Project Cost Specialist

Job Title: Project Cost Specialist

Location: Cannock

Salary: £DOE

Key Skills: Project Controls, Forecasting, Financial Modelling, Cost Forecasting, IFS, SAP, Stakeholder Management, EVM, Project Delivery

I am seeking a Project Cost Specialist to join a growing programme team supporting complex engineering and delivery programmes. This role sits within the Project Management Office (PMO) and plays a key part in providing cost insight, forecasting, and decision support across major projects.

Working closely with Project Managers, Programme Managers, Finance, Planning and Procurement, you will help ensure programmes are delivered successfully by providing clear cost visibility, forward-looking forecasts, and high-quality management information.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with project cost management or project controls experience to influence best practice and support the delivery of a growing portfolio of projects.

Key Responsibilities as the Project Cost Specialist:

Cost Management & Forecasting

• Develop and maintain robust project cost management processes including estimating, budgeting, forecasting, and cost control.
• Track actual costs vs approved budgets, identifying variances, trends, and recommending corrective actions.
• Produce accurate Estimates at Completion (EAC) based on actuals, commitments, trends, and risk exposure.

Forecasting & Financial Insight

• Deliver rolling cost forecasts and long-term programme forecasts across complex programmes.
• Identify and clearly communicate cost risks, opportunities, and assumptions.
• Support financial scenario modelling and cost-based decision making.

Reporting & Cost Tools

• Develop and maintain cost management tools, templates, and dashboards.
• Provide cost inputs for programme reviews, governance forums, and senior leadership reporting.
• Support customer reporting and programme performance discussions.

Business Partnering

• Act as a trusted cost partner to programme teams, supporting planning and financial decision making.
• Provide guidance to help embed effective cost control practices across projects.

Financial Integration

• Work closely with Finance and Procurement to ensure accurate cost capture and invoice validation.
• Support reconciliation of costs across bids, approved budgets, baselines, forecasts and customer statements.

Skills & Experience as a Project Cost Specialist:

Essential

• 3-5 years' experience in project cost management, project controls, or a related discipline
• Strong analytical and numerical skills with the ability to interpret complex cost data
• Advanced Microsoft Excel capability
• Understanding of project management and financial management principles
• Excellent stakeholder communication and collaboration skills

Desirable

• Experience working with ERP systems such as IFS or SAP
• Familiarity with MS Project, Jira, or integrated project delivery tools
• Experience supporting large or complex programmes in a matrix environment

Why Join?

• Work on high-value, complex programmes within a growing portfolio
• Influence cost management best practice across projects
• Collaborate with experienced programme and project teams
• Strong career development within programme delivery and project controls

If you're a Project Cost or Project Controls professional looking to play a key role in programme delivery and decision-making, we'd love to hear from you.

***PLEASE NOTE***

Security Clearance (SC) or eligibility to gain is required to be considered for this vacancy

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