Principal Cost Specialist

JR United Kingdom; Chester; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global engineering organization is seeking a Principal Cost Specialist in Chester, England. This role involves taking ownership of financial management across complex projects, ensuring cost transparency, and delivering robust reporting. The ideal candidate will be a fully qualified accountant with extensive experience in project finance, offering them excellent growth opportunities within the company.

Benefits

Pension of up to 8%

Excellent opportunity for growth

Qualifications

• 5 years post-qualification experience in a finance role with strong project exposure.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities and working to tight deadlines.
• Ability to present complex financial data to non-finance stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial management of major projects, including cost forecasting, budgeting, and reporting.
• Monitor project expenditure and ensure compliance with governance processes.
• Produce monthly reports including P&L, cash flow, and cost-to-complete analyses.

Skills

Project cost control

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial reporting

Communication

Organizational skills

Attention to detail

Education

Fully qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA, or ACCA)

Job description

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Robert Half is working with a global engineering organisation to recruit a Principal Cost Specialist. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced finance professional to take ownership of cost planning and financial control across complex projects within a regulated environment. The role will support large-scale project delivery from a finance perspective, working closely with project teams and central finance to ensure cost transparency, robust reporting, and accurate forecasting. For the right candidate, this role offers: £70,000 - £80,000, pension of up to 8% and excellent opportunity for growth

Key Responsibilities

• Take the lead on financial management of major projects, including cost forecasting, budgeting, and reporting.
• Monitor and manage project expenditure, ensuring accurate cost capture and compliance with governance processes.
• Work closely with project controls teams to track performance against budget and provide financial insight to support delivery.
• Produce monthly reports including P&L, cash flow, and cost-to-complete analyses.
• Support monthly reviews, presenting financial updates to project leads and senior stakeholders.
• Contribute to the development of annual budgets and rolling forecasts across the programme.
• Liaise with central finance on month-end processes and ensure alignment with wider business reporting cycles.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA or ACCA).
• 5 years post-qualification experience in a finance role with strong project exposure.
• Strong understanding of project cost control, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Experience working with or alongside project controls or commercial teams.
• Confident communicator, able to present complex financial data to non-finance stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organisational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work to tight deadlines.
• Comfortable working both independently and as part of a wider finance/project team.