Senior Cost Manager

The Methodist Church in Britain; Greater London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible benefits fund

Flexible working

Reasonable adjustments

Staff networks

Personal and professional development

Job summary

HS2 Ltd is seeking a senior post in the cost performance team for Phase One. You will verify programme and contract cost data, validate delivery team figures, and help manage the cost performance team. The role requires NEC contract knowledge and major project controls experience.

You will lead cost performance validation, engage with stakeholders, and drive governance and improvements across cost management systems.

Qualifications

• Cost and performance management experience on a major project.
• Core project controls: baseline maintenance, schedule, cost performance, change and risk management, reporting.
• Producing performance reports on budgets, EVM and forecasts.

Responsibilities

• Lead analysis and verification of programme and contract cost performance for reporting.
• Validate cost performance data submitted by delivery teams for reporting to Project Controls.
• Support Head of Cost and Estimating in managing the cost performance team and setting targets.
• Ensure adherence to cost performance processes and data storage in corporate systems.
• Communicate updates to the cost performance team and align with processes.

Skills

Cost performance management

Project controls

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Communication and presenting

EVM / project accounting

MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Power

Education

Degree in engineering or construction

Tools

Contruent

Ecosys

Cost management systems

Excel / MS Project

Job description

This senior post sits in the cost performance team on HS2 Ltd's Phase One programme, working alongside the Head of Cost. The post-holder verifies programme and contract cost data, validates figures from delivery teams, and helps manage the team that does this work. The role calls for knowledge of NEC construction contracts and major project controls, plus experience of cost management systems. HS2 does not sponsor visas, so applicants must already hold the right to work in the UK.

What the job involves

• Lead the analysis and verification of programme and contract phase-level cost performance so reporting reflects current performance
• Lead the validation of cost performance data submitted by delivery teams for reporting to Project Controls and the Programme Management Office
• 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 procedures, and accurate storage and maintenance of data and documents in corporate systems
• Communicate key updates to the cost performance team and align them with current business processes and ways of working
• Work with the Areas to develop defined work-streams that enhance cost performance capability within the Phase
• Lead continuous improvement of the cost performance function, capturing lessons learnt and implementing governance processes and policy reviews aligned to strategic objectives
• Lead on resolving 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 updates for indirects and other portfolios
• Lead on systemising new business requirements, and testing and implementing them in cost management and interfacing functions
• Actively promote and embed Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in all work, and comply with organisational EDI initiatives, policies and procedures

What’s required

Experience

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

Skills & knowledge

• Stakeholder management across a matrix environment, including facilitating meetings and information flow
• Problem-solving with attention to detail
• Clear communication and presentations that engage and influence colleagues and external stakeholders at all levels
• Providing clarity, direction and motivation to a team
• Microsoft Office applications: Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Knowledge of project controls and cost processes within complex organisations

Checks & eligibility

• Right to work in the UK at the time of application, as no visa sponsorship is offered and certain time-bound visas are not accepted
• DBS and pre-employment checks: nationality and immigration status, employment references, financial and education checks

Other

• Knowledge and commercial awareness of construction contract types, including NEC contracts, amendments, early warning notices and contractor-client workflows
• 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
• Range of competitive benefits listed on the employer's website
• Flexible working
• Reasonable adjustments
• Staff networks
• Personal and professional development opportunities