Cost Engineer

South East Water; Snodland; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 49,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme

5 weeks holiday + holidays increment

Flexible annual leave policy

Paid volunteering days

Cycle to work scheme

Health cash plan

Life assurance

Wellbeing related benefits

Job summary

South East Water is seeking a Cost Engineer to anchor financial control for multi‑million pound projects. You will drive cost management, budgeting and monthly commercial reporting, partnering with project delivery and engineering teams to keep costs on track.

You will provide deep-dive analyses, ensure adherence to change processes, and support CER funding with clear, actionable insights that influence project decisions.

Qualifications

• P6 Primavera formal training to professional level is required.
• Proven ability to prepare and present detailed financial reports and analyses.
• Strong cost accounting and financial analysis knowledge is essential.
• Experience as a project controller in the construction sector with P6 scheduling is needed.

Responsibilities

• Support project lifecycle from initiation to completion, baselining schedules in P6 and IMS systems and managing change requests.
• Manage all financial aspects of projects, including CER forms to secure funding.
• Coordinate with contractors and stakeholders, attending on-site progress meetings and ensuring NEC contract compliance.
• Contribute to Health & Safety initiatives and on-site safety observations.

Skills

P6 Primavera

Financial reporting

Cost accounting

Planning and scheduling

Earned Value

VOWD

Change management

Health & Safety awareness

Collaboration / teamwork

Education

P6 Primavera formal training to professional level

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

Summary:

Do you thrive in a collaborative environment where your financial expertise directly impacts the bottom line? Are you ready to be the anchor that keeps multi-million pound projects sailing smoothly on budget? As Cost Engineer, you won't just be crunching numbers-you will be the strategic backbone of our project delivery. You will ensure we apply absolute best practices in cost control, providing the deep-dive analysis and precise allocations that our project management and commercial teams rely on to succeed. Beyond the spreadsheets, you'll act as a vital bridge across departments, partnering closely with our engineering team to deliver accurate, streamlined monthly commercial reporting. If you are looking for a role where your insights genuinely shape the future of our projects, this is it.

Main responsibilities:

Project Lifecycle Support: Play a key role in the project lifecycle from initiation to completion, by ensuring all projects are accurately represented and managed within P6 and the IMS systems. This includes creating and baselining new project schedules, managing all change requests, and ensuring adherence to the established change management process. Drive project performance by regularly analysing and reporting on key metrics such as Schedule Performance Index (SPI) and Cost Performance Index (CPI). Proactively identifying and addressing any significant cost or schedule variances, providing critical insights to stakeholders. Manage all financial aspects of projects, including the timely completion of Capital Expenditure Request (CER) forms to secure necessary funding. Contractor and Stakeholder Collaboration: Act as the primary point of contact for contractors, attending on-site progress meetings to monitor project execution. Ensure contractual compliance by thoroughly reviewing contractor‑submitted programs against NEC contracts and other relevant obligations. Health, Safety, and Compliance: Contribute to a safe work environment by participating in Health & Safety initiatives and conducting on‑site Safety Observations to identify and report potential hazards. You'll need:

Skills / Qualifications / Experience

P6 primavera formal training to professional level. Proficiency in preparing and presenting detailed financial reports and analyses. Organisational abilities, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively within a team to meet deadlines. Solid understanding of cost accounting principles and financial analysis techniques. A good, demonstrable level of experience as a project controller in the construction industry using P6. Expertise in planning and scheduling. Strong understanding of change management. Technical understanding of Earned Value and VOWD. Knowledge of relevant Health and Safety regulations. Relevant construction experience on major multi-disciplinary infrastructure projects.

Employees are required to be flexible and to be prepared to perform duties and other tasks within their capabilities. The nature of our business is such that the contents of any job profile are subject to change from time to time.

Grow a career with a meaningful purpose.

We know the communities we serve are diverse. We recognise creativity comes from diversity not similarity. That's why we are enthusiastic about creating inclusion across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion and identity. You will experience our dedication to equal opportunities and fair treatment for all: through your recruitment, employment and career progression with South East Water.

Benefits package:

• Excellent Stakeholder pension scheme, up to 10% employer contribution.
• 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays per annum, increasing to 6 weeks with length of service.
• Flexible annual leave policy to buy or sell holiday leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing related benefits.

What can you expect from your recruitment?

It is necessary for you to have the legal right to work in the UK when you begin employment with South East Water. Additionally, as part of the employment offer, you will need to pass background, identity, and employment referencing checks.

Compensation package:

£42,000 - £49,200 p.a. dependant on experience