COST ENGINEER

Lease Crutcher Lewis; Portland (OR); Hybrid; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Savings Account

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

401(k) with matching

Job summary

Lease Crutcher Lewis is seeking a Cost Engineer to establish and maintain cost control processes for DCAT projects. You will support financial management through change orders, invoicing, budgeting, forecasting, cost reporting and closeout support.

The ideal candidate is organized, detail‑oriented, discreet, and able to manage complex cost information in a fast‑paced construction environment. Onsite work with frequent collaboration across teams is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field is required; construction experience preferred.
• Understanding of full construction lifecycle and cost management concepts.
• Experience with change management, project scopes, drawings, and specifications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; discretion and confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Manage cost control workflows with project management.
• Coordinate change orders from start to finish, including routing and approval.
• Maintain detailed forecasting, cost tracking, and reporting across systems.
• Process change orders, invoices, and required documentation with client cost management teams.
• Prepare monthly invoices and maintain Schedule of Values.
• Assist with cost estimation, documentation, and client materials.

Skills

Cost control

Forecasting

Data analysis

Team collaboration

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field

Tools

Spectrum Accounting Software

Procore

Excel

Job description

Portland Office
550 SW 12th Ave
Portland, OR 97205, USA

Description

ABOUT THE ROLE

Lease Crutcher Lewis is seeking a Cost Engineer to help establish and maintain cost control processes throughout the lifecycle of DCAT projects. This role supports project financial management through change order administration, invoicing, budget tracking, forecasting, cost reporting, and closeout support.

You will work closely with project management, operations, accounting, and client cost management teams to keep project financial information accurate, organized, and actionable. Your work will help teams understand cost status, prepare reliable documentation, and support sound project decisions.

The ideal candidate is organized, detail-oriented, discreet, and comfortable managing complex cost information in a fast-paced construction environment.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

• You maintain accurate, timely, and well-organized cost control information across project systems and reporting tools.
• You support change orders, invoices, budgets, forecasts, pay applications, and cost documentation with consistency and follow-through.
• You help project teams understand cost status by preparing spreadsheets, tracking data, and reconciling information across systems.
• You communicate proactively with project teams, accounting, trade partners, vendors, owners, and client cost management teams.
• You manage competing priorities, protect confidential information, and keep cost processes moving in a fast-paced project environment.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Cost Management and Project Controls

• Manage project cost control workflows in close partnership with the project management team.
• Coordinate change order workflows from start to finish, including routing, review, content analysis, and approval processes.
• Maintain detailed spreadsheets that support accurate forecasting, cost tracking, and reporting across project systems.
• Coordinate with client cost management teams to process change orders, invoices, and required documentation.
• Support project budgets, cash flow projections, labor cost analysis, projected total cost reporting, and construction budget preparation.
• Prepare monthly invoices using Spectrum Accounting Software and coordinate backup documentation with project teams and trade partners.
• Maintain the Schedule of Values and ensure totals balance with the Spectrum Accounting estimate amount.
• Assist with scope change identification, cost estimating, documentation, assembly, and client presentation materials.
• Support owner pay applications, subcontractor pay application reviews, second-tier payments through joint checks, cost corrections, and financial contract closeout.

Communication and Collaboration

• Build strong working relationships with project teams, accounting, operations, clients, trade partners, vendors, and owners.
• Review and respond to cost-related correspondence with clarity, accuracy, and professionalism.
• Attend project finance and staff meetings prepared to share cost updates, open items, and follow-up needs.
• Prioritize work, manage deadlines, and stay organized in an environment with frequent interruptions and competing demands.

WHAT YOU BRING

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field, construction management certificate, and at least two years of relevant commercial construction experience required; equivalent work experience may apply.
• Understanding of the full construction project lifecycle.
• Experience with change management processes, defined project scopes, commercial construction drawings, and specifications preferred.
• Understanding of project risk management concepts.
• Computer proficiency required; experience with Spectrum Accounting Software, Procore, and Excel preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team while maintaining discretion and confidentiality.
• Ability to manage time, prioritize work, and multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organization and complex problem-solving skills.

KEY ATTRIBUTES

• Accurate and detail-oriented with financial, cost, and project documentation.
• Collaborative and service-oriented with project management, operations, accounting, clients, and trade partners.
• Clear and professional when presenting cost-related information.
• Highly organized and able to manage deadlines, changing priorities, and interruptions.
• Discreet and trustworthy with confidential financial and project information.
• Proactive in solving problems and keeping cost control processes moving.
• Committed to safety, quality, teamwork, and doing the right thing.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Most work will be performed on an active construction site, with related office work typically completed in a temporary job site office.
• When onsite, employees are required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment as required by company safety policies and weather conditions.
• Standard hours, with occasional evening or weekend work based on project needs or work-related events.

TRAVEL EXPECTATIONS

• Travel to other Lewis job sites and the home office for meetings may be required.

REQUIREMENTS

• Current driver’s license and clean driving record per company vehicle policy.
• Successful completion of required pre-employment screening is a conditional requirement of the employment process.
• Physical requirements include regular communication, requiring the ability to see, talk, and hear, as well as the ability to frequently stand, walk, and use hands, fingers, and arms. Additional abilities include sitting, climbing, and balancing, as well as the ability to frequently lift and move up to 25 pounds.
• Ability to walk and access all areas of an active construction site, including areas with uneven footing, working at heights, and working in varying climate conditions.

This posting reflects the role’s primary responsibilities and qualifications but is not intended to be an exhaustive list. Responsibilities may evolve based on business needs.

As a 100% employee-owned general contractor, Lease Crutcher Lewis offers comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with a generous Health Savings Account with annual employer-sponsored contributions. Our employer-funded Lifestyle Spending Account supports employee wellness, and our Employee Stock Ownership Plan is available at no cost to you. We also offer a 401(k) with a competitive matching program, volunteer PTO, and charitable giving matching programs.

Lease Crutcher Lewis is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on race, color, gender, pregnancy or breastfeeding, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, age, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by state or federal law.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.