Senior Cost Manager

Currie & Brown; New York (NY); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Currie & Brown in New York seeks a Senior Cost Manager (CM) / Quantity Surveyor (QS) to support commercial and project management teams on a range of NY-area projects. You will manage financials through preconstruction, construction, and final accounts, working with the team and independently as needed.

The role requires strong numerical, analytical, and communication skills, and experience with cost control, budgeting, and procurement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in a commercial role
• Basic understanding of construction contracts, cost planning, and procurement processes
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings and specifications
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with Bluebeam/Revit

Responsibilities

• Prepare cost estimates, budgets, and cash flow forecasts
• Support in measurement and quantity take-offs from drawings and specifications
• Attend Owner, Architect, and Contractor meetings and help execute actions
• Occasional site visits may be required
• Review interim payment applications and lien waivers; ensure expenditures align with contract value
• Assess and negotiate change orders; ensure entitlement and fair costs
• Maintain detailed cost records and accruals for forecasts
• Support scheduling and progress tracking; communicate with stakeholders
• Finalize account negotiations and support project close-out

Skills

Numerical skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Teamwork

Reading drawings & specs

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying / Construction Management / Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Bluebeam/Revit

Job description

The Senior Cost Manager (CM) / Quantity Surveyor (QS) will support the commercial and project management teams on a range of projects in New York and surrounding areas. The CM/QS will help with financial management at various stages of the project life, including preconstruction, the construction phase, and final account negotiations. The desired candidate is expected to have good communication and interpersonal skills, be able to work collaboratively in a team environment, and work independently when required.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Planning & Coordination

• Prepare cost estimates, budgets, and cash flow forecasts
• Support in measurement and quantity take-offs from drawings and specifications
• Attend Owner, Architect, and Contractor (OAC) meetings on occasion and help execute the respective actions
• Occasional site visits may be required, depending on project requirements

2. Contract Administration

• Review interim payment applications and lien waivers, ensuring project expenditure aligns with the contract value and costs expended are allowable under the contract terms
• Assess and negotiation of change orders, ensuring contractual entitlement and a fair and reasonable assessment of additional costs and time is recommended to the Client and subsequently implemented
• Maintain detailed records of actual costs and appropriate accruals to feed into the forecasted final account position for Client reporting purposes
• Ensure good housekeeping with project-related documents and ensure they are correctly saved within the respective project folders, in accordance with Currie & Brown’s company policy

3. Cost Control & Budget Management

• Monitor project costs and maintain detailed records
• Propose potential value engineering options and cost‑saving initiatives
• Prepare financial information for cost reporting purposes

4. Scheduling & Progress Tracking

• Support the Project Management team in reviewing the Contractor’s interim schedule submission and accompanying narrative, and highlight any potential risks with the Substantial Completion Date
• Review the monthly cashflow submission and highlight any potential risks with project spend, by analyzing spend trends Vs forecasted amounts
• Support effective communication between the project team
• Ensure project actions are completed on time
• Maintain effective communication with all stakeholders
• Strong time management skills and able to prioritize tasks according to business and Client requirements

6. Project Closeout

• Finalize account negotiations and support the final close‑out in collaboration with the Project Management team

Qualifications

1. Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, Engineering, or a related qualification
• Preferred minimum of 5+ years of experience in a commercial position
• Basic understanding of construction contracts, cost planning, and procurement processes
• Strong numerical, analytical, and organizational skills
• Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work well in a team environment, as well as working independently when required
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings and specifications
• Ability to interpret contract terms and conditions and administer accordingly
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Experience in Bluebeam/Revit or equivalent software

3. Certifications (Preferred but not required)

• RICS accredited (either working towards or interested)

US work authorization is required; we cannot provide visa sponsorship for this role

About Us

Currie & Brown is one of the leading international physical asset management and construction consultancies, dedicated to advising clients worldwide with our expertise and experience in multiple sectors and services. We are differentiated by our people, innovation and reputation with a genuine global office network.