Cost Control Director

Confidential; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 650,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential is seeking an Executive Cost Controller to lead cost governance and forecasting across multi-billion-dollar programmes in Saudi Arabia. The role ensures integrity of cost performance from budget through close-out, protecting commercial objectives and delivering credible forecasts.

You will establish clear cost baselines, drive procurement and change controls, and provide concise, forward-looking cost intelligence to Executive Management and clients, shaping strategic decisions.

Qualifications

• 18+ years of experience in Cost Control / Cost Management, including senior leadership within a Tier-1 contractor, EPC or major programme environment.
• Proven experience on large-scale GCC / Saudi construction, infrastructure or giga-projects.
• Strong command of cost management, forecasting, EAC/ETC, cash flow, commitments, change and commercial controls.
• Demonstrated ability to manage cost across complex, multi-billion-dollar projects and diverse delivery environments.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to challenge, influence and drive accountability at executive level.
• Engineering, Construction, Quantity Surveying, Finance, Project Management or related degree.
• AACE, CCP, PMP, RICS or equivalent advantageous.
• Exceptional executive communication, stakeholder management and leadership capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Cost Control strategy, governance and organisation across multi-billion-dollar projects and programmes.
• Own cost baselines, budgets, commitments, forecasting, EAC/ETC and cash flow.
• Establish clear visibility of cost performance, trends, exposure and emerging overruns.
• Drive rigorous control of procurement, subcontractor costs, variations, accruals and commitments.
• Integrate cost management with planning, progress, risk, change and commercial functions.
• Challenge cost and forecast assumptions, ensuring accurate, transparent and decision-ready reporting.
• Lead cost assessments supporting change, claims, delay, disruption and commercial decisions.
• Identify emerging financial risks and lead mitigation and recovery strategies with project leadership.
• Provide concise, forward-looking cost intelligence to Executive Management, Client and PMC stakeholders.
• Establish performance standards and accountability across project teams, subcontractors and delivery partners.
• Build and lead a high-performing Cost Control function, developing capability, consistency and commercial discipline.

Skills

Cost Control

Cost Management

Forecasting

Executive leadership

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Education

Engineering, Construction, Quantity Surveying, Finance, Project Management or related degree

Job description

Provide executive leadership of Cost Control across major projects and programmes, ensuring disciplined cost governance, credible forecasting and early visibility of financial risk.

Own the integrity of project cost performance from budget and baseline through forecast, delivery and close-out, protecting project financial and commercial objectives.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead the Cost Control strategy, governance and organisation across multi-billion-dollar projects and programmes.
• Own cost baselines, budgets, commitments, forecasting, EAC/ETC and cash flow.
• Establish clear visibility of cost performance, trends, exposure and emerging overruns.
• Drive rigorous control of procurement, subcontractor costs, variations, accruals and commitments.
• Integrate cost management with planning, progress, risk, change and commercial functions.
• Challenge cost and forecast assumptions, ensuring accurate, transparent and decision-ready reporting.
• Lead cost assessments supporting change, claims, delay, disruption and commercial decisions.
• Identify emerging financial risks and lead mitigation and recovery strategies with project leadership.
• Provide concise, forward-looking cost intelligence to Executive Management, Client and PMC stakeholders.
• Establish performance standards and accountability across project teams, subcontractors and delivery partners.
• Build and lead a high-performing Cost Control function, developing capability, consistency and commercial discipline.

Profile

• 18+ years’ experience in Cost Control / Cost Management, including senior leadership within a Tier-1 contractor, EPC or major programme environment.
• Proven experience on large-scale GCC / Saudi construction, infrastructure or giga-projects.
• Strong command of cost management, forecasting, EAC/ETC, cash flow, commitments, change and commercial controls.
• Demonstrated ability to manage cost across complex, multi-billion-dollar projects and diverse delivery environments.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to challenge, influence and drive accountability at executive level.
• Engineering, Construction, Quantity Surveying, Finance, Project Management or related degree.
• AACE, CCP, PMP, RICS or equivalent advantageous.
• Exceptional executive communication, stakeholder management and leadership capability.

Success

Cost Predictability | Forecast Accuracy | Financial Discipline | Early Risk Visibility | Commercial Protection | Executive Accountability