Cost Controller

cornerstoneconcilium; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 119,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornerstone Concilium in Baltimore, MD is seeking a Senior Cost Controls professional to manage budgets, actual costs, commitments, forecasts, and budget changes across projects. The role emphasizes accuracy, financial discipline, and collaboration with scheduling and risk teams.

You will supervise package and project level forecasting, analyze cost data for trends, review contractor invoices for contract compliance, and support monthly cost reporting and variance analysis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and training.
• 10+ years of experience in cost controls or related field.
• Strong financial acumen and project cost management expertise.
• Excellent MS Excel skills and experience with cost control tools.
• Attention to detail, good communication, and problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead cost reporting at the package level including variance analysis.
• Manage budgets, commitments, accruals, forecasts and budget changes at package/project level.
• Coordinate with Scheduling and Risk teams to align time-phased budgets and forecasts.
• Review contractor invoices for contract compliance with financial terms.
• Support PMs, Commercial teams, and Change Management with cost impacts of changes.

Skills

Financial acumen

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Finance, Accounting, or relevant discipline

Tools

MS Excel

Project management software

Cost control systems

Job description

Position Description:

• This position performs Cost Controls activities relating to Budget, Actual Cost, Commitments, Forecasting ETC/EAC, and Budget Changes.
• Manage and ensure accuracy of package and project level budgets and contingency, and any changes related to both.
• Manage and ensure accuracy of package and project level actual costs and accruals monthly.
• Manage and ensure accuracy of package and project level Forecasts monthly.
• Manage and analyze cost data to identify trends and potential impacts.
• Measure and analyze package progress and forecast in conjunction with the Scheduling team including Time-phasing budgets and forecasts.
• Support the Change Management process by collecting cost impacts for potential changes.
• Support the Change Management process by working with Estimating to ensure all cost impacts are captured.
• Support the package by identifying cost-saving opportunities and mitigating financial risks in coordination with the risk management team.
• Reviews contractor invoices for contract compliance with financial clauses including expenses and rates.
• Support the Commercial Mgr./Contract Admins with impacts of changes to contracts and purchase orders, invoice reviews, and accruals validation.
• Support the monthly reporting process by leading Cost Reporting at the Package-level including developing and presenting variance analysis.
• Maintains the cost control system and follows cost management procedures.
• Performs cost control activities within the Project Management Information System (PMIS) Control Module.
• Coordinates with the Commercial team to maintain alignment between the PMIS Cost Controls and Contracts modules.
• The role supports the Program Budget Manager, Commercial Managers, Contract Admins, Project Managers, Project Directors, and Amtrak Finance in collecting and reporting on budgets, commitments, accruals, actuals, and forecast costs.

Preferred Qualification:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Finance, Accounting, or relevant discipline, or, equivalent combination of post – secondary education and training
• 10 Minimum Years of Experience required
• Financial acumen
• Project cost management expertise
• Attention to detail, good communication skills, and good problem-solving skills.
• Expert with MS Excel
• Experience with project management software or cost control systems

Full time position

Minimum 3 days in person per week at Integrated Program office in Baltimore, MD

Salary range:

$118,736 to $140,000 YR