Senior Cost Controller

Acciona; Canada; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary range CAD 100k–140k

Paid vacation and sick leave

Group benefits and EFAP

Health Spending Account

Learning and career opportunities

RRSP matching

Performance-based bonus

Share purchase program

Job summary

ACCIONA is seeking a Senior Cost Controller in Canada to lead budgeting, cost reporting, and forecasting for a project segment. You will ensure cost visibility, track variances, and manage change orders to keep projects within budget.

Lead cross-functional teams including design, procurement, and scheduling to validate data, maintain CBS, and support client invoicing with precise cost capture.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration (CPA-ship an asset).
• Minimum 5 years as Cost Analyst/Financial Analyst or similar role.
• Construction/project management experience is a plus.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills with proficiency in MS Office.
• Ability to communicate clearly and present data to stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented with the ability to work independently and in teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain project cost controls and CBS aligned with WBS.
• Prepare monthly forecasts by integrating expenditures and changes.
• Track actuals (labour, materials, equipment, subcontracts) and report variances.
• Create dashboards and EV metrics (CPI, SPI) for management.
• Assess cost impact of change orders and update EAC.
• Collaborate with PMs and teams to identify financial risks and opportunities.
• Ensure data integrity in PCMS and CBS; train team members on cost data input.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Excellent communication

Deadline-driven

Attention to detail

Team leadership

Education

BA in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration

Tools

Excel (Advanced)

ERP SAP/Oracle

Primavera P6

Cost management system

Job description

ACCIONA is a global company, leading in the development of regenerative infrastructure that creates a positive impact on society. Our workforce consists of more than 65,000 professionals, present in more than 40 countries across the five continents, all contributing in our mission to design a better planet.

Are you a passionate individual who wants to make a difference, promote sustainable development, and find solutions to the biggest global challenges including climate change, overpopulation, and water scarcity? Come and join us in building the infrastructure our planet needs to achieve a sustainable future. We have successfully delivered large infrastructure projects across Canada since 2001. Our leadership and expertise span the entire value chain from research and development through construction, operation and maintenance of projects. Currently involved in some of Canada’s largest infrastructure projects, ACCIONA delivers solutions that contribute to the economic and social progress of the communities in which it operates. www.acciona.ca

Job Description

The Senior Cost Controller is responsible for the budgeting, cost reporting and analysis of a section of the project area. This role provides project leadership with reliable cost visibility through detailed forecasting, variance analysis, and change-management cost tracking, ensuring complex capital works are delivered within budget.

Cost Management & Tracking

• Develop and maintain detailed project cost control systems, including Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS) aligned with the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
• Prepare monthly cost forecasts by integrating actual expenditures, accruals, trends, and potential changes.
• Meticulously track and report actual expenditures (labor, materials, equipment, and subcontracts) against the project baseline. Prepare detailed monthly cost reports for project management, providing clear explanations for variances and ensuring full transparency.
• Generate and maintain project dashboards and performance reports using Earned Value Management (EVM) metrics such as CPI and SPI.
• Evaluate the financial impact of change orders and scope variations, ensuring they are accurately integrated into the Estimate at Completion (EAC).
• Collaborate with Project Managers & teams to identify financial risks and opportunities, contributing to the management of contingency strategies.
• Liaise cross-functionally with design & engineering, procurement, subcontracts and commercial teams to validate data and support client-facing reporting.
• Lead and mentor reporting cost controllers, administrators, and other team members.
• Act as one of the primary administrators and subject matter experts for the Project Cost Management System (PCMS). Ensure the database integrity of all financial inputs and maintain the Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) across the project lifecycle.
• Provide technical guidance and training to the wider project team on how to correctly input and interpret data within the cost management system.
• Partner with the revenue and billing teams to reconcile actual costs with client-facing invoices. You will provide the necessary data and documentation to support progress billings and ensure all recoverable costs are accurately captured.
• Build, maintain, and optimize project databases to centralize financial information. You must be able to structure data from disparate sources into a cohesive environment that serves as the "single source of truth" for the project.
• Connect and synchronize data from numerous platforms—including ERP systems (SAP/Oracle), scheduling software (Primavera P6), Procurement logs, and Timesheet systems—to ensure comprehensive cost capture.

Required Skills and Competencies

• BA in Finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Progression towards CPA is an asset.
• Five years of proven experience as a Cost Analyst, Financial Analyst, or in a similar role.
• Experience in project management or construction industries is a plus.
• Strong analytical and numerical skills.
• Proficiency in financial software and MS Office, with advanced knowledge of Excel.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of financial regulations and compliance.
• Highly developed ability to identify issues, analyze data, and develop solutions.
• Strong self-starter with the ability to prioritize under tight deadlines and manage multiple tasks efficiently.
• Flexibility to adapt to changing priorities and business needs, with the ability to work in a hectic environment, under tight deadlines, and manage a high workload efficiently.
• High ethical standards and integrity in financial reporting and management.
• Ability to identify the most important issues and prioritize accordingly.

Benefits & Perks

• Annual base salary in the anticipated range of $100,000–$140,000 CAD, with compensation determined based on experience, qualifications, and internal equity.
• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• Group benefits and EFAP from your start date, with premiums paid by ACCIONA.
• Health Spending Account.
• Learning, development, and internal career opportunities.
• RRSP matching.
• Performance-based discretionary bonus.
• Share purchase program.

Employer Recognition

ACCIONA has been given the Top Employer 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 certification in Canada, as well as the Top Employers North America 2022, 2023, 2024 & 2025 seal, which certifies the company's commitment to excellence in human resources management and those who focus on putting their people first through their exceptional HR policies.

Inclusion and Diversity

We are committed to creating an accessible and barrier‑free recruitment process and workplace. If you need any accommodation throught the process, please email [e-mail]

We invite everyone to apply regardless of origin, circumstances, background or condition.

As a company that values diversity as a source of talent, we work to foster an inclusive environment that promotes respect, belonging and engagement so that all people can participate on an equal opportunity basis.