Senior Cost Manager

Jersey Electricity Plc; Warrington; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading energy provider in Warrington is looking for a Senior Cost Manager to oversee cost management across complex projects. The role involves creating and maintaining cost structures, engaging with project teams, and implementing financial controls. Ideal candidates will have relevant qualifications and experience in cost management, alongside strong interpersonal skills. The position offers generous annual leave, a competitive pension, and hybrid working options.

Benefits

Generous annual leave package

Competitive pension scheme

Performance-related bonus

Comprehensive healthcare plan

Flexible and hybrid working

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Substantial experience in Cost Management or Project Controls.
• Highly conversant with Cost Management systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost management across multiple projects.
• Oversight of actual costs, forecasts, and budgets.
• Establish a robust forecasting process.

Skills

Cost management techniques

Interpersonal skills

Financial awareness

Attention to detail

Education

Degree or equivalent in relevant discipline

MAPM ACostE or equivalent PM/Project controls qualification

Tools

Microsoft Excel

P6 (Primavera)

Job description

Job Summary:

Job Title: Senior Cost Manager

Location: Warrington, Lingley Mere

The Role:

As a Senior Cost Manager, you will play a key role in leading the cost management process across a portfolio of multiple complex projects, driving both strategic and operational financial performance. You'll be responsible for oversight of actual costs and forecasts, as well as budgets and their change control. Our Senior Cost manager will oversee the setting up/maintaining of the project Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) and its alignment with Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Organisational Breakdown Structure (OBS).

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the delivery of cost management function by demonstrating the required behaviours to promote the UU vision and its values, to recognised standards in a timely manner.
• Engage with other key discipline leads - risk, planning, controls etc. to identify areas for improved collaboration and optimisation.
• Responsible for creating and maintaining the projects' CBS and its alignment with WBS and OBS.
• Engage with the matrixed PMO teams, as well as the delivery teams and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) in order to establish and support cost control.
• Monitor and control of commitment, journals and accruals in conjunction with the Project Manager
• Assessment of impact of trends and change, ensuring agreed change to the baseline is implemented in a timely manner
• Engage with the Commercial and Estimating teams on maintaining the compensation events and early warnings processes.
• Establish a robust forecasting process and ensure regular reviews with all contributing parties that make up the overall WBS
• Establish and support a robust process of Earned Value Management (EVM) reporting for cost and support the project teams in line with the EVM processes and its proportionate application
• Support the project teams with actual cost and budgetary reporting, as well as cost forecast reporting and reporting against the baseline.
• Support risk analysis/assessment and participate in the Quantitative Cost Risk Analysis (QCRA) process.
• Keep to date with the relevant industry trends, benchmarks, inflation rates, etc.
• Support the Cost Management to deliver key strategic outcomes and KPI's.
• Manage a Project Controls Team, providing guidance on Cost and Planning, giving direction, coaching and performance management.
• Works collaboratively with the Project Controls team, Project Managers, Commercial and Senior Stakeholders within UU.

About You:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant discipline. Or equivalent relevant experience.
• MAPM ACostE or equivalent PM/ Project controls qualification
• Substantial experience in Cost Management or Project Controls / Programme Delivery
• Very strong understanding of cost management techniques.
• Highly conversant with Cost Management systems such as all Microsoft Packages, ability to use Excel to a high standard.
• In-depth knowledge of P6 (Primavera).
• Excellent interpersonal skills to build and manage relationships at all levels within the organisation and across all major functions to achieve divisional / company objectives.
• Strong financial awareness, with the ability to organise and map large information sets.
• Ability to constructively challenge stakeholders, colleagues and senior management, take a proactive view and encourage process innovation and new thinking in the way we drive PMO forward.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to deep dive into situations.

Why Join Us?

• A generous annual leave package of 26 days, which increases to 30 days after four years of service, in addition to 8 bank holidays
• A competitive pension scheme with up to 14% employer contribution, 21% combined, and life cover
• A 10.5% performance-related bonus scheme, as well as recognition awards for outstanding achievements
• A comprehensive healthcare plan through our company-funded scheme
• Flexible and hybrid working