls (Contract)

Trans Mountain; Calgary; On-site; CAD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Trans Mountain is seeking a collaborative Project Controls Cost Controller (Contract) for the Mainline Optimization Project (MOP) at the Calgary Head Office. You will own cost control, including commitment and incurred cost tracking, monthly forecasting, and change management, reporting to the Lead, Cost Control.

Ideal candidates have 10+ years in project controls, strong Excel skills, and experience with forecast accuracy and cost reporting in major projects within the energy sector.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of project controls experience with a focus on cost management in major projects.
• Experience tracking commitments and incurred costs, managing contingency, and maintaining control accounts and baselines.
• Proven forecasting experience (FAC/FTC) and month-end reporting with clear variance explanations.
• Experience reviewing invoices, progress claims, and change orders to ensure contract alignment.
• Experience with procurement tracking and working with Supply Chain.

Responsibilities

• Manage cost control for assigned MOP scopes, maintaining control accounts and budgets.
• Prepare monthly forecasts, spend profiles, FAC and FTC with variance explanations.
• Track contingency drawdown and remaining balance against the budget.
• Review contractor invoices and progress claims for accuracy and contract compliance.
• Raise and manage changes (PCNs/FCNs) and reconcile change logs.
• Support earned value analysis and CPI/SPI trending.
• Collaborate with Finance on monthly accruals and ERP reconciliation.
• Contribute to Gate reviews, audits and project closeout.

Skills

Cost control

Forecasting

Invoicing & claims

Attention to detail

Communication

Team collaboration

Stage-gate delivery

Cross-functional work

Problem solving

Education

Post-secondary degree in Engineering/Business or related

AACE CCP/CEP certification (asset)

PMP or similar (asset)

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Omega 365

ERP systems (Dynamics/SAP/Oracle)

Power BI

Job description

Our Core Values

Trans Mountain’s core values – Safety, Integrity, Respect and Excellence – guide our every step. Each obstacle we’ve overcome or success we’ve experienced has been the result of a shared commitment to living these values every day. Together, we’re focused on doing the right thing for each other and our communities. If you are looking for an opportunity to apply your strengths in an environment that encourages Safety, Integrity, Respect, and Excellence, we invite you to explore this opportunity with us!

Location

Calgary Head Office

Department

Major Projects

Reports to

Lead, Cost Control

Worker Type

Contract

Schedule Type

Full-time

Work Setting

In-office

Trans Mountain is seeking a collaborative, values-driven Project Controls Cost Controller (Contract) to support the Mainline Optimization Project (MOP), a major project advancing towards execution. Reporting to the Lead, Cost Control, you will own cost control for assigned MOP scopes, including commitment and incurred cost tracking, monthly forecasting, change and contingency management, and contractor cost verification, giving project leadership and executives accurate, timely cost information.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage cost control for assigned MOP scopes, including keeping control accounts, cost codes and budgets aligned with the Control Budget and cost baseline, the WBS/CBS and Trans Mountain's project controls standards.
• Follow the Stage-Gate Project Delivery Model (PDM) as implemented at Trans Mountain, preparing the cost deliverables required for each Gate.
• Track and reconcile committed and incurred (invoiced and accrued) costs in Omega 365 at the control account and project level, so cost data stays accurate and can be traced to source.
• Prepare detailed monthly forecasts, spend profiles, Forecast at Completion (FAC) and Forecast to Complete (FTC) for month-end reporting and executive reviews, with clear explanations of variances.
• Track contingency drawdown and the remaining contingency balance against the Control Budget, keeping Management Reserve separate.
• Track procurement commitments by package, including long-lead material and equipment purchase orders and contracts. Confirm commitments are coded to the WBS/CBS and fit within approved budget before issuance, raising a change where they do not.
• Work with Supply Chain Management to understand the commercial and payment milestones on each assigned package (e.g., delivery and payment milestones on long-lead equipment) and set the forecasting approach and spend profile to match, keeping commitments and forecasts current.
• Review contractor and vendor invoices, progress claims and cost breakdowns to confirm accuracy, match reported progress and follow contract terms.
• Raise and manage changes for assigned scopes: identify, assess, document and process Project Change Notices (PCNs) and Forecast Change Notices (FCNs), and reconcile the change log to the cost report monthly, following Trans Mountain's change management standard.
• Support earned value analysis with budget and incurred cost inputs, including CPI and SPI trending and cost and schedule variance analysis, together with Planning & Scheduling and progress measurement data.
• Work with Finance on monthly accruals and reconcile project costs to the financial system (ERP).
• Support AFE and funding requests, including supplemental funding, fiscal year budgets and long-range forecasts, with cost inputs that include owner's costs and internal labour forecasts.
• Identify cost trends, emerging risks and opportunities. Recommend corrective actions to project management early.
• Work with Estimating, Planning & Scheduling, Supply Chain, Finance, Engineering and Construction so that project controls outputs are consistent across MOP and aligned and integrated with other project controls functions.
• Contribute to Gate reviews and audits, and support project closeout, including commitment closeout, final cost reconciliation, unitization and capital cost allocations, and lessons learned.

