Senior Construction Cost Controller | Budgeting & Forecasting

ARCO Companies; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

ARCO Companies in Birmingham, AL seeks an experienced Cost Manager to oversee project cost management and financial controls from preconstruction through closeout. You will partner with Project Managers, Superintendents, Finance, and clients to establish budgets, monitor performance, forecast costs, identify risks, and support sound project decisions.

The ideal candidate has strong construction cost-control experience, can translate financial data into actionable guidance for leadership, and is

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered.
• Five or more years of experience in construction cost control, project controls, project accounting, or related function.
• Experience with Procore required.
• Experience with general contracting, design-build, EPC, infrastructure, industrial, data center, or other complex construction projects.
• Strong understanding of construction budgets, forecasting, subcontractor costs, change management, commitments, accruals, and project financial reporting.
• Ability to interpret construction contracts, drawings, specifications, schedules, and cost information.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with construction ERP, project-management, or cost-control systems.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain project budgets, cost codes, work breakdown structures, and cost-control procedures.
• Track commitments, actual costs, accruals, and projected expenditures.
• Prepare monthly cost reports, forecasts, cash-flow projections, and estimates at completion.
• Analyze budget-to-actual performance, cost variances, trends, exposures, and project profitability.
• Identify cost risks early and recommend corrective actions to project leadership.
• Support project teams with cost-to-complete analysis and financial decision-making.
• Review project financial data for accuracy, completeness, and proper period accounting.
• Manage project-control processes for cost, schedule, procurement, and reporting.
• Coordinate cost information with project schedules and progress measurement.
• Support earned-value reporting, productivity tracking, and performance analysis where applicable.
• Prepare dashboards, presentations, and executive-level reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain accurate project documentation and reporting records.
• Provide timely updates on financial performance, risks, opportunities, and required decisions.
• Review subcontractor payment applications, invoices, commitments, and supporting documentation for accuracy and compliance with contract terms.
• Coordinate with Project Managers, Superintendents, Finance, and subcontractors to resolve billing discrepancies and maintain timely payment processing.
• Track potential and approved changes, including scope, pricing, schedule, and risk impacts.
• Evaluate change-order documentation and confirm approved changes are incorporated into project budgets, forecasts, commitments, and cost reports.
• Support subcontract buyout, contract administration, claims documentation, and change-order negotiations as needed.
• Maintain accurate billing and change-management records throughout the project lifecycle.

Skills

Budgeting

Forecasting

Cost control

Contract interpretation

Financial reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Accounting, Finance, or Business

Tools

Procore

Construction ERP

Advanced Excel

Job description

ARCO Companies in Birmingham, AL seeks an experienced Cost Manager to oversee project cost management and financial controls from preconstruction through closeout. You will partner with Project Managers, Superintendents, Finance, and clients to establish budgets, monitor performance, forecast costs, identify risks, and support sound project decisions.

The ideal candidate has strong construction cost-control experience, can translate financial data into actionable guidance for leadership, and is