Project Controls Specialist

Exp Us Services; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 76,000 - 116,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

HSA/FSAs

Disability insurance

Wellness reimbursement

Transit/parking benefits

Job summary

Exp Federal is seeking a mid-level Project Controls Specialist to join our Construction & Mission Support Group. Based in Atlanta, Chantilly, or Chicago, you will manage project budgets, cost plans, forecasts, and financial tracking, collaborating with PMs and accounting.

You’ll analyze variances, prepare ETC/EAC forecasts, and support billing, procurement tracking, and closeout activities in a fast-paced, non-corporate environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree requirement or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years of relevant project controls/cost management experience.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft 365 applications.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and update project budgets, cost plans, forecasts, and financial tracking with project managers.
• Monitor commitments, costs, labor, expenses, and budgets to keep cost information accurate.
• Prepare recurring cost reports, budget summaries, forecasts, and variance analyses for leadership.
• Analyze variances, trends, and potential overruns; communicate findings and corrective actions.
• Develop ETC and EAC forecasts by validating project cost data.
• Review financial information for accuracy and coordinate with teams to resolve issues.
• Support invoice review, billing, PO and subcontract tracking, and documentation of commitments.
• Maintain cost-control records and audit-ready files in Kahua and other systems.
• Manage project setup, cost coding structures, and budget revisions; support financial closeout.
• Prepare financial portions of progress reports and provide cost information for internal and client deliverables.
• Collaborate with PMs to improve cost visibility and forecasting accuracy.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Cost management

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Kahua

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Project Controls Specialist

FD-M-EXE Atlanta, GA, Atlanta, GA, US

2 days ago Requisition ID: 1647

Salary Range: $76,000.00 To $116,000.00 Annually

Project Controls Specialist Atlanta, GA; Chantily, VA; or Chicago, IL Exp Federal is an established, collaborative, and growing full-service architectural, engineering and construction firm that provides a full range of design solutions and construction to the federal government. Our team of professionals operates in some of the most challenging environments to provide services to a variety of governmental agencies globally.

The Challenge

We are seeking a mid-level Project Controls Specialist to join our Construction & Mission Support Group. The ideal candidate is analytical, detail-oriented, and self-motivated, with the ability to independently manage project cost information while collaborating closely with project managers, accounting, and operational teams. This individual communicates proactively, takes ownership of their work, and thrives in a collaborative, fast-paced environment with a flexible, non-corporate structure.

Principal Areas of Responsibility

• Develop, maintain, and update project budgets, cost plans, forecasts, and financial tracking tools in coordination with project managers.
• Monitor project commitments, actual costs, labor charges, expenses, and remaining budgets to maintain accurate and timely project cost information.
• Prepare recurring cost reports, budget summaries, forecasts, and variance analyses for project and operational leadership.
• Analyze budget variances, cost trends, and potential overruns; communicate findings and recommend corrective actions in coordination with project teams.
• Develop and maintain Estimate-to-Complete (ETC) and Estimate-at-Completion (EAC) forecasts by collecting, validating, and reconciling project cost data.
• Review project financial information for accuracy, identify discrepancies, and coordinate with accounting and project teams to resolve issues.
• Support invoice review, billing, purchase order and subcontract tracking, and documentation of project commitments.
• Maintain cost-control records, logs, supporting documentation, and audit-ready project files in Kahua and other business systems.
• Manage project setup and cost coding structures and support budget revisions, change tracking, and financial closeout activities.
• Prepare the financial and cost-control portions of project progress reports and provide accurate cost information for internal and client-facing deliverables.
• Collaborate with project managers to improve cost visibility, forecasting accuracy, and overall project financial performance.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business, construction management, project management, or related field. Equivalent relevant experience without a bachelor’s degree may be considered.
• 3–5 years of relevant experience in project controls, project accounting, cost management, construction management, or related discipline.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft 365 applications used for financial analysis, reporting, and project coordination.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with project management, construction management, or project controls software, such as Kahua.
• Experience supporting federal government contracts, construction management programs, or architecture and engineering projects.
• Working knowledge of project cost structures, labor and expense tracking, commitments, change management, billing, forecasting, and project closeout.
• Experience supporting multiple projects or programs simultaneously.
• Familiarity with project lifecycle financial management, including project setup, budgeting, forecasting, change management, and closeout.

Salary Base:

This full-time position as a Project Controls Specialist has an annual range of $76,000-$116,000 . The actual range is based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and specific work location. This may be different in other locations due to differences in the cost of labor.

More About Us:

Exp Federal brings together Architecture & Engineering (A&E) and mission-support professionals to deliver solutions for federal government clients. Our teams collaborate across disciplines to tackle complex projects and create meaningful results.

We believe in recognizing individual strengths and providing opportunities to grow. Whether your expertise is in design, engineering, construction, project delivery, or technical support, you’ll have the opportunity to make an impact while building your career.

Our Values:

Respect: We respect people, honor diversity, and treat each other fairly. These are the cornerstones of our culture and the key to our culture and the key to our ability to work successfully as a global team.

Unquestioned Integrity: We operate with the highest standards of honesty and responsibility – as individuals and as a corporation. We’re people who meet routine , everyday obligations with honesty.

Safety: We place the highest priority on the health and safety of our employees and protection of our assets and the environment. Our goal is zero work-related injuries.

Customer Service: We listen and respond to the changing needs of our customers, the industry, and the environment, and draw upon lessons learned from our experiences around the world.

Impeccable Quality: We recognize that quality is fundamental in all our operations — it is everyone’s responsibility. We have established procedures, assessments, and continuous improvement processes in place to ensure the quality of our work.

Sustainability: We understand the impact of our work on the environment and that sustainability is a part of everything we do. We work with customers to provide responsible, efficient, healthy, and effective project solutions to reduce our overall environmental impact.

What We Offer:

• Exp onential full-time professional growth and development
• Fast-paced and professional work culture
• Health insurance including medical, dental, and vision
• Health Savings Account and Flexible Savings Account options
• Company HSA funding contributions
• Company-sponsored Long-Term Disability, Short-Term Disability, and Life Insurance
• Wellness reimbursement on fitness memberships and other qualified programs
• Pre-tax funds on qualified transportation and parking expenses

What Happens Next?

Our Talent Engagement Team will contact you via email to let you know what next steps at exp Federal look like for you! Make sure to check your spam. Don’t worry, if you are not selected to move forward in the interview process, we will keep your resume on file for future opportunities you may be a better fit for.

*Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, certifications, and specific work location. This may be different in other locations due to differences in the cost of labor.

Exp Federal is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer who fully and actively supports equal access for all people regardless of Race, Color, Religion, Gender, Age, National Origin, Veteran Status, Disability, and Family and Medical Leave.

U.S. Citizenship is required for our positions in accordance with 8 U.S.C. 1324b.2c.

Should you need any special accommodations , please feel free to contact us at [e-mail] and we will arrange for the most suitable accommodations based on your needs.

Beware of Fraudulent Job Postings

Please be aware of recruitment scams where people or entities are misusing the name of exp Federal/ exp Federal Pacific to post fraudulent job postings. We will never charge a fee for joining our company or to vet the authenticity of an employee or applicant.