Project Cost Controller

The Hayward Group; Calgary; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Discretionary Bonus

Job summary

The Hayward Group is seeking a Project Cost Controller to provide financial oversight and administrative support across project lifecycles in Calgary, Canada. You will manage cost tracking, billing workflows, and financial documentation for engineering and construction projects.

Ideal candidates have a diploma or certificate in related fields and 2-5 years of experience in cost control or accounting support.

Qualifications

• Diploma or certificate in Business Administration, Accounting or a related field.
• 2-5 years of experience in a project cost control or accounting support role.

Responsibilities

• Monitor project spending against approved AFE baselines, tracking purchase orders, commitments, and invoices in real time.
• Guide AFEs and budget revisions through internal approval workflows and corporate authorization limits.
• Identify, analyze, and report on budget overruns, cost trends, and forecast deviations.
• Assist Project Managers in tracking cost-to-complete metrics and updating project financial forecasts.

Skills

Budget tracking

Cost control

Financial reporting

Communication

Education

Diploma or certificate in Business Administration, Accounting

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Our client, a professional engineering firm, has an exciting opportunity for a Project Cost Controller to provide critical financial oversight and administrative support across project lifecycles.

The successful candidate will manage project cost tracking, billing workflows, and financial documentation for engineering and construction projects. Working closely with multidisciplinary teams across Accounting, Operations, and Project Management, this role ensures accurate budget tracking, timely cost reporting, and strict adherence to internal financial controls and regulatory requirements.

This position will provide the opportunity to develop and progress into a Project Management role.

Qualifications:

At a minimum, we require:

• Diploma or certificate in Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field.
• 2-5 years of experience in a project cost control or accounting support role.

Ideally, you also possess:

• Experience working at small to medium-sized (<250 employees) companies.
• Experience working at Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) firms in the oil and gas industry.

Job Type:

• Full Time.

Compensation:

• Discretionary Bonus, based on individual and company performance.

Responsibilities:

Project Cost & AFE Management

• Monitor project spending against approved AFE baselines, tracking purchase orders, commitments, and invoices in real time.
• Guide AFEs and budget revisions through internal approval workflows and corporate authorization limits.
• Identify, analyze, and report on budget overruns, cost trends, and forecast deviations.
• Assist Project Managers in tracking cost-to-complete metrics and updating project financial forecasts.

Project Accounting & Invoicing

• Review and process project-related vendor invoices, expense reports, and time-tracking records to ensure proper cost coding.
• Support accounts payable and receivable workflows, including preparing client billing back-up and project progress invoices.
• Assist leadership with month-end and year-end project accounting activities, accrued liabilities, and basic reconciliations.

Compliance, Reporting & Process Improvement

• Prepare standard cost reports, financial spreadsheets, and variance summaries to support project decision-making.
• Maintain complete audit trails and project documentation in compliance with corporate standards and internal controls.
• Facilitate information flow between Accounting, Operations, and Project Management teams.
• Contribute to continuous-improvement initiatives for project cost workflows and administrative systems.

Ideal Attributes

• Detail-oriented - ability to identify discrepancies, trends, and potential cost issues.
• Organized - ability to manage multiple projects, competing priorities, and deadlines.
• Strong communicator - ability to clearly communicate financial information, variances, and potential risks to Project Managers.
• Collaborative - ability to build effective working relationships across project teams.
• Comfortable asking questions - when project costs, forecasts, or supporting information do not appear reasonable.
• Solutions-oriented - willingness to investigate issues and work with project teams to identify solutions.
• Growth-minded - interest in developing broader project controls and project management skills.
• Employees have more stable careers with the organization, than is typical in the industry.
• Team members and senior leaders are caring and compassionate. As reflected in employee engagement surveys, people are treated well, and their work success and satisfaction is of utmost importance.
• Employees work closely together, with a focus on teamwork and camaraderie. This is a lean company with a flat organizational structure.
• There is an informal, but hardworking and professional culture in the firm.
• Employees have the ability to work on a range of interesting problems with a wide variety of clients.
• Employees are encouraged to take ownership of projects, from beginning to end. They’re empowered to take responsibility and make decisions.
• The firm values philanthropy, cares about the community, and contributes to charities and other humanitarian causes.