Cost Control & Project Controls Analyst

SLSCO; Galveston (TX); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

SLSCO is seeking a Cost Control & Project Controls Analyst to support project management teams and the Finance department with cost reporting, forecasting, and performance monitoring. You will act as the bridge between Project Managers and Finance, translating project data into clear monthly financial reports.

The role emphasizes analysis, communication with PMs, and a deep understanding of why projects perform as they do, rather than traditional accounting.

Qualifications

• 3-7 years of experience in construction accounting, project controls, cost control, or related field.
• Strong understanding of construction project financials and job costing.
• Experience analyzing budgets, actual costs, commitments, forecasts, and profitability.
• Strong Excel skills and ability to work with large amounts of financial data.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills and confidence working with Project Managers.
• Ability to identify issues, ask thoughtful questions, and follow through to resolution.
• Strong attention to detail while maintaining an understanding of the overall project.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet monthly reporting deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly project cost-control and financial performance reports.
• Analyze project revenue, costs, commitments, gross profit, and forecasted results.
• Compare budget, actual costs, committed costs, and projected costs.
• Identify significant variances, unfavorable trends, and potential financial risks.
• Monitor project performance and identify issues before month-end when possible.
• Prepare reporting packages for review with Finance and Project Management.

Skills

Analytical

Detail-oriented

Communication

Problem-solving

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Construction Management, Business

Tools

Excel

Power BI

QuickBase

Job description

We are seeking a Cost Control & Project Controls Analyst to support our project management teams and Finance department with project cost reporting, financial analysis, forecasting, and performance monitoring. This role will serve as a key link between Project Managers and Finance, working directly with PMs to understand project performance, identify cost trends and variances, and prepare clear, meaningful monthly project financial reporting. The ideal candidate is analytical, detail-oriented, comfortable working with Project Managers, and able to look beyond the numbers to understand why a project is performing the way it is. This is not a traditional accounting or engineering position. The primary focus is project cost control, reporting, analysis, and communication with the project teams.

Key Responsibilities

Project Cost Control & Reporting

• Prepare monthly project cost-control and financial performance reports.
• Analyze project revenue, costs, commitments, gross profit, and forecasted results.
• Compare budget, actual costs, committed costs, and projected costs.
• Identify significant variances, unfavorable trends, and potential financial risks.
• Monitor project performance throughout the month and identify issues before month-end when possible.
• Prepare clear reporting packages for review with Finance and Project Management.

Project Manager Support

• Conduct regular cost-control meetings with Project Managers.
• Review project financial results with PMs and discuss significant variances.
• Ask questions and obtain explanations for material cost changes and trends.
• Follow up with PMs on corrective actions and outstanding items.
• Help PMs understand the financial impact of project decisions.
• Escalate significant financial concerns and emerging risks to the Finance Manager.

Forecasting & Analysis

• Assist Project Managers with monthly forecasting and Estimate at Completion (EAC) analysis.
• Evaluate whether current project performance supports the forecasted final cost and gross profit.
• Analyze labor, subcontractor, material, change order, and other project costs.
• Identify potential cost overruns and margin erosion.
• Perform trend analysis and provide insights that support management decision-making.
• Assist with developing and improving project cost-control processes and reporting.

Data & Process Improvement

• Maintain accurate project-control reports and supporting schedules.
• Reconcile project reporting to accounting and project-management data.
• Investigate discrepancies and work with appropriate teams to resolve them.
• Develop and improve spreadsheets, dashboards, and other reporting tools.
• Look for opportunities to make project reporting more efficient, consistent, and useful to management.

Experience/Skills

• 3-7 years of experience in construction accounting, project controls, cost control, project accounting, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of construction project financials and job costing.
• Experience analyzing project budgets, actual costs, commitments, forecasts, and profitability.
• Strong Excel skills and ability to work with large amounts of financial/project data.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills and confidence working directly with Project Managers.
• Ability to identify issues, ask thoughtful questions, and follow through to resolution.
• Strong attention to detail while maintaining an understanding of the overall project.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet recurring monthly reporting deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Construction Management, Business, or a related field.
• Experience with construction project management or accounting systems.
• Experience with monthly project forecasting and EAC reporting.
• Experience working in a General Contractor or construction environment.
• Experience with project dashboards, Power BI, QuickBase, or similar reporting platforms is a plus.