Cost Controls Manager

KBR; Huntsville (AL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K plan with company match

medical

dental

vision

life insurance

flexible spending account

disability

paid time off

flexible work schedule

Job summary

KBR is seeking a Cost Controls Manager to provide client-side cost governance across the project lifecycle, from FEL/FEED through closeout. You will oversee contractor cost performance, validate budgets and forecasts, and deliver objective views of cost exposure, trends, and risk to leadership.

Lead the cost controls team, ensure data integrity across systems, and drive continuous improvement while interfacing with finance, engineering, procurement, and construction teams on major capital

Qualifications

• 12+ years of cost engineering or project controls experience on major EPC/EPCM capital projects.
• 5+ years in a lead or management role overseeing cost performance and client governance.
• Strong budgeting, forecasting, EAC, cash flow, and variance analysis experience.
• Advanced Excel and practical ERP/PPM system experience.

Responsibilities

• Define and administer client cost control requirements, coding structures, and governance.
• Review contractor baselines, estimates, cash flow, and contingency for accuracy.
• Develop independent cost estimates and assess variances and risks.
• Lead data integrity across cost systems and drive reporting in Power BI.
• Support tender evaluations, audits, and commercial negotiations with objective analysis.

Skills

Cost governance

Budgeting & forecasting

Earned value

Variance analysis

Advanced Excel

Power BI

Data integrity

ERP/PPM systems

Contractor oversight

Cost reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Construction/Finance

Professional credential: AACE CCP/CEP, PMP, RICS

Tools

EcoSys

SAP

Oracle

Microsoft Dynamics

Job description

Cost Controls Manager

At KBR, We Deliver. KBR ISA (Integrated Solutions Americas) delivers integrated, end-to-end engineering, procurement, and construction management services to the refining, LNG, midstream, chemicals, petrochemicals, oil and gas, power, and industrial infrastructure sectors. Our focus spans proprietary technology, consulting, and energy transition to complete delivery of major capital projects and programs.

KBR is seeking a Cost Controls Manager who will provide independent, client-side cost governance and assurance across the project lifecycle, from FEL/FEED through engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and closeout. The role oversees contractor cost performance, validates the credibility of budgets and forecasts, and gives project leadership an objective view of cost exposure, trends, changes, risks, and corrective actions.

• Cost Governance & Baseline Assurance
  • Define and administer the client’s cost control requirements, coding structures, control accounts, reporting calendar, and governance procedures.
  • Review and challenge contractor cost baselines, estimates, cash flow, commitment plans, contingency, escalation, and reconciliation to approved scope and the project WBS.
  • Provide evidence-based recommendations to the client on baseline acceptance, budget transfers, use of contingency, and forecast changes.
  • Maintain traceability between approved scope, budget, commitments, actuals, accruals, changes, risks, and forecast outcomes.
• Contractor Oversight, Forecasting & Reporting
  • Validate contractor cost reports, commitments, accruals, value of work done, invoices, and forecasts against source evidence and contract requirements.
  • Develop an independent PMC Estimate at Completion and Cost to Complete, clearly distinguishing the contractor position from the PMC assessment.
  • Analyze variances, trends, productivity, quantities, procurement status, currency, escalation, and schedule impacts to identify emerging cost exposure.
  • Provide concise weekly and monthly insights, including decision requirements, prioritized actions, and credible mitigation options.
• Change, Risk & Commercial Support
  • Oversee the cost elements of change control from early trend identification through assessment, approval, and incorporation into the control baseline.
  • Review contractor change estimates, variations, claims, and commercial submissions for scope completeness, quantity basis, rates, productivity, schedule linkage, and risk allowance.
  • Integrate quantitative and qualitative risk information with contingency forecasting and report risk drawdown versus contingency consumption.
  • Support tender evaluations, contract exhibits, payment milestones, audits, and commercial negotiations with objective cost analysis.
• Systems, Data & PMC Leadership
  • Assure data integrity and reconciliation across cost systems, ERP, procurement, schedule, progress, change, risk, and Power BI reporting.
  • Lead the PMC cost controls team, set review priorities, assign package ownership, and maintain clear escalation protocols.
  • Act as the principal cost interface with the client, contractors, project management, commercial, finance, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning.
  • Drive consistent procedures, lessons learned, benchmarking, and continuous improvement across the project or capital portfolio.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Finance, Business, or a related discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• 12+ years of cost engineering or project controls experience on major EPC/EPCM capital projects, including 5+ years in a lead or management role.
• Demonstrated PMC, owner’s team, consultant, or independent assurance experience overseeing contractor cost performance and advising senior project leadership.
• Strong command of budgeting, commitments, accruals, forecasting, EAC, cash flow, contingency, change control, earned value, and variance analysis.
• Ability to challenge contractor positions constructively, document independent recommendations, and communicate clearly with client and commercial stakeholders.
• Advanced Excel capability and practical experience with Power BI and integrated cost/ERP systems.
• Professional credential such as AACE CCP/CEP, PMP, RICS, or equivalent.
• Experience with EcoSys, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, or comparable ERP/PPM platforms.
• Experience in oil and gas, LNG, chemicals, power, energy transition, mining and minerals, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, or infrastructure.
• Experience supporting claims avoidance, quantum assessment, JV governance, lender assurance, or independent project reviews.

KBR Benefits

• 401K plan with company match
• medical
• dental
• vision
• life insurance
• AD&D
• flexible spending account
• disability
• paid time off
• flexible work schedule
• We support career advancement through professional training and development

Belong, Connect and Grow at KBR At KBR, we are passionate about our people and our Zero Harm culture. These inform all that we do and are at the heart of our commitment to, and ongoing journey toward being a People First company. That commitment is central to our team of team’s philosophy and fosters an environment where everyone can Belong, Connect and Grow. We Deliver – Together.

KBR is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, union status and/or beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

KBR — Delivering Solutions, Changing the World.

KBR brings together the best and brightest to deliver science, technology and engineering solutions that help governments and companies around the world accomplish their most critical missions and objectives. In everything we do, we are guided by our ONE KBR Values: We Value Our People – We create diverse, inclusive environments in which each person can feel safe, respected and valued, and where everyone has opportunities to grow and reach their full potential. We Deliver – We are uncompromising in our commitment to deliver innovative, high-quality, technology‑led solutions for our customers and exceptional, sustainable value for all our stakeholders. We Are People of Integrity – We value honesty, trust, courage, fairness, prudence and tenacity. We believe doing what’s right for the planet, the communities where we work, and our people is good for business. We Empower – We empower our people with a shared purpose, the right tools and the supportive culture they need to be proactive decision‑makers, to be adaptive to change, and to succeed. We Are a Team of Teams – We have a will to succeed, but we value the achievements of our team of teams over individual accomplishments. Our collective focus makes us a better, stronger, more effective company. We have also embedded environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles in every business operation and corporate function. Not only are we committed to operating safely, sustainably and equitably, but we are also committed to using our capabilities and expertise to help our customers accomplish their sustainability goals.

Worldwide, KBR employs a diverse workforce approximately 29,000 people strong, with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries. At KBR, We Deliver.