Principal Cost Specialist

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

Job summary

A leading global engineering organization is seeking a Principal Cost Specialist to oversee financial management and cost control across major projects. This role involves close collaboration with project teams to ensure cost transparency, robust reporting, and accurate forecasting. Ideal candidates will be fully qualified accountants with significant project finance experience, offering a salary range of £70,000 to £80,000 and excellent growth opportunities.

Benefits

Pension of up to 8%

Excellent growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Fully qualified accountant (CIMA, ACA or ACCA).
• 5 years post-qualification experience in a finance role with strong project exposure.
• Confident communicator, able to present complex financial data to non-finance stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead financial management of major projects, including cost forecasting, budgeting, and reporting.
• Monitor and manage project expenditure, ensuring accurate cost capture.
• Produce monthly reports including P&L, cash flow, and cost-to-complete analyses.

Skills

Cost Control

Budgeting

Forecasting

Financial Reporting

Communication

Organisational Skills

Attention to Detail

Education

CIMA

ACA

ACCA

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

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.