Project Cost Engineer

Overview

Avison Young Studio Delivery Services is seeking a Project Cost Engineer with 5–10 years of experience managing project financials in a design-build or construction environment. Architectural project accounting experience is beneficial, particularly with design fees, consultant agreements, and billing across multiple design phases.

This position supports the full project lifecycle—from budget and contract setup through procurement, billing, forecasting, change management, and final closeout.

The Project Cost Engineer will collaborate with project managers, architecture and interior design teams, preconstruction and construction teams, leadership, and corporate accounting to maintain accurate financial information and support informed decisions.

The base salary is aligned with market data and is estimated between $90,000 to $110,000 with the ability to achieve additional compensation through bonus. This salary range reflects base compensation for the position across all US locations. Within this range, individual pay is determined by work location and other factors including relevant education/training, experience, and internal equity.

Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain project budgets, contracts, commitments, cost codes, and billing schedules.
• Monitor project costs, revenue, gross profit, cash flow, and forecasted costs to complete.
• Review purchase orders, subcontractor and consultant invoices, pay applications, and change orders against approved budgets and contract terms.
• Prepare client progress billings and supporting documentation, including AIA pay applications where applicable.
• Support accounting for architectural and interior design services, including design fees, phase-based billing, consultant costs, reimbursable expenses, and additional services.
• Reconcile approved, pending, and projected change orders with project budgets and forecasts.
• Conduct regular financial reviews with project managers, identify variances, and follow discrepancies through resolution.
• Reconcile financial information across accounting systems, Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), and project tracking tools.
• Monitor accounts receivable, accounts payable, retainage, and outstanding project balances.
• Prepare monthly financial reports for project teams and leadership.
• Support final project reconciliation and financial closeout.
• Maintain consistent financial controls and help improve project accounting workflows.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of project accounting experience in design-build, construction, architecture and engineering, or a closely related field.
• Experience with all phases of project financial management, including budget setup, commitments, forecasting, billing, change management, and closeout.
• Architectural project accounting experience is beneficial, including management of design fees, consultant agreements, phase-based budgets and billing, and additional services.
• Strong understanding of construction contracts, subcontractor billing, cost coding, and project financial reporting.
• Proficiency with Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Smartsheet.
• Experience with accounting software and reconciling financial data across multiple systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with close attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet billing and reporting deadlines.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.