Senior Project Cost Controller

Marvel Placement Consultants; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment consultancy is looking for a Cost Controller to provide effective cost control support to project teams. The ideal candidate should have relevant tertiary qualifications and extensive experience in cost management within a multidiscipline environment. Responsibilities include developing financial controls, preparing cost estimates, managing budgets, and ensuring compliance with organisational policies. The role also involves reviewing payment applications and maintaining procurement records. Applicants should apply before 13 January 2026.

Qualifications

• 810 years experience in a Cost Controller or Cost Engineer role within a multidiscipline project environment.
• Proven capability to support and lead organisational change initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of cost control principles, financial governance, and compliance standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide effective cost control support to project teams in line with organisational policies.
• Develop, implement, and manage project financial controls, including the Cost Management Plan.
• Prepare cost estimates, manage project budgets, monitor expenditure, and produce accurate cost forecasts.
• Review contractor payment applications according to contract terms.

Skills

Cost control principles

Financial governance

Analytical skills

Verbal communication skills

Written communication skills

Business acumen

Project management methodologies

Education

Degree or Certified Cost Professional

Tools

Project Cost Management Systems

SAP

Job description

Minimum Requirements

• Relevant tertiary qualification (Degree or Certified Cost Professional).
• 810 years experience in a Cost Controller or Cost Engineer role within a multidiscipline project environment.
• Strong knowledge of cost control principles, financial governance, and compliance standards.
• Proven experience working with Project Cost Management Systems and SAP.
• Solid understanding of project management methodologies and controls.
• Excellent analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Strong business acumen with the ability to think strategically and analytically.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated capability to support and lead organisational change initiatives.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide effective cost control support to project teams in line with organisational policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop, implement, and manage project financial controls, including the Cost Management Plan.
• Prepare cost estimates, manage project budgets, monitor expenditure, and produce accurate cost forecasts.
• Supply project management with up-to-date cost information to enable informed decision-making.
• Establish control budgets by finalising coding for detailed estimate line items against the approved baseline budget.
• Track project progress in line with the schedule and generate cost curves and performance data.
• Support tender and procurement processes by allocating budgets, reconciling scope and pricing, and preparing financial recommendations.
• Review contractor payment applications in accordance with contract terms and prepare payment certificates or invoices for approval.
• Maintain accurate records of procurement commitments, including contracts, variations, change notices, and purchase order updates.
• Conduct regular cost reviews and update forecasts based on project progress, expenditure trends, and approved changes.
• Manage and forecast contingency, escalation, foreign exchange, and currency impacts.
• Capture actual costs and commitments in cost systems and generate detailed cost reports by package.
• Participate in change management and trending processes, incorporating approved changes into the Estimate at Completion (EAC).
• Update project budgets to reflect approved Project Change Notices (PCNs).
• Produce periodic cost reports, analyse variances, and report findings to key stakeholders.
• Collect and consolidate EPCM cost and progress data and maintain accurate status reporting.

Closing Date

Submissions for this vacancy will close on 13 January 2026, however, you will still have the opportunity to submit your CV for this position until 3 February 2026.

Please Note

Thank you for submitting your CV to Marvel Placement Consultants. We value your submission and endeavour to respond to each applicant. Should your application be successful, we will be in contact with you. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of application, please consider your application unsuccessful. We are, however, recruitment specialists and will keep your details on our database for possible future opportunities.

PoPI Act Compliance

Marvel Placement Consultants adheres to the Protection of Personal Information Act, 2013 (Act No. 4 of 2013). Section 9 of PoPI states that "Personal Information may only be processed if, given the purpose for which it is processed, it is adequate, relevant and not excessive."