Cost Manager

This is for a Commercial Project - Business Park project. Relevant Experience required

Key Responsibilities

Cost Planning & Budget Management

• Develop and maintain the overall project cost plan and budget.
• Establish cost benchmarks and monitor project expenditure against approved budgets.
• Prepare cost estimates at various stages of design development.
• Provide cost advice to the Client and Project Director during design and execution.
• Identify potential cost risks and recommend mitigation measures.

Pre-Contract Cost Management

• Review project scope, drawings, specifications, and BOQs for cost implications.
• Prepare preliminary and detailed cost estimates.
• Develop and maintain cost plans through concept, schematic, design development, and tender stages.
• Support value engineering exercises to optimize project cost without compromising design, quality, or functionality.
• Review tender documentation and ensure alignment between scope and budget.

Tender & Procurement Management

• Support procurement strategy and packaging of works.
• Prepare/review BOQs, pricing schedules, and commercial tender documents.
• Manage tendering activities from a cost management perspective.
• Analyze contractor quotations and prepare detailed commercial comparisons.
• Participate in commercial negotiations and provide recommendations for contractor appointment.

Post-Contract Cost Control

• Monitor project costs, commitments, forecasts, and actual expenditure.
• Review contractor interim payment applications and payment recommendations.
• Track variations, change orders, claims, and potential commercial exposure.
• Maintain the project Cost Report, Cash Flow, Commitment Register, and Change Control Register.
• Prepare monthly cost reports highlighting budget status, forecast cost, and key risks.

Change & Variation Management

• Establish and manage an effective change control process.
• Review contractor variation submissions and assess entitlement and valuation.
• Monitor design changes and their impact on project cost.
• Provide cost advice before approval of changes.
• Ensure all changes are properly documented and approved.

Commercial & Contract Coordination

• Coordinate closely with the Contracts Manager, Quantity Surveyors, Project Managers, Planning, Design, and Procurement teams.
• Review contractual/commercial implications of project decisions.
• Support assessment of contractor claims and commercial disputes.
• Provide commercial inputs for EOT and delay-related claims where required.

Forecasting & Reporting

• Prepare monthly and periodic cost reports for the Client and senior management.
• Monitor actual cost against approved budget and forecast final cost.
• Prepare cash flow projections and expenditure forecasts.
• Highlight cost overruns, potential risks, and opportunities.
• Provide clear recommendations to support Client decision-making.

Value Engineering

• Lead and coordinate value engineering exercises with the design and project teams.
• Identify alternative materials, construction methodologies, and design solutions to achieve cost savings.
• Evaluate the cost, programme, quality, and lifecycle implications of proposed alternatives.

Final Account & Close-Out

• Review and agree contractor final accounts.
• Ensure all variations, claims, and commercial matters are closed before project completion.
• Verify final project cost and reconcile against the approved budget.
• Support commercial close-out and final reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Quantity Surveying, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• MRICS, RICS, AIQS, or equivalent professional qualification is preferred.
• Master's degree in Construction Management/Project Management is an advantage.

Experience

• 1015+ years of experience in cost management/quantity surveying.
• Strong experience in commercial buildings, corporate offices, mixed-use developments, retail, hospitality, or large-scale developments.
• Experience working with a PMC, Client, Cost Consultant, or Project Management Consultant is preferred.
• Strong exposure to both pre-contract and post-contract cost management.