Estimating & Cost Advisory - Associate Director (Assurance & Advisory)

AtkinsRéalis; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm is looking for an Associate Director - Assurance & Advisory to support complex infrastructure projects across the UK. The ideal candidate will lead assurance services, manage a high-performing team, and ensure quality deliverables for clients. A strong background in cost estimating and stakeholder engagement is essential. The role offers opportunities for career growth within a diverse and inclusive environment, and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Flexible working

Comprehensive benefits package

Opportunities for career growth

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of contingency, cost estimating, cost forecasting.
• Experience in reviewing major project business cases.
• Ability to work across multiple sectors and drive to learn new skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead assurance and advisory service delivery across projects.
• Manage teams and develop high-performance culture.
• Communicate findings to senior clients and stakeholders.

Skills

Cost estimating

Stakeholder engagement

Project development and delivery

Education

Chartership with RICS, ICE, AACE, ACostE or similar

Job description

Overview

Become a vital member of our Project & Programme Services (PPS), Complex Infrastructure team. You will be part of a collaborative environment, delivering excellence together and recognising contributions equally. As a leader in our practice team, you will share our vision to be the industry’s foremost capability in Estimating & Cost Advisory and always doing what’s right.

You will support multi-disciplinary and specialist project teams on high-profile schemes across a range of sectors, delivering high-impact estimating services to key clients. There is an opportunity to grow your career and develop our internal capabilities. We are looking to hire an Associate Director - Assurance & Advisory to support our growing business. In Complex Infrastructure we work across three major markets: Infrastructure (Water, Defence, Aviation, etc.); Transport (Rail, Highways, Local Authorities, etc.); Energy (Nuclear, Renewable Energy, Power, etc.).

Responsibilities

• Lead assurance and advisory service delivery, focusing on reviewing major projects and niche projects across the UK and internationally, with a particular focus on capital costs.
• Pivot across assurance reviews of various types, focusing on cost and project deliverability across the project lifecycle, from early-stage feasibility design to detailed design, contract award, live delivery and project close-out.
• Support win work activities (bids, proposals, etc.) to grow the portfolio and improve the quality of client deliverables.
• Line manage and develop a high-performing team based in your local office and/or a national location.
• Inspire and mentor early careers talent.
• Lead teams to produce and contribute input directly to delivery of high-quality client deliverables, including data analysis models, reports, dashboards or presentations.
• Leverage benchmarking data, in-house data and market data to form independent views on should cost, could cost, will cost and forecast cost to go / cost at completion.
• Communicate key findings and recommendations to senior clients and wider stakeholders; ensure complex issues are understood and messaging supports project improvement.
• Review outputs of team members and provide guidance to develop skills for future projects.
• Consult subject matter experts to incorporate best knowledge into client deliverables.
• Coordinate with other Estimating & Cost Advisory leaders to ensure client deliverables are reviewed and quality assured before release.

Qualifications

• A strong understanding of contingency, cost estimating, cost forecasting and setting up projects for success.
• Experience contributing to or reviewing major project business cases, especially in assurance reviews feeding into stage gate decisions.
• Strong technical expertise in project development and delivery, with a focus on costs.
• Understanding of commercial and contractual requirements and their impact on estimating or forecasting costs.
• Knowledge of indirect costs, cost breakdown structures and techniques to assess project deliverability.
• Strong stakeholder engagement skills with designers, engineers, project managers and clients.
• Chartership with or working towards RICS, ICE, AACE, ACostE or similar.
• Ability to work across multiple sectors and disciplines and a drive to learn new skills.

What we can offer

• A variety of schemes and opportunities to work across UK and international markets.
• Flexible working to support a healthy work-life balance.
• Opportunities to grow your career through various routes within the business.
• Support for chartership aspirations with RICS, ICE, AACE, ACostE or similar.
• A comprehensive benefits package.
• An inclusive, diverse and welcoming team atmosphere!

Why AtkinsRéalis?

Looking for a place where you can engineer a better future? AtkinsRéalis is for you. Our digital-enabled approach transforms outcomes for people and the environment. You’ll have a range of projects and opportunities for career growth, with more responsibility, acclaimed training programmes and flexible working as part of an inclusive culture that prioritises diversity, health and happiness.

Join our Project & Programme Services team to expand your career on exciting construction projects—from Sizewell C to the world’s tallest hotel, London’s Heathrow Airport to Europe’s first eco-friendly mosque. You’ll gain exposure to international expertise and innovation in local niche areas. We are committed to a Net Zero Carbon future and regenerating cities across the UK.

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will depend on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If necessary, it will be discussed at interview. The vetting process is delivered by UKSV and may require candidates to provide 5 years of UK residency. If applying, please do not mention or include in your application any current or previous security clearance details.

We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community. We offer family-friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and abilities.

#LI-UK #LI-ATKINS #PPSProContr

Worker Type: Employee

Job Type: Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We believe world-class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnicity, sexual identity or orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.