Junior Cost Controller

Balfour Beatty plc; Aberdeen City; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working (up to 40% remote)

25 days annual leave

Family friendly policies

Pension and share incentive

Job summary

Balfour Beatty is seeking a Quantity Surveyor for the ASTI project near Aberdeen. You will manage costs, subcontractor relations, and commercial activities within your project area, ensuring value for money and governance across commercial responsibilities.

The role suits an experienced QS looking to contribute to a major infrastructure programme within a collaborative team, with opportunities for professional development and a strong support framework.

Qualifications

• Proactive working style across teams to deliver value.
• Ability to work autonomously and with colleagues to meet project goals.
• Strong collaboration with project and commercial teams.

Responsibilities

• Manage commercial activities across your section of the ASTI project.
• Measure, value and reconcile work per contract requirements.
• Prepare Bills of Quantities, schedules of rates and cost estimates.
• Lead subcontract procurement, enquiries and adjudication.
• Maintain accurate cost/value records using BB digital systems.
• Interpret drawings, specifications and works information.
• Support less experienced team members where applicable.
• Engage with internal teams, subcontractors and customers to maintain relationships.
• Uphold governance standards (BMS & GMCEs).

Skills

Proactive work style

Independent worker

Team collaboration

Education

BSc or MSc in Quantity Surveying

Job description

About The Role

Job Title: Quantity Surveyor

Location: Balfour Beatty Offices, Westhill (Near Peterhead / Aberdeen)

Company: Balfour Beatty

Project: ASTI - Pathway to 2030

The Project

Balfour Beatty is proud to be delivering major works in the North East. The ASTI programme, delivered by SSEN Transmission with Balfour Beatty as a delivery partner, is upgrading and expanding critical onshore transmission infrastructure. This includes major civil engineering works, new substations, cable routes, and the enabling works required to future‑proof Scotland’s electricity grid.

At Balfour Beatty, you’ll be at the heart of a project that:

• Supports national renewable energy targets
• Enhances the resilience of the North East transmission network
• Drives investment, innovation and opportunity across the region

It’s an ambitious, complex, multi‑year programme — and we’re building a team that shares our energy, passion and commitment.

What you'll be doing

As a Quantity Surveyor, you’ll play a key part in managing all costs, income, subcontractor relationships and commercial activities within your project area. You’ll work closely with the wider project and commercial teams to ensure value for money, quality, governance and accuracy across all commercial responsibilities.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced and capable QS looking to develop further within a major infrastructure programme while contributing to a high‑performing, collaborative team.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage commercial activities across your section of the ASTI project
• Measure, value and reconcile work in line with project and contractual requirements
• Prepare Bills of Quantities, schedules of rates and cost estimates
• Lead on subcontract procurement, enquiries and adjudication
• Maintain accurate cost and value records using Balfour Beatty’s digital systems
• Interpret drawings, specifications and works information
• Support and guide less experienced commercial team members (where applicable)
• Engage with internal teams, subcontractors and customers to maintain strong working relationships
• Uphold Balfour Beatty governance standards (BMS & GMCEs)

Essential

• BSc or MSc in Quantity Surveying (or equivalent)
• CSCS – Academically or Professionally Qualified
• Chartered status (MRICS/MCInstCES/MCIOB) OR in final stages of completion
• Strong understanding of commercial management on civil engineering or construction projects
• Ability to work proactively, independently and collaboratively across teams

This role suits someone who thrives in a complex project environment, enjoys problem‑solving, and brings a positive, solutions‑focused approach.

Professional and personal development

The size and scale of Balfour Beatty coupled with our strong pipeline of work provides incredible opportunities, regardless of what stage you are at in your career.

We encourage and empower our employees to take control of their career and explore which part of the business they want to work in and what role is right for them. We actively encourage our managers and employees to have open communication throughout the year about wellbeing, development and career opportunities.

We're proud of the Balfour Beatty Academy. Whether it’s sharpening your technical expertise, improving your personal skills or seeking support to become professionally qualified, our 70:20:10* approach to development means we have a learning approach that suits everyone.

• 70% learning on the job, 20% learning from those around you, and 10% formal training courses and learning events.

For further information about Balfour Beatty Regional Scotland please go to www.balfourbeatty.com/careers/Scotland - You can also check out further job opportunities in the careers section

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

Benefits

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About Us

From Dunfermline’s tramways in 1909 to highland hospitals today, Balfour Beatty has been trusted for over a century to deliver the complex and critical infrastructure and iconic buildings Scotland relies on.

We have the people, knowledge and experience to safely deliver projects right first time, maximising value for money and ensuring a positive social impact and inclusive economic growth for local communities.

Our award‑winning sustainable projects, including active travel, Passivhaus and retrofit, demonstrate our commitment to supporting Scotland’s transition towards net zero in the built environment.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty, we want everyone to be able to thrive and achieve their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. We’re making great progress through our Value Everyone DEI Action Plan, but we know we’ve got more to do. Find out more about our values and DEI initiatives.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we ensure that a fair and proportionate number of disabled applicants that meet the minimum criteria for this role will be offered an interview.

We are committed to our processes being barrier‑free and will support adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. Please let the recruiter for this role know if you require any adjustments.

We’re looking to continually improve our recruitment process, so if you have any feedback, please share this with us via [e-mail]