Qualifications And Professional Experience

• Post-secondary education in Engineering, Business Administration, or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of project controls experience with a demonstrated focus on cost management in a major projects environment, preferably in an owner’s or EPCM role in the energy sector.
• AACE International certification (CCP, CEP, or equivalent) is considered a strong asset; PMP or equivalent project management certification is an asset.
• Proven cost control experience during construction and execution, including tracking commitments and incurred costs (invoiced and accrued), managing contingency, and maintaining control accounts and cost baselines.
• Strong experience with monthly forecasting (FAC/FTC), spend profiles and month-end reporting, including clear variance explanations for project leadership and executives.
• Hands‑on experience reviewing contractor and vendor invoices and progress claims, assessing change orders, and checking earned value.
• Experience tracking procurement and commitments for materials and equipment, working with Supply Chain.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including complex formulas, pivot tables, and data modelling for cost analysis, forecasting, and reporting.
• Experience with cost management and ERP systems (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics, SAP or Oracle); experience with Omega 365, Trans Mountain's cost management system, is an asset; familiarity with Power BI or equivalent data visualization tools for reporting and dashboard development is an asset.
• Strong working knowledge of AACE cost management best practices, including cost control methodologies, change management processes, and forecasting approaches.
• Experience working within a stage-gate project delivery process on major capital projects.
• A track record of delivering high‑quality work, managing competing priorities, and supporting key business processes or operational functions.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with colleagues and stakeholders from a variety of backgrounds and levels across the organization.
• Effective communication skills, including the ability to convey information clearly, respectfully, and professionally.
• Highly organized and detail‑oriented, with strong accuracy, consistency, and attention to quality in work products.
• A committed team player who is willing to pitch in as needed to support team objectives and organizational success.
• Commitment to inclusive practices and a willingness to contribute positively to a collaborative and supportive workplace culture.

Working Conditions

• Willingness and ability to travel as required.
• May need to provide support outside of regular business hours and/or on the weekend.

Application

Candidates may submit their application in English or French. To apply in French, please use our French careers site: Careers (French)

We Build Careers and Pipelines That Last

Our story is about determination, resourcefulness and resilience. It’s about charting our own course, finding innovative solutions to challenging problems and doing the right thing. It was true when Trans Mountain became a company in 1951 and it’s just as true today. We welcome new members to our team that embrace the qualities in our story, that thrive on the new path and directions we take. Our culture is one of care and taking our responsibilities seriously. If you would like to contribute to our culture, then join our journey.

A Rewarding Opportunity

We offer

• Valuable experience providing opportunity for professional development and career advancement;
• An opportunity to engage with and learn from some of the most talented and experienced people in the business;
• Competitive compensation;
• A place to share a sense of purpose and build relationships;
• Meaningful work that makes a difference;
• An opportunity within the Canadian energy industry.

We value

• The health, safety and wellness of everyone working in our company;
• Meaningful participation from Indigenous and local communities;
• The commitment and resilience of our people;
• Collaboration and achieving success together.

In keeping with Trans Mountain’s commitment to maximize benefits for communities, priority will be given to qualified candidates from Indigenous, local and regional communities along the Trans Mountain pipeline corridor.

In Alberta, the pipeline system spans the traditional territories of Treaty 6, 7 and 8, and the Métis Nation of Alberta (Zone 4).

In British Columbia, the system crosses the traditional territories of numerous First Nations that are affiliated with the Secwepemc, Dakelh (Carrier), Nlaka'pamux, Syilx/Okanagan, Interior and Coast Salish, Stó:lo, as well as the Métis.

Trans Mountain also operates through 15 First Nation Reserves located within the region spanning the BC interior through Fraser Valley.

Our Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA)

Trans Mountain is committed to fostering inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility. The diverse viewpoints and cultural knowledge that our employees bring to work enrich our organization’s collective cultural understanding, which is reflected in the work we do every day. We strive to create an environment that is free of barriers to promote full participation in the workplace. Trans Mountain welcomes new team members from traditionally underrepresented groups, including but not limited to women, Indigenous Peoples, members of racialized groups, persons with disabilities and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community.