Project Controls Specialist III (Cost Analyst)

SummitHR; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

SummitHR is seeking a seasoned Project Controls professional in Los Angeles to maintain budgets and forecasts for construction programs. You will collaborate across PM and Construction teams to establish baselines, secure funding, and perform variance analysis in monthly reviews.

The role emphasizes risk assessment, cost control, and proactive mitigation across multiple funding sources. The ideal candidate brings 5–10 years of program controls experience, a degree in engineering/construction

Qualifications

• 5–10 years' experience in program and/or project controls on a construction program
• BS/BA Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business or related field; additional four years may substitute for education
• Experience across the full project lifecycle
• Knowledge of cost/schedule management, earned value management, change management, forecasting, and risk assessment
• Ability to present data to management clearly and professionally
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to adapt to changing requirements and fast-paced environment
• Team-oriented and professional business demeanor

Responsibilities

• Maintain and manage the accuracy and integrity of project budgets and financial forecasts
• Collaborate with Project and Construction Managers on white papers for project establishment, re-baselining, and funding
• Participate in monthly Estimate at Completion reviews with variance analysis
• Allocate and manage Estimates to Complete for projects and related requests
• Participate in change management and risk assessment meetings on cost trends and mitigations
• Analyze cost variances, performance data, and trends to identify financial impacts and corrective actions
• Perform monthly reconciliation of budget and costs for month-end reporting
• Track and analyze trends in project costs and mitigation effectiveness against forecasts
• Review budgets and expenditures across multiple funding sources for alignment with goals
• Coordinate with scheduling teams on cash flow and schedule impact on costs
• Review financial reports and progress data to identify risks
• Examine staffing plans to optimize resource use and reduce financial strain
• Assist in preparation and validation of contract amendments, task orders, change orders for proper budgeting and coding
• Ensure compliance with cost management policies for multi-funding projects
• Generate detailed financial and budget reports for budgeting, control, auditing, and asset tracking using Proliance, Deltek, Costpoint
• Deliver tailored financial, budget, and schedule reports to Project Director and stakeholders
• Serve as primary contact for financial information requests from Project Leadership and PMO
• Process budget transfers, closeouts, contract requests, purchase requisitions, amendments, PBAs, and change orders into cost systems
• Collaborate to validate and collect budget data for dashboard reports
• Manage and reconcile project control data and reports
• Oversee contractor and consultant payment approvals for accuracy and compliance
• Assist in assembling contract requests, requisitions, amendments, PBAs, and change orders with proper accounting treatment
• Gather physical completion data and adjust budgets and forecasts accordingly
• Take on additional duties or special projects to support cost management initiatives

Skills

Cost management

Schedule management

Earned value

Forecasting

Change management

Risk assessment

Communication

Teamwork

Education

BS/BA Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business or related degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Advanced Excel

Proliance

Data Warehouse

Job description

Position Description:

- Maintain and manage the accuracy and integrity of project budgets and financial forecasts, ensuring compliance with established cost management procedures and policies.

- Collaborate with Project and Construction Managers in drafting white papers for project establishment, re-baselining, and securing funding for projects.

- Participate in monthly Estimate at Completion reviews, collaborating with the Management Office to provide in-depth variance analysis and identify underlying causes.

- Allocate and manage Estimates to Complete for projects, including but not limited to change order proposals, task order requests, online vendor portal requests to ensure continued alignment with financial objectives.

- Participate in the change management and risk assessment meetings to analyze cost-related trends, risks, and exposures, contributing to proactive cost mitigation strategies.

- Conduct detailed analysis of cost variances, performance data, and trends to identify potential impacts on budgets, recommending corrective actions where necessary, ensuring financial data aligns with project goals.

- Perform monthly reconciliation of budget & costs to ensure month-end data reporting accuracy

- Track and analyze trends in project costs and the effectiveness of mitigation plans, comparing these against actual performance and forecasts.

- Review project budgets and expenditures across multiple funding sources to ensure alignment with overall financial goals and objectives.

- Work with scheduling teams to assess the impact of cash flow and schedule performance on project costs, identifying variances, cost overruns or underruns, and potential forecasting issues.

- Review and analyze financial reports, cost performance, and progress data to ensure accuracy, providing insights into potential financial risks on a regular and/or as needed basis.

- Examine staffing plans to identify resource demand peaks and recommend cost-effective strategies to level resources and reduce unnecessary financial strain.

- Assist in preparation and validation of contract amendment exhibits, task order requests, and change orders for proper budget allocation, cost coding accuracy, and adherence to reporting and financial standards ensuring alignment with project budget and cost tracking procedures.

- Ensure compliance with company policies and procedures regarding cost management for projects with multiple funding sources.

- Generate detailed financial and budget reports for campus-specific budgeting, cost control, auditing, and asset tracking using systems like Proliance, Deltek,Costpoint, and other standard office program & applications

- Create and deliver tailored financial, budget, and schedule reports in response to directives from the Project Director and other stakeholders.

- Serve as the primary contact for financial information requests from Project Leadership Team and the Project Management Office, providing timely and accurate budget and cost details.

- Administer the processing of budget transfers, financial closeouts, contract requests, purchase requisitions, amendments, PBAs, change orders and other necessary documentation into the cost management systems.

- Collaborate with the office to validate and collect project budget data, contributing to the development of accurate dashboard reports for stakeholders.

- Manage and reconcile project control data, ensuring accuracy in program control databases and related financial reports.

- Oversee the review and approval process for contractor and consultant payment applications, ensuring financial accuracy and compliance.

- Assist in assembling contract requests, purchase requisitions, amendments, PBAs, and change orders, ensuring proper accounting treatment and alignment of supporting documents.

- Assist in gathering physical completion data and perform necessary data entry to adjust project budgets and forecasts accordingly.

- Take on additional duties or special projects as needed to support cost management initiatives and overall project success.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• 5 - 10 years' experience professional experience in program and/or project controls on a construction program.
• BS/BA Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business or related degree. Additional four years of qualifying experience in excess to the minimum stated above may be substituted for the required education.
• Experience working through the entire project lifecycle.
• Knowledge of theories, principles and practices of cost/schedule management, earned value management, change management, forecasting, and risk assessment.
• Ability to present data to management in an organized manner.
• Exceptional communication skills required.
• Ability to adapt to changing requirements and situations.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to perform in a business environment, maintaining professionalism in all communications and demeanor.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience utilizing Microsoft Office, Advanced Excel Skills, Proliance, Data-Warehouse or other systems used by a large capital program, and any educational facility experience.