Senior Cost Specialist

Progressive Recruitment; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Per Diem £100/day

Job summary

Progressive Recruitment is seeking an experienced Cost Engineer to join a major programme in Berkshire. You will work in the Project Controls team delivering cost planning, cost control, forecasting, change and risk management, and financial reporting to keep projects within budgets and contractual requirements.

This role covers EVM reporting, cost risk management, contingency control, and integration with schedules.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Cost Engineering, Cost Control or Project Controls on major projects.
• Experience with EVM, cost risk management and change control.
• Strong analytical, reporting and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain project baseline budgets, CBS and control account plans.
• Monitor actual costs, commitments, accruals and forecasts.
• Produce EACs, variance analysis and financial performance reports.
• Deliver EVM reporting and performance measurement.
• Manage cost risk, contingency allowances and change control processes.
• Support project reviews, governance reporting and stakeholder decision-making.
• Ensure alignment between schedules, cost plans and contractual requirements.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of project controls processes and reporting systems.

Skills

Cost engineering

Cost control

Project controls

Earned Value Management (EVM)

Forecasting

Stakeholder management

Budgeting

Education

HNC or equivalent in Cost Engineering/related field

ECITB Level 5 Diploma (Cost Engineering)

ACostE/APM/RICS membership (desirable)

Tools

ERP systems

Cost modelling

Job description

Cost Engineer

Location: Berkshire
Duration: 26 Weeks
Start: ASAP (subject to clearance)
IR35: Inside IR35

Overview

We are seeking an experienced Cost Engineer to join a major programme based in Berkshire. Working within the Project Controls team, you will be responsible for cost planning, cost control, forecasting, change management, risk management and financial reporting, helping ensure projects are delivered within approved budgets and contractual requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain project baseline budgets, cost breakdown structures (CBS) and control account plans.
• Monitor actual costs, commitments, accruals and forecasts.
• Produce Estimates at Completion (EACs), variance analysis and financial performance reports.
• Deliver Earned Value Management (EVM) reporting and performance measurement.
• Manage cost risk, contingency allowances and change control processes.
• Support project reviews, governance reporting and stakeholder decision-making.
• Ensure alignment between project schedules, cost plans and contractual requirements.
• Contribute to continuous improvement of project controls processes and reporting systems.

Essential Experience

• Proven experience in Cost Engineering, Cost Control, Project Controls or Quantity Surveying.
• Experience managing project budgets, forecasts and financial performance reporting on major projects.
• Strong Earned Value Management (EVM) knowledge.
• Experience with cost risk management, contingency control and change management.
• Strong understanding of the full project lifecycle.
• Excellent analytical, reporting and stakeholder management skills.

Desirable

• Experience within Nuclear, Defence, Infrastructure, Construction or Energy sectors.
• Knowledge of NEC, FIDIC, JCT or similar contract forms.
• Experience with quantitative risk analysis and cost modelling.
• Familiarity with ERP and project management systems.

Qualifications

Essential

HNC (or equivalent) in Cost Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Engineering, Construction Management or related discipline.

Desirable

• Degree in a relevant subject.
• ECITB Level 5 Diploma (or equivalent) in Cost Engineering.
• Professional membership such as ACostE, APM or RICS.

Clearance & Requirements

• Must be eligible for SC Clearance.
• Candidates may start on BPSS, provided SC clearance is in progress.
• Must have lived and worked in the UK continuously for the last 5 years.
• CSCS/ECS card required prior to start.

Working Pattern

• 5 day week (no shift, no shift allowance) - Hybrid possible.
• 3 days per week on site (Thurs / Fri / Monday) and 2 days remote
• Capped as 12 on site, 9 remote
• 11 shifts on, 3 shifts off.

Additional Benefits

Workers travelling more than 30 miles to site will receive:

• £100 per day Per Diem (Umbrella)