Cost Analyst (Education)

harrisassociates; Los Angeles (CA); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 145,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

ESOP

401K Match

PTO & Holidays

Health & Well-Being Allowance

Tuition reimbursement

Flexible hybrid/remote work plans

Job summary

Harris & Associates seeks a cost controls professional to maintain project budgets and forecasts across public infrastructure programs. You will work with PMO on EAC reviews, manage ETCs and change orders, and analyze variances to keep costs aligned with funding sources and schedules.

The role requires 5–10 years in construction cost controls, strong communication, and the ability to thrive in a collaborative, fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 5-10 years experience in program and/or cost controls on a construction program
• Experience through the entire project life cycle
• Knowledge of cost/schedule management, earned value management, forecasting, and risk assessment
• Ability to present data to management clearly
• Exceptional communication skills
• Adaptability in a fast-paced environment
• Team-oriented professional demeanor

Responsibilities

• Maintain accuracy of project budgets and forecasts and ensure policy compliance
• Collaborate on drafting white papers for project establishment and funding
• Participate in EAC reviews and provide variance analysis
• Manage Estimates to Complete (ETCs) for projects and change orders
• Contribute to cost mitigation strategies and risk assessments
• Analyze cost variances and forecast impacts on budgets
• Reconcile budget and costs monthly for reporting accuracy
• Track project costs against funding sources and schedules
• Support budget data collection and dashboard reporting for stakeholders
• Oversee contract amendments, PBAs, and change orders for proper accounting
• Gather completion data and adjust budgets/forecasts as needed
• Take on special projects to support cost management initiatives

Skills

Cost controls

Earned value management

Forecasting

Risk assessment

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

BS/BA in Engineering/Construction Management/Business

Tools

Proliance

Deltek Costpoint

Job description

Who We Are

Our Education team partners with K-12 school districts, community colleges, and universities to design and manage transformative programs that align with their goals. We partner with institutions on projects including:

• Modernization and expansion of facilities
• Infrastructure improvements for safety and sustainability
• Development of specialized spaces such as laboratories, research centers, and classrooms.

Position Description:

• Maintain and manage the accuracy and integrity of project budgets and financial forecasts, ensuring compliance with established cost management procedures and policies.
• Collaborate with Project and Construction Managers in drafting white papers for project establishment, re-baselining, and securing funding for capital projects.
• Participate in monthly Estimate at Completion (EAC) reviews, collaborating with the Project Management Office (PMO) to provide in-depth variance analysis and identify underlying causes.
• Allocate and manage Estimates to Complete (ETCs) for projects, including but not limited to change order proposals, task order requests, online vendor portal requests, and PBAs to ensure continued alignment with financial objectives.
• Participate in the change management and risk assessment meetings to analyze cost-related trends, risks, and exposures, contributing to proactive cost mitigation strategies.
• Conduct detailed analysis of cost variances, performance data, and trends to identify potential impacts on budgets, recommending corrective actions where necessary, ensuring financial data aligns with project goals.
• Perform monthly reconciliation of budget & costs to ensure month-end data reporting accuracy
• Track and analyze trends in project costs and the effectiveness of mitigation plans, comparing these against actual performance and forecasts.
• Review project budgets and expenditures across multiple funding sources to ensure alignment with overall financial goals and objectives.
• Work with scheduling teams to assess the impact of cash flow and schedule performance on project costs, identifying variances, cost overruns or underruns, and potential forecasting issues.
• Review and analyze financial reports, cost performance, and progress data to ensure accuracy, providing insights into potential financial risks on a regular and/or as needed basis.
• Examine staffing plans to identify resource demand peaks and recommend cost-effective strategies to level resources and reduce unnecessary financial strain.
• Assist in preparation and validation of contract amendment exhibits, task order requests, and change orders, PBAs for proper budget allocation, cost coding accuracy, and adherence to reporting and financial standards ensuring alignment with project budget and cost tracking procedures.
• Ensure compliance with district policies and procedures regarding cost management for capital projects with multiple funding sources.
• Generate detailed financial and budget reports for campus-specific budgeting, cost control, auditing, and asset tracking using systems like Proliance, Deltek Costpoint, and other standard office program & applications
• Create and deliver tailored financial, budget, and schedule reports in response to directives from the project director and other stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary contact for College financial information requests from CPLT and the PMO, providing timely and accurate budget and cost details.
• Administer the processing of budget transfers, financial closeouts, contract requests, purchase requisitions, amendments, PBAs, change orders and other necessary documentation into the cost management systems.
• Collaborate with the PMO to validate and collect project budget data, contributing to the development of accurate dashboard reports for stakeholders.
• Manage and reconcile project control data, ensuring accuracy in program control databases and related financial reports.
• Oversee the review and approval process for contractor and consultant payment applications, ensuring financial accuracy and compliance.
• Assist in assembling contract requests, purchase requisitions, amendments, PBAs, and change orders, ensuring proper accounting treatment and alignment of supporting documents.
• Assist in gathering physical completion data and perform necessary data entry to adjust project budgets and forecasts accordingly.
• Take on additional duties or special projects as needed to support cost management initiatives and overall project success.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• 5 - 10 years experience professional experience in program and/or costcontrols on a construction program.
• BS/BA Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business or related degree. Additional qualifying experience in excess to the minimum stated above may be substituted for the required education on a year for year basis.
• Experience working through the entire project life cycle
• Knowledge of theories, principles and practices of cost/schedule management, earned value management, change management, forecasting, and risk assessment
• Ability to present data to management in an organized manner
• Exceptional communication skills required
• Ability to adapt to changing requirements and situations
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to perform in a business environment, maintaining professionalism in all communications and demeanor

About Harris

Harris & Associatesis a 100% employee-owned company focused on solving today's complex challenges in the planning, designing, and constructing of public infrastructure. We serve clients in the municipal, water, transportation, and education markets tobuild equitable, resilient, and sustainable communities by providing a long-term financial framework as they plan their future.Our offices and project sites span the West Coast in California, Nevada, and Washington with a staff of over 290 employee-owners.

Harris fosters a collaborative work environment, understanding that diverse perspectives enhance our ability to better serve our clients and their communities. We are deeply passionate about our work, our clients, our team's personal and professional growth. We offer a mentorship program, on-the-job training, Harris University, and an annual staff summit all aimed at developing well-rounded consultants proficient in the full spectrum of services we provide. Additionally, we prioritize a healthy work-life balance and organized social and team building events.

Compensation & Benefits

The annual salary range offered for this position is $125K-145K. Actual pay offered will be dependent on the experience and expertise of the incoming candidate.

In addition to base salary, we also offer:

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• ESOP
• 401K Match
• PTO, 8 Paid Holidays + "1 WorkAversary" paid holiday to celebrate you!
• Health & Well-Being Allowance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Flexible hybrid/remote work plans

Harris & Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability) and provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.

Harris expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

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