Cost Manager

Charlton Recruitment; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 56,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

12% Pension

Healthcare

Package

Job summary

HS2 Ltd in Birmingham seeks a Cost Manager to join the Project Controls & Cost Performance team. You will manage baselines, forecast programme performance, analyse contractor cost data, and support major contracts through delivery in a client-side role.

The role focuses on project controls, cost performance, forecasting, baseline management, and providing accurate programme insight to senior stakeholders. Hybrid working with 3 office days is available.

Qualifications

• Experience in Cost Management, Cost Engineering, Cost Control, or Project Controls.
• Strong experience managing project baselines and working with schedules.
• Experience on infrastructure or construction projects (£5m–£10m+ above).
• Strong forecasting, cost analysis, and reporting capability.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Experience using systems such as PRISM, EcoSys, Contruent or similar.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain project baselines and cost performance data.
• Analyse forecasts, trends, variances, and Estimate at Completion (EAC) positions.
• Support Earned Value Management (EVM) reporting and performance analysis.
• Work closely with schedules and programme controls teams.
• Challenge contractor cost forecasts and performance data.
• Support change control and trend management processes.
• Produce high-quality cost and performance reports for senior stakeholders.
• Ensure governance, reporting accuracy, and data integrity across programmes.
• Support continuous improvement across cost performance processes.

Skills

Cost Management

Cost Engineering

Cost Control

Project Controls

Forecasting

Advanced Excel

Stakeholder engagement

Tools

PRISM

EcoSys

Contruent

Job description

Cost Manager – Project Controls & Cost Performance | HS2

Birmingham Snowhill | Hybrid Working (3 Days Office)

£55,687 – £65,514 + 12% Pension + Healthcare + Package

Progression: Senior Cost Manager £85k–£92,000k + pkg

Join One of Europe’s Largest Infrastructure Programmes

This is a rare opportunity to join High Speed Two Ltd in a highly visible client-side Cost Management role supporting the delivery of one of the UK’s most significant infrastructure programmes.

Working within the Project Controls & Cost Performance team, you’ll play a key role in managing project baselines, forecasting programme performance, analysing contractor cost data, and supporting major contracts through delivery.

This is not a commercial or payment certification role.

The focus is on project controls, cost performance, forecasting, baseline management, schedule integration, and providing accurate programme insight to senior stakeholders.

Why This Role Stands Out

• Client-side role on a nationally significant infrastructure programme
• Strong focus on project controls, forecasting & cost performance
• Opportunity to influence major contracts valued £5m–£10bn+
• High stakeholder exposure across delivery, commercial & programme teams
• Long-term programme security with 10+ years remaining
• Clear progression route into Senior Cost Manager
• Hybrid working and excellent work-life balance

The Role

Reporting into the Senior Cost Manager, you’ll support the management and analysis of cost performance across major delivery contracts.

You’ll work closely with Project Controls Managers, delivery teams, and contractors to ensure forecasts, baselines, schedules, and performance data accurately reflect programme delivery.

A key part of the role is challenging contractor forecasts, analysing trends and variances, supporting change control, and ensuring robust cost reporting across the programme.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and maintain project baselines and cost performance data
• Analyse forecasts, trends, variances, and Estimate at Completion (EAC) positions
• Support Earned Value Management (EVM) reporting and performance analysis
• Work closely with schedules and programme controls teams
• Challenge contractor cost forecasts and performance data
• Support change control and trend management processes
• Produce high-quality cost and performance reports for senior stakeholders
• Ensure governance, reporting accuracy, and data integrity across programmes
• Support continuous improvement across cost performance processes

What They’re Looking For

Essential

• Experience in Cost Management, Cost Engineering, Cost Control, or Project Controls
• Strong experience managing project baselines and working with schedules
• Experience on infrastructure or construction projects (£5m–£10m+ above)
• Strong forecasting, cost analysis, and reporting capability
• Advanced Excel skills
• Experience using systems such as PRISM, EcoSys, Contruent or similar
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills

Desirable

• Rail or major infrastructure background
• Earned Value Management (EVM) experience
• Experience within complex, matrix-led project environments

This role would suit someone from rail, highways, utilities, aviation, water, nuclear, defence, or major infrastructure programmes looking to step into a long-term client-side opportunity with real progression and exposure across one of the UK’s largest delivery programmes