Cost Manager

Gilder Search Group; Missouri; On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Gilder Search Group is seeking a Project Cost Manager responsible for enhancing cost management practices across the enterprise. The role involves partnering with Operations Leadership to improve forecasting accuracy and training project teams on various cost processes.

The ideal candidate will have 7-15+ years of experience in cost engineering or project controls and possess strong financial acumen. Benefits include software proficiency in JDE, Power BI, and Procore.

Qualifications

• 7–15+ years experience.
• Strong work ethic and a 'can-do' attitude.
• Experience in self-perform or production-heavy work.

Responsibilities

• Assist project teams with internal cost processes and procedures.
• Review and validate monthly project forecasts.
• Train PMs and PEs on cost forecasting methodologies.

Skills

Cost engineering / project controls

Excel + Job cost systems

Project Management with strong financial acumen

Training teams

Driving behavioral change

Tools

JDE

Power BI Reporting

Procore

Microsoft Project or Primavera P6

Job description

Project Cost Manager

Position Summary

The Project Cost Manager is responsible for elevating cost management practices across the enterprise. This role partners with Operations Leadership to improve forecasting accuracy, train project teams, assist in the reconciliation of cost issues and proactively identify impacts to project profitability.

This individual acts as the company’s project cost subject matter expert, ensuring consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement in cost management across the organization.

Reports to:

• Director of Cost Management

Core Focus

• Forecast accuracy and consistency
• Training PMs and PEs on cost processes and systems; Cost spread, schedule of values, job cost reports ‘CMRs’, Change Management (Ops Suite), Profitability, Quantity Tracking, Invoicing and Accruals, Revenue Forecasting, Equipment Tracking, and Cost Reconciliation
• Auditing projects and assisting with profit fade/gains
• Standardizing cost practices
• Job cost tracking (labor, quantities, productivity)
• Monthly cost-to-complete forecasting
• Change orders and cost recovery
• Day-to-day support of PMs and PEs

Key Responsibilities

Forecasting & Financial Oversight

• Educate and assist project teams (PDs, PMs, PEs) with internal cost processes and procedures
• Review and validate monthly project forecasts
• Improve accuracy of revenue and cost-to-complete projections
• Identify trends in forecast misses and implement corrective actions
• Examine and dissect cost code efficiencies / inefficiencies

Training & Capability Building

• Train PMs and PEs on:
  • Cost forecasting methodologies
  • Cost management reporting (CMRs)
  • Monthly Revenue forecasting
  • Quantity Tracking – Materials and Equipment
  • Margin protection strategies
  • Schedule of Values
  • Billings
  • Change Order tracking from inception to execution
  • Timely invoice processing ‘DataServ’

Project Auditing & Profit Optimization

• Perform deep-dive financial reviews across projects
• Identify:
  • Profit gain/fade
  • Contingency/allowance spend
  • Underreported revenue opportunities
  • Cost inefficiencies
  • Contract Balance and Change Order alignment
• Provide actionable recovery strategies to project teams

Ideal Candidate

• 7–15+ years experience
• Strong work ethic and a "can-do" attitude
• Strong background in:
  • Cost engineering / project controls
  • Excel + Job cost systems
  • OR Project Management with strong financial acumen
• Experience in self-perform or production-heavy work
• Proven ability to:
  • Train teams
  • Challenge PMs
  • Drive behavioral change
• Added benefits – Software proficiency in:
  • JDE
  • Power BI Reporting
  • Procore
  • Microsoft Project or Primavera P6
• Ability to learn, navigate, teach and leverage complex software systems