The Cost Controller Manager is responsible for establishing, managing, and overseeing all project cost control activities to ensure effective financial planning, monitoring, forecasting, and reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
The role ensures that project costs are controlled in line with approved budgets, schedules, and contractual requirements, while providing accurate and timely financial insight to support informed decision-making.
The Cost Controller Manager works closely with Project Managers, Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Finance teams to integrate cost control processes with overall project execution.
The role plays a key part in identifying financial risks and opportunities, supporting change management, and ensuring cost transparency across all project phases.
Key Responsibilities
Cost Control & Financial Management
- Establish and maintain the project cost control structure, including budgets, cost breakdown structures (CBS), and control accounts.
- Monitor actual costs versus budget and forecast final project costs (Estimate at Completion).
- Ensure alignment between cost, schedule, and scope to support effective project controls.
- Analyze cost deviations and trends, identifying root causes and recommending corrective actions.
- Ensure compliance with internal cost control procedures and financial governance requirements.
Forecasting & Reporting
- Prepare accurate and timely cost reports, forecasts, and dashboards for project and senior management.
- Provide clear visibility of cost performance, risks, and opportunities.
- Support monthly and periodic financial reviews with reliable cost data and analysis.
- Ensure consistency and accuracy of cost data across systems and reporting tools.
Change & Risk Management
- Support evaluation of change requests, variations, and claims by assessing cost impacts.
- Maintain cost contingency management and track risk-related cost exposure.
- Collaborate with project teams to mitigate financial risks and optimize cost outcomes.
- Ensure approved changes are reflected accurately in budgets and forecasts.
Contract & Procurement Support
- Support procurement and contract management with cost analysis, payment verification, and financial evaluations.
- Review contractor invoices, progress claims, and cost reports to ensure accuracy and contractual compliance.
- Track commitments, accruals, and cash flow forecasts.
Collaboration & Governance
- Work closely with Project Managers, Planners, Engineers, and Construction teams to ensure cost control is fully integrated into project execution.
- Provide guidance and training on cost control practices and tools.
- Ensure audit readiness through proper documentation, traceability, and cost records.
Continuous Improvement
- Identify opportunities to improve cost control processes, tools, and reporting methodologies.
- Capture and apply lessons learned to enhance future project cost performance.
- Promote best practices in cost management across the organization.
Competencies and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Economics, or a related field.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in project cost control, preferably within industrial, infrastructure, or EPC projects.
- Strong knowledge of project cost management, forecasting, and financial reporting.
- Experience working with project controls systems and cost management tools.
- Solid understanding of contracts, change management, and project financial governance.
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
- High level of accuracy, integrity, and attention to detail.
