Cost Control Engineer

About the Role

Are you a data-driven financial strategist who thrives on keeping complex projects on track and profitable?

We are looking for a proactive Project Cost Controller to own and manage our project cost performance throughout its entire lifecycle. In this role, you won't just track numbers—you will be the financial compass of our projects, delivering the sharp forecasting, accurate reporting, and proactive risk management needed to prevent overruns and optimize our resources.

If you are a detail-oriented professional who can translate complex data into actionable insights for executive leadership, we want to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain a detailed Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) aligned with the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS).
• Monitor the approved project budget against actual and forecast expenditures, integrating cost and schedule data to produce accurate Earned Value Management (EVM) metrics.
• Analyse cost trends, variances, and commitments to identify potential overruns or savings opportunities.
• Support the management process by assessing the financial impact of variations, scope changes, and claims.
• Prepare high-quality cost reports for internal, client, and contractual requirements, ensuring compliance with FIDIC and corporate reporting standards.
• Conduct cost risk analysis in coordination with the Risk Manager, factoring in market trends, procurement performance, and commodity price fluctuations.
• Liaise with Planning, Procurement, Engineering, and Finance to ensure cost data accuracy and consistency across systems.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Quantity Surveying, or a related field from an accredited university.
• A minimum of ten years’ relevant experience in cost control on major infrastructure projects, including at least five years in a senior or lead cost control role.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, commitments, accruals, forecasts and cost reporting through procurement and construction. Experience in construction of a complex international project is strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of cost forecasting, cash-flow planning, EVM, variance analysis, quantity measurement, payment assessment and large-scale procurement processes.
• Working knowledge of FIDIC-based contracts and the cost implications of variations, claims, payment provisions and change control.
• Advanced Excel skills and practical experience with Oracle PPM or a comparable ERP or project cost management system.
• Ability to interpret Primavera P6 schedules and integrate programme, progress and cost information. Experience with EcoSys, Prism or similar cost systems is an advantage.
• Strong understanding of FIDIC-based contract cost requirements, forecasting, EVM, and large-scale procurement processes.
• International project experience, preferably in Africa or other high-complexity environments, is highly desirable.

Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Forecast reliability: Variance between forecast and subsequent actual costs for comparable scope and periods; completeness of forecast assumptions and explanations.
• Reporting delivery: Percentage of reports submitted by agreed deadlines, with complete and accurate supporting information.
• Preparation of Interim Payment Certificates and Final Accounts: Timely and accurate preparation, review and submission of subcontractors’ IPCs and Final Accounts, supported by verified quantities, applicable rates, substantiated variations and correct recoveries and deductions; percentage submitted within contractual deadlines and number requiring material correction.
• Reconciliation and coding: Timely completion of cost reconciliations; number and age of unresolved discrepancies; accuracy of WBS/CBS allocations.
• Changes and cost exposure: Percentage of identified changes and claims with quantified cost impacts within agreed timescales; timely escalation of emerging exposure.
• Team and corrective actions: Timely, accurate delivery of Quantity Surveyor outputs and follow-up of agreed cost control actions.