Trainee Cost Clerk

Barhale Holdings Ltd; Peterborough; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

A civil engineering and infrastructure specialist is seeking a Trainee Cost Clerk to provide commercial and administrative support for projects. The role involves assisting with cost reporting and compliance, managing project costs, and collaborating with site teams. Candidates should possess strong numeracy skills and a full UK Driving Licence. This position provides a robust foundation for career progression within a supportive environment.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Company Pension

Life Assurance

Private Medical

25 days annual leave plus public holidays

Qualifications

• Full UK Driving Licence and willingness to travel to sites where required.
• Experience in providing commercial and administrative support.

Responsibilities

• Provide commercial and administrative support for the project(s) on a day‑to‑day basis.
• Assist with the provision of accurate cost reporting and forecasting.
• Work collaboratively with the site team on commercial matters.

Skills

Microsoft suite of packages

Strong numeracy skills

Basic financial acumen

Tools

Redsky or similar financial reporting system

Job description

About Barhale

Barhale is a business founded on family values, having been established by our Chairman, Dennis Curran, in 1980. We are one of the largest privately owned civil engineering and infrastructure specialists in the UK, with over 40 years of experience in providing design, civil engineering and maintenance services working across multiple sectors, including:

• Water
• Transport
• Built environment
• Energy

We operate as a tier one partner for blue chip, regulated and private clients, working as part of large frameworks, joint ventures and alliances, as well as on individual standalone projects, developing long‑term relationships based on delivering to the Barhale values which have been integral to our business since their inception in 1985.

Our direct delivery model is at the core of everything we do, as we believe that people are our greatest asset. Therefore, we robustly source, train and retain all our own frontline delivery teams as well as management and support services. We employ over 1,200 employees nationwide.

We possess a range of specialist skills to support our civil engineering and infrastructure activities, including:

• Tunnelling
• MEICA
• Temporary and permanent design
• Steel‑fabrication
• Signs (design and fabrication)
• Health & safety equipment and products, including PPE

Who are Barhale?

Barhale is a business founded on family values, having been established by our Chairman, Dennis Curran, in 1980. We are one of the largest privately owned civil engineering and infrastructure specialists in the UK, with over 40 years of experience in providing design, civil engineering and maintenance services working across multiple sectors, including:

• Water
• Transport
• Built environment
• Energy

We operate as a tier one partner for blue chip, regulated and private clients, working as part of large frameworks, joint ventures and alliances as well as on individual standalone projects, developing long‑term relationships based on delivering to the Barhale values which have been integral to our business since 1985.

Company Website:

https://www.barhale.co.uk/

Company Showcase Video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFqsoclCUZA

Why join Barhale?

• As Gold Investors in People, we are committed to a high standard of people practices, creating an inclusive environment and ensuring cultural alignment to business strategy, ethos and philosophies.
• Job security, long‑term secured work through various frameworks and large infrastructure schemes
• A broad range of civil engineering, mechanical and electrical schemes across some of the UK’s largest infrastructure projects and clients
• Strong career progression as demonstrated by our track record in promoting from within, as we believe this is a key driver of our success

Who are the IOS Alliance?

Barhale is one of three delivery partners within the Anglian Water Integrated Operational Solutions (IOS) Alliance. IOS is a medium to high complexity, capital maintenance and enhancement, Civil and MEICA, design and build delivery unit working across Water and Water Recycling to support the successful implementation of the Anglian Water AMP 8 business plan.

Trainee Cost Clerk

The Role

Working as part of the project commercial team, you will provide commercial and administrative support for the project(s) on a day‑to‑day basis.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist the wider commercial team with the provision of transparent, accurate and timely commercial cost reporting for the project.
• Support with the financial closure of projects within the prescribed contractual timescales
• Undertake risk‑based reviews of the data to identify potentially disallowable costs, drive on‑going compliance and potential cost efficiency opportunities.
• Help with coordination of project plant/equipment/material requirements, requisitions/orders, and active management of the aforementioned on‑site to minimise costs.
• Actively manage costs and accruals to maximise value and minimise future liabilities.
• Work collaboratively with the site team to provide commercial and administrative support on commercial matters.
• Support with the provision of accurate cost reporting and forecasting to mitigate adverse financial impacts.
• Assist with the effective capture of costs and allocation of associated liabilities to project activities.
• Ensure adherence to alliance and Barhale processes and systems.
• Work with the Quantity Surveyor on commercial reporting and ensure the reporting information is accurate, meaningful, and timely. Actively undertake the reallocation costs/orders where required.
• Coordination of plant requirements for the project(s);
• A clear focus on timely reporting of the latest job costing position to give robust future forecasts of the final outturn cost.
• Ad‑hoc reporting of commercial and financial data, as and when required.
• Maintaining clear filing of commercial records in line with Alliance procedures.
• Assist in the preparation of project‑specific costs to complete (solution costs)

Essential

• Full UK Driving Licence, and willingness to travel to sites (where required)
• Microsoft suite of packages
• Strong numeracy skills
• Basic financial acumen

Desirable

• Experience using Redsky or a similar financial reporting system

Caring and investing in you

Our values have been embedded at Barhale for over 40 years, and they are our guiding principles regarding how we care and invest in people. Our values are our commitment to being a people‑centric company.

As a Gold Investors in People company and a Sunday Times 100 Best Company to Work For, we are committed to investing in people. We are passionate about creating a working environment where people are supported throughout their careers, where people can enjoy security and be part of a company that cares about them.

From the moment you join us, your well‑being and career aspirations will be supported by.

• Competitive salary
• Company Pension
• Life Assurance
• Private Medical
• 25 days of annual leave in addition to 8 public bank holidays and loyalty days
• 8 hours volunteering
• Employee Assistance Programme to support your mental, physiological and financial wellbeing
• Flexible benefits via salary sacrifice
• Company car/green car scheme/car allowance/Van (dependent on position)
• Leadership & management training and coaching
• Regular line management engagement and appraisal to support your career progression
• Development supported by internal and externally delivered training
• Continuous service awards

Would you like to know more?

Please contact our Recruitment team via [e-mail]