Senior Cost Manager

The Methodist Church in Britain; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible benefits

Staff networks

Professional development

Job summary

HS2 Ltd is seeking a cost performance specialist to join the cost performance team and report to the Head of Cost. You will analyse and validate cost, budget and earned value data for reporting across Phase One and drive improvements in processes and governance.

The role requires major-project controls experience, NEC contract knowledge, and familiarity with cost management systems such as Contruent or Ecosys. You will work across a matrix of stakeholders and promote inclusion.

Qualifications

• Experience in major-project cost controls and EVM systems.
• Familiar with NEC contracts and cost management systems.
• Ability to manage and improve cost performance processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead analysis and verification of cost performance data for reporting.
• Lead validation of cost data submitted by delivery teams to projects.
• Support the Head of Cost and Estimating in managing the cost team.
• Ensure adherence to cost performance processes and data storage.
• Communicate updates to the cost performance team and stakeholders.
• Develop work-streams to enhance cost performance capability.
• Lead continuous improvement of the cost performance function.
• Resolve system queries for delivery teams, including EVM.
• Support cost alignment with Finance on uWBS and forecasts.
• Systemise new business requirements in cost management interfaces.
• Promote equality, diversity and inclusion in all work.

Skills

Cost performance

Stakeholder mgmt

NEC contracts

EVM

Data analysis

Reporting

Tools

Contruent

Ecosys

Job description

This role sits in the cost performance team at HS2 Ltd, working alongside the Head of Cost on cost management at programme and contract level. The post-holder analyses and validates cost, budget and earned value data for reporting, leads the team's processes and systems, and drives improvement across Phase One. It suits someone with major-project controls experience, including NEC contracts and cost management systems, who can work across a matrix of stakeholders. Applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK, as no sponsorship is offered.

What the job involves

• Lead analysis and verification of programme and contract phase cost performance data for reporting
• Lead validation of cost performance data submitted by delivery teams to Project Controls and the PMO
• Support the Head of Cost and Estimating in managing the cost performance team, setting time and quality targets and giving specialist advice
• Ensure adherence to cost performance processes and accurate storage of data in corporate systems
• Communicate key updates to the cost performance team, aligned to business process
• Work with the Areas to develop work-streams that enhance cost performance capability in the Phase
• Lead continuous improvement of the cost performance function, capturing lessons learnt and reviewing governance and policies
• Resolve system technical queries for delivery teams, including third party income accounts, EVM and inflation/deflation
• Support cost alignment with Finance on uWBS implementation, quarterly forecasts and monthly indirects updates
• Lead on systemising new business requirements, testing and implementing them in cost management and interfacing functions
• Promote and embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all work

What’s required

Experience

• Management of cost, performance and project controls within a major project
• Core project controls functions: baseline maintenance, schedule, cost performance, change, risk, performance reporting and document control
• Producing performance reports covering budgets, EVM and forecasts on major projects
• Management and control of cost management systems such as Contruent or Ecosys

Skills & knowledge

• Stakeholder management in a matrix environment, including facilitating meetings
• Problem solving with attention to detail
• Providing clarity, direction and motivation to a team
• Clear communication and presentations that influence colleagues and external stakeholders
• Microsoft Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Knowledge of project controls and cost processes in complex organisations

Checks & eligibility

• Right to work in the UK at time of application; no sponsorship and certain time-bound visas not accepted
• Pre-employment checks: nationality and immigration status, employment references, DBS, financial and education

Other

• Knowledge and commercial awareness of construction contract types, including NEC and early warning notices
• Knowledge of core project controls disciplines: schedule, change and risk management
• Knowledge of baseline development and maintenance on a major programme
• Behaviour consistent with HS2 values of Safety, Leadership, Integrity and Respect

What’s offered

• Flexible benefits fund of 20% of base salary, paid on top and fully pensionable
• Competitive benefits package, listed on the employer's website
• Flexible working and adjustments
• Personal and professional development opportunities
• Staff networks