Cost Controller

HS2 Ltd.; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Free parking & travel allowance

Family-friendly policies

Wellbeing support & flu vaccinations

Job summary

HS2 Ltd. is seeking a Finance professional to support budgeting, forecasting, and cost control across multiple work areas for the Midlands route. The role combines analytical accounting with close collaboration with commercial, delivery and site teams.

You will validate labour and plant costs, ensure data integrity in the accounting system, and lead monthly close activities. The ideal candidate has strong Excel skills and a track record of improving financial processes within a project

Qualifications

• Proven relevant experience in contracting/project environments.
• Strong knowledge of cost accounting, budgeting and forecasting.
• Advanced Excel and analytical skills.
• Self-starter with progression and rising responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Leads preparation of budgets and forecasts across multiple work areas with commercial, delivery and finance teams.
• Validates costs, data integrity, and labour/plant recharges; coordinates with QS and site teams.
• Leads month-end close activities, variance analysis, and rolling forecasts.
• Supports regional performance review and prepares management commentary.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Analytical skills

Cost accounting

Budgeting and forecasting

Travel across sites

Job description

HS2, Britain’s new high-speed railway is at peak construction. Balfour Beatty VINCI is HS2’s construction partner in the Midlands, responsible for delivering 90km of the route, from Long Itchington in Warwickshire to the centre of Birmingham and on to Handsacre in Staffordshire.

Now is a great time to join us and be part of a diverse team of nearly 9,000 people from over 80 nationalities working together to deliver major assets including bridges, tunnels and viaducts. Whether onsite or officed based all colleagues have a key part to play in delivering this critical transport infrastructure project.

Location

Birmingham

Accountabilities

Budgeting & Forecasting

• Leads preparation of the MEP/PST budget and forecast in collaboration with the commercial, delivery and finance teams across multiple work areas.

Cost & Data Validation

• Is responsible for accurate analytical coding for all recorded expenses; oversees weekly labour and plant report reviews.
• Validates monthly subcontract liabilities against applications across work areas, working closely with the QS team to ensure accuracy; ensures liabilities are recorded in the accounting system on a timely basis.
• Is responsible for data integrity of the accounting system/records by validating transactions posted, identifying and resolving discrepancies, and driving corrective action where required.
• Verifies and validates labour hours and labour costs across work areas, ensuring hours reconcile fully to the time-keeping system.
• Verifies and validates plant and machinery recharges, ensuring amounts reconcile fully to supporting backup files, and resolving discrepancies with site teams.

Month-End Activities

Leads monthly financial close activities, including:

• Coordinating with the Finance Department to ensure all costs and accruals are accurately captured across work areas for month-end closing.
• Leading variance analysis, including self-delivery performance (outputs, Labour hours, rates, quantities, machine efficiencies) and subcontracted works, working closely with Commercial and Delivery on key changes (quantities, rates, compensation events).
• Supporting monthly Regional Performance Review (RPR) input, analysing variances against forecast and preparing accurate commentary for senior management.
• Leads preparation of material-related reports and is responsible for supporting reconciliations.
• Preparing Rolling Forecast across multiple work areas, with support from the commercial department.
• Providing analytical and technical support to the Financial Controller on ad hoc tasks.

Proven relevant experience in a contracting/project’s environment, ideally spanning multiple work areas.

• Strong knowledge of cost accounting, budgeting and forecasting.
• Advanced Excel and analytical skills.
• Self-starter, highly motivated, with a track record of progression and taking on increasing responsibility.
• May require travel across sites; predominantly site-office based.

Applicants must have the right to work in the UK to be considered.

Why Join Us

• Flexible working options
• Free parking & travel allowance (where eligible)
• Family-friendly policies
• Wellbeing support & flu vaccinations

About Us

Balfour Beatty VINCI is a joint venture with over 30 years of experience delivering iconic infrastructure, including the Channel Tunnel, Crossrail, and upgrading some of the UK’s busiest motorways. On HS2, we’re building everything from viaducts and tunnels to bridges and embankments across the West Midlands.

Diversity & Inclusion

We’re proud to be an inclusive employer, welcoming people from all backgrounds, abilities and neurodiversities. As a Disability Confident Leader, we encourage applications from candidates with disabilities.

Flexible Working

We’re open to discussing flexible working arrangements to suit your needs, aligned with project requirements.