Senior Cost Controller

Randstad Finance; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Part time

Job summary

Randstad Finance is seeking a Cost Controller on a contract basis in Ipswich to safeguard financial integrity across high-volume works. You will own project cost governance, monthly cost accounting, budgeting, and subcontract expenditure in a civil-construction context.

You will collaborate with site-based commercial leads and production teams to deliver accurate month-end closes, forecast updates, and variance analyses, ensuring strict adherence to procurement controls and reporting timelines.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in project cost control for civil/construction projects.
• Experience with cost accounting and budget forecasting.
• Strong Excel modelling and ERP experience, SAP advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Month-End Cost Accounting: close costs, allocate expenses, and compute liabilities for subcontractors and suppliers.
• Commercial Cost Control & Budgeting: monitor budgets against forecasts and maintain ledger accuracy across package codes.
• Operational Variance Analysis: provide monthly variance analysis for labour, materials, equipment, and indirect costs.
• Forecasting & Planning: maintain rolling cost projections and track run rates to identify risks and efficiencies.
• Supply Chain Financial Controls: ensure PO, GRN, and subcontractor valuations compliance, support supplier accounts.

Skills

Cost control

Project accounting

Budgeting

ERP systems

SAP

Excel modelling

Stakeholder management

Tools

SAP

Excel

Job description

We are looking for a Cost Controller on a contract basis to join a leading company in Ipswich. You will play a vital role in protecting financial integrity, take ownership of project financial governance, monthly cost accounting, budget forecasting, and subcontract expenditure across high-volume works.

Core Responsibilities

• Month-End Cost Accounting: Oversee package cost closing, balance and reallocate expenses from centralised production facilities and plant depots, and calculate precise manual liabilities/accruals for subcontractors and critical suppliers.
• Commercial Cost Control & Budgeting: Monitor baseline project budgets against forecast outturn quantities; coordinate approved budget variations and maintain strict ledger accuracy across complex package codes.
• Operational Variance Analysis: Partner with operational, production, and site-based commercial leads to deliver monthly variance analysis across labour productivity, material yield ratios, equipment costs, and indirect expenditure.
• Forecasting & Planning: Develop and maintain rolling quarterly and annual cost and quantity projections; track month-on-month production run rates to identify risks and commercial efficiencies early.
• Supply Chain Financial Controls: Ensure full compliance across purchase orders, GRNs, and subcontractor valuations, actively supporting the commercial resolution of critical supplier accounts.

What We Are Looking For

• Sector Background: Proven track record in project cost control, site management accounting, or commercial cost engineering within civil engineering, earthworks, heavy construction, or major capital schemes.
• ERP & Systems Acumen: Strong proficiency with mainstream ERP systems (SAP experience is advantageous) alongside advanced Microsoft Excel modelling skills.
• Stakeholder Influence: Excellent communication skills with the credibility to challenge, advise, and collaborate across production, commercial, and executive finance teams.
• Governance Focus: Solid grounding in subcontractor accruals, purchase ledger compliance, audit trails, and strict deadline-driven reporting cycles.

Financial & Professional encourage applications from individuals of all ages & backgrounds. Appointment will be made on merit alone but candidates must be able to demonstrate their ability to work in the UK.