Cost Manager

Circle Recruitment; Blidworth CP; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Circle Recruitment is seeking a Cost Manager for a hybrid role based around Mansfield. The contract runs until 31 January 2027, inside IR35 with an Umbrella arrangement. Day rate is £300–£348, with at least 2 days on site per week and the remaining days remote.

The role focuses on cost estimation, budgeting, procurement support, and financial reporting across construction projects, with emphasis on forecasting and risk management to keep costs within tolerances.

Qualifications

• Ability to estimate initial project costs and budgets.
• Experience analysing tender prices for construction projects.
• Ability to develop monthly forecasts and compare against contractor forecasts.
• Experience assessing cost estimates (CEs) for projects.
• NEC contract experience required or preferred.
• Ability to review AFPs for approval or challenge.
• Able to identify quality cost information from completed projects.

Responsibilities

• Cost Estimation & Budgeting: support managers to enable planning and delivery.
• Monitor financial performance with budget variances and forecasts.
• Collaborate to derive financial data for funding, audits, and planning.
• Assist in procurement processes, tendering, bid evaluation, and contract negotiations.
• Provide regular financial reports and insights to senior management.
• Support risk management with financial risk assessments and contingency planning.
• Undertake Bill of Quantities (BoQ) tasks and cost management activities.

Skills

Estimating costs

Tender analysis

Forecasting

CE assessment

NEC experience

AFP assessment

Cost data extraction

Job description

Role: Cost Manager Salary/Rate: £300 - £348 per day inside IR35
Location: Hybrid Mansfield Contract Duration: until 31/1/27

We are currently looking for a Cost Manager for our government client.

This Cost Manager role is hybrid, based between minimum 2 days per week on site in Mansfield, and the remainder of the week working remotely. There is no further flexibility with expected time on site, or the office locations.

The contract for this Cost Manager position is until 31 Jan 2027, with potential to extend, operating inside IR35.

This role is inside IR35 - Due to the service of the role, it will now be based on an Umbrella solution.

Essential Skills / Experience required:

• How to derive an initial estimate of what a construction project is likely to cost
• How to analyse a tender price for a construction project
• Developing a monthly forecast from that and comparing that to the contractors forecast
• How to assess CEs for a construction project
• NEC experience
• Assessing an AFP for approval or challenge
• Identifying quality cost information from completed projects.

Role / Responsibilities:

• Cost Estimation & Budgeting
  • Support programme and project managers to enable efficient planning and delivery.
  • Collaborate with the EPDO Performance and Reporting Manager and Programme / Project managers to derive financial data and perform analysis and reviews, in support of business planning, funding proposals and audits as required.
  • Monitor and report on financial performance, including budget variances and forecasts.
  • Collaborate with all stakeholders to assess contractual and financial implications.
  • Support risk management by incorporating financial risk assessments.
  • Develop financial tracking systems to optimise budget management.
  • Undertake Bill of Quantities (BoQ)
• Procurement & Contract Management
  • Support programme / project managers in procurement processes, including tendering, bid evaluation, and contract negotiations.
  • Provide guidance on contractual terms, risks, and financial considerations.
  • Oversee contract performance to ensure compliance with agreements and policies.
• Cost Monitoring & Financial Reporting
  • Support project and programme managers in providing assurance in tracking expenditures to ensure budget alignment.
  • Conduct financial analysis, risk assessments, and forecasting.
  • Provide regular financial reports and insights to senior management and stakeholders.
  • Ensure compliance with funding requirements, regulations, and organisational commitments.
• Risk & Value Management
  • Identify cost risks and opportunities within projects in collaboration with project / programme managers.
  • Conduct assessments to optimise cost efficiency while meeting project objectives.
  • Develop and implement contingency plans and risk mitigation strategies.
• Stakeholder & Compliance Engagement
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to implement cost-effective solutions.
  • Ensure financial compliance with policies, frameworks, and regulatory standards.
• Provide costing support to programme and project managers by leading project cost estimation on complex construction operational projects, so that project cost remains within tolerances and programme budgets are controlled
• Project cost monitoring and financial planning at project level and work with risk manager to ensure risks are appropriately costed and optimism bias is applied and resolve cost related issues in a timely manner
• Provide advice and support to project manager on forecasting compensation events & early warning across the life of the project
• Support project manager to keep project within cost tolerances including remedial works e.g. fencing at short notice.

As a member of the Disability Confident Scheme, Circle and our Client guarantees to interview all candidates who have a disability and who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where we have a high volume of candidates who have a disability who meet all the essential criteria, we will interview the best candidates from within that group. Our client is proud to support the Armed Forces Covenant and as such, they guarantee to interview all veterans, spouses / partners of military personnel who meet all the essential criteria for the vacancy. In cases where they have a high volume of ex-military candidates / military spouses, partners, who meet all of the essential criteria, theywill interview the best candidates from within that group. We will be in touch to discuss your suitability and arrange your guaranteed interview. Should you require reasonable adjustments at any point during the recruitment process, if there is a better way for us to communicate, please do let us know.