Project Controller

Brunel; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Brunel seeks a Project Controller to support major capital projects in a construction/EPC environment. This 12-month contract offers a potential path to permanent employment and focuses on cost control, forecasting, and financial reporting throughout the project lifecycle.

You will work with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Finance, Contracts, and Project Management teams to ensure accurate financial information, monitor performance, and support governance decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• 3–6 years of project controls experience on major capital projects.
• Proficient with EVM, cost control, budgeting, and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Support EPC and major contract cost control and budget alignment across capital projects.
• Track commitments, POs, change orders, invoices, and payment applications for accurate cost reporting.
• Develop budgets, baselines, forecasts, cash flow projections, and contingency tracking.
• Maintain project controls systems and ensure data accuracy and currency.
• Prepare controls reports, dashboards, and performance updates for stakeholders.
• Conduct variance analysis and identify cost and risk mitigation actions.
• Maintain earned value management (EVM) and KPI tracking activities.
• Support financing activities, including lender reporting and funding requests.

Skills

Project controls

Cost control

Forecasting

Budgeting

Excel

MS Office

EVM

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field

Tools

Oracle

Power BI

Microsoft Dynamics 365

InEight

Job description

Contract Duration: 12 months, with potential conversion to a permanent position

About the Role

Brunel is seeking a Project Controller to support the delivery of major capital projects within a construction and EPC environment. This is an initial 12-month contract opportunity with the potential to transition into a permanent position.

This position will play an important role in supporting project cost control, forecasting, financial reporting, contract administration, and overall project controls activities throughout the project lifecycle.

The Project Controller will work closely with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Finance, Contracts, and Project Management teams to maintain accurate project financial information, monitor performance, and support effective project governance and decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Support the administration of EPC and major contract agreements to ensure financial compliance, budget alignment, effective change management, and cost control across capital projects.
• Track project commitments, purchase orders, change orders, invoices, and payment applications, supporting accurate cost reporting and claims administration.
• Support the establishment and maintenance of project budgets, cost baselines, forecasts, cash flow projections, and contingency tracking throughout the project lifecycle.
• Maintain project controls systems and ensure project cost and performance data is accurate, consistent, and up to date.
• Prepare project controls reports, dashboards, and performance updates for internal and external stakeholders.
• Perform budget-to-actual and forecast variance analysis, identifying potential cost and project risks and supporting the development of mitigation actions.
• Maintain earned value management (EVM) and key performance indicator (KPI) tracking activities.
• Support project financing activities, including financial close requirements, lender reporting, funding requests, and cash flow tracking.
• Coordinate with project stakeholders to support financial compliance, capital forecasting, and project governance requirements.
• Apply an understanding of construction contracts, commercial terms, change management, and project governance processes.
• Support the development and maintenance of work breakdown structures (WBS), including associated activities, logic, progress measurement, and cost allocation.
• Support project stage gate processes and project controls activities across major capital projects and programs.
• Assist with project controls capability and maturity assessments.
• Identify opportunities to improve project controls processes, reporting, digital solutions, and data management.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Finance, Contracts, and Project Management teams to support integrated project controls delivery.

Qualifications & Experience

• 3–6 years of project controls experience within construction, EPC, infrastructure, or major capital projects.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification in Construction Management, Engineering, Finance, Quantity Surveying, Project Management, or a related field.
• Good understanding of project controls principles, including cost control, budgeting, forecasting, earned value management (EVM), and project performance reporting.
• Experience supporting major capital projects or programs, including familiarity with project lifecycle activities and stage gate processes.
• Strong analytical and cost control skills with excellent attention to detail.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and the Microsoft Office suite.
• Experience with ERP, project controls, reporting, or project management systems such as Oracle, Power BI, Microsoft Dynamics 365, or InEight is preferred.
• Experience within renewable energy, infrastructure, or the broader energy sector is desirable.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, CCP, RICS, or PQS are considered beneficial.
• Strong organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.