Cost Controller

ACTalent; United States; Hybrid; USD 86,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental & vision

401(k) Retirement Plan

Life Insurance

Time Off / PTO (Vacation or Sick Leave

Transportation benefits

Job summary

Actalent is seeking a Project Cost Controller to oversee financial management of complex projects from Portsmouth, NH, with a hybrid work arrangement. The role focuses on budgets, forecasts, commitments, and actual expenditures, delivering clear insights to leadership and customers.

The candidate will develop cost forecasts, perform variance analyses, track budgets versus actuals, and present financial information to project stakeholders while collaborating with project teams to maintain

Qualifications

• 8+ years in project controls, cost controls, or cost engineering.
• Experience budgeting, forecasting, cost tracking, and variance analysis.
• Strong analytical ability with large data sets.
• Experience presenting financial information to customers and senior leadership.

Responsibilities

• Manage and monitor project costs, budgets, commitments, forecasts, and actual expenditures throughout the project lifecycle.
• Analyze project cost data to identify trends, risks, variances, and potential financial impacts on project performance.
• Develop and maintain accurate project cost forecasts that support effective planning and decision-making.
• Track budget versus actual costs and provide detailed variance analysis to project leadership and stakeholders.
• Prepare regular project controls and cost reports for project leadership and customers, ensuring accuracy and clarity.
• Meet directly with customers to provide project updates and explain cost performance, forecasts, and potential risks.
• Collaborate closely with Project Managers and other project stakeholders to maintain accurate and up-to-date cost information.
• Analyze large, complex data sets and translate findings into clear, actionable information for the project team.
• Support change management processes by evaluating and communicating the cost impact of project changes.
• Assist with financial reporting and contribute to the overall project controls processes and methodologies.

Skills

Project controls

Cost tracking

Budget forecasting

Variance analysis

Data analysis

Customer communication

Construction industry experience

Job description

Job Title: Project Cost Controller

Job Description

The Project Cost Controller manages and monitors all financial aspects of complex projects, including budgets, commitments, forecasts, and actual expenditures. This role focuses on analyzing project cost data, identifying trends and risks, and providing clear, actionable insights to project leadership and customers. The Project Cost Controller works closely with project teams to maintain accurate cost information, support change management, and ensure robust project controls and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Manage and monitor project costs, budgets, commitments, forecasts, and actual expenditures throughout the project lifecycle.
• Analyze project cost data to identify trends, risks, variances, and potential financial impacts on project performance.
• Develop and maintain accurate project cost forecasts that support effective planning and decision-making.
• Track budget versus actual costs and provide detailed variance analysis to project leadership and stakeholders.
• Prepare regular project controls and cost reports for project leadership and customers, ensuring accuracy and clarity.
• Meet directly with customers to provide project updates and explain cost performance, forecasts, and potential risks.
• Collaborate closely with Project Managers and other project stakeholders to maintain accurate and up-to-date cost information.
• Analyze large, complex data sets and translate findings into clear, actionable information for the project team.
• Support change management processes by evaluating and communicating the cost impact of project changes.
• Assist with financial reporting and contribute to the overall project controls processes and methodologies.

Essential Skills

• 8+ years of experience in project controls, cost controls, or cost engineering.
• Strong experience with project budgeting, forecasting, cost tracking, and variance analysis.
• High-level analytical ability with advanced analytical and statistical skills to interpret large, complex data sets.
• Proven background in project controls and cost controls, including budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and cost reporting.
• Strong understanding of project controls processes and financial performance metrics.
• Cost analysis expertise, including job costing and cost control in complex project environments.
• Construction and construction management experience related to project cost control.
• Ability to analyze complex project data and confidently explain results to customers and senior leadership.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to translate complex cost data into clear, actionable information for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Experience developing cost reports and presenting project financial information directly to customers and senior leadership.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience working within construction, engineering, manufacturing, industrial, or other complex project environments.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with Project Managers and cross-functional project stakeholders.
• Client-facing communication skills with the ability to build trust and credibility through clear financial explanations.
• Comfort working with large data sets and using analytical tools or methods to derive insights for project controls.

Work Environment

This role follows a hybrid work arrangement, with four days spent onsite and one day worked remotely each week. The position operates in complex project environments such as construction, engineering, manufacturing, or industrial settings, requiring close collaboration with project teams, leadership, and customers. The work involves regular interaction with project data, financial reports, and project controls tools, as well as participation in meetings to discuss cost performance, forecasts, and risks.

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Portsmouth, NH.

Pay and Benefits

The pay range for this position is $62.50 - $76.92/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your jobclassification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may besubject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefitsavailable for this temporary role may include the following:

• Medical, dental & vision
• Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital
• 401(k) Retirement Plan Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available
• Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents)
• Short and long-term disability
• Health Spending Account (HSA)
• Transportation benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

Job Type & Location

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Portsmouth, NH.

Application Deadline

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 24, 2026.

Workplace Type

This is a hybrid position in Portsmouth,NH.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email [e-mail] for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.