Cost Analyst

Coalesce Management Consulting; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Coalesce Management Consulting in Atlanta, GA is seeking a Cost Analyst to support large-scale capital projects across Transmission, Distribution, and Power Generation. This role will partner with Project Managers, Project Controls, Engineering, Construction, and Finance teams to maintain accurate cost reporting, forecasts, and budget controls throughout the project lifecycle.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of cost analysis experience, advanced Excel and ERP system skills, and the ability to

Qualifications

• 5+ years of cost analysis or project-controls experience on capital projects.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, accruals, and invoicing.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with SAP, Oracle, and Power BI.
• Strong communication and ability to translate cost data into insights.

Responsibilities

• Track budgets, actual costs, commitments, invoices, accruals, and forecasted final costs.
• Prepare cost reports, budget-versus-actual analyses, and variance explanations for project leadership.
• Develop forecasts, including Estimate at Completion (EAC) and Estimate to Complete (ETC).
• Support project managers with cost planning, budget updates, contingency tracking, and financial decision-making.
• Review purchase orders, contractor invoices, change orders, and work orders for accuracy and alignment with approved budgets.
• Identify cost risks, trends, and potential overruns early; provide clear recommendations to mitigate them.
• Partner with scheduling and project-controls teams to connect project progress, schedule changes, and cost impacts.
• Maintain cost data within project and financial systems such as SAP, Oracle, or similar platforms.
• Support capital-project reporting, documentation, audits, and closeout activities.
• Communicate cost status clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Accounting/Business/Engineering

Tools

Excel

SAP

Oracle

Power BI

Job description

Cost Analyst — Transmission & Power Generation

We are seeking a Cost Analyst to support large-scale capital projects across Transmission, Distribution, and Power Generation. This person will partner with Project Managers, Project Controls, Engineering, Construction, and Finance teams to maintain accurate cost reporting, forecasts, and budget controls throughout the project lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Track project budgets, actual costs, commitments, invoices, accruals, and forecasted final costs.
• Prepare monthly cost reports, budget-versus-actual analyses, and variance explanations for project leadership.
• Develop and maintain forecasts, including Estimate at Completion (EAC) and Estimate to Complete (ETC).
• Support project managers with cost planning, budget updates, contingency tracking, and financial decision-making.
• Review purchase orders, contractor invoices, change orders, and work orders for accuracy and alignment with approved budgets.
• Identify cost risks, trends, and potential overruns early; provide clear recommendations to mitigate them.
• Partner with scheduling and project-controls teams to connect project progress, schedule changes, and cost impacts.
• Maintain cost data within project and financial systems such as SAP, Oracle, or similar platforms.
• Support capital-project reporting, documentation, audits, and closeout activities.
• Communicate cost status clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in cost analysis, cost controls, project controls, or financial analysis supporting capital projects.
• Experience supporting utility, transmission, substation, power-generation, renewable-energy, EPC, or heavy-construction projects.
• Strong experience with budgeting, forecasting, cost variance analysis, accruals, commitments, and invoice tracking.
• Advanced Excel skills; experience with SAP, Oracle, Power BI, or similar systems.
• Ability to work independently while partnering closely with Project Managers and cross-functional teams.
• Strong attention to detail, communication skills, and ability to turn cost data into clear business insights.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with transmission lines, substations, power plants, renewable projects, BESS, or major utility capital programs.
• Primavera P6 exposure and an understanding of how schedule changes affect cost.
• Earned Value Management (EVM/EVMS) experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience managing project changes, contingency, and forecast-at-completion reporting.

Ideal candidate:

A hands-on Project Controls or Cost Analyst professional from a utility or EPC environment who can confidently tell a Project Manager where we are financially, why we are off plan, and where the project will finish.