Cost Manager

Sector: Nuclear New Build / Mega-Project Infrastructure

Location: London or Suffolk/Leiston area (Hybrid Working)

Position Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Vetting Requirements: Standard UK Baseline Vetting / Background Checks

The Opportunity:

We are partnering with a premier Tier 1 technical services and project controls consultancy to recruit a Project Controls Cost Manager. Operating within an expanding Nuclear Power Programmes division, this role is embedded within the Project Management Office (PMO) for a major multi-billion-pound capital energy development.

Reporting directly to the Cost Lead, you will be responsible for administering effective cost control, verifying baseline performance, and delivering accurate financial metrics as part of the programme's integrated delivery team. This is an exceptional opportunity for a pro-active project controls professional to manage large-scale data and influence commercial delivery in a dynamic, high-compliance infrastructure environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Systems & Procedures Implementation: Support the Cost Lead in deploying, managing, and updating project cost systems, governance procedures, and standardised reporting templates.

• Baseline Cost Control: Tracking actual expenditure against established project cost control frameworks, ensuring all financial performance information is aligned with the project master baseline.

• Performance Reporting: Assist package teams in compiling timely financial data, generating regular reports on Estimate at Completion (EAC), Estimate to Complete (ETC), and Actual Cost of Work Performed (ACWP).

• Earned Value & Trend Analysis: Conduct robust analyses of project cost data to support programme milestones, including trend analysis, variance analysis, and Earned Value Management (EVM) metrics.

• Finance & Commercial Integration: Work closely with commercial and financial teams to ensure accurate subcontractor cost accruals and final contract valuations are integrated into baseline outturn reports.

• Change Management Coding: Analyse contract Change Requests to ensure all cost data is properly identified, budgeted, and structured against the project Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS).

• User Support & Governance: Act as the primary point of contact for project teams utilizing enterprise cost tools, providing user support, data validation, and basic technical training.

• Re-Baseline Exercises: Support executive updates, cost re-baselining exercises, and strategic budget adjustments across the lifecycle of the programme.

What We're Looking For:

• Project Controls Pedigree: Proven experience operating within a dedicated project controls, cost engineering, or financial management discipline on a major capital programme or complex infrastructure development.

• Methodological Knowledge: Strong understanding and practical working knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM) methodologies, project budgeting, and forecasting metrics.

• Systems & Tools Competency: Familiarity or hands-on experience with industry-standard cost management and forecasting applications (such as PRISM, EcoSys, or Cobra), alongside advanced Microsoft Excel capabilities.

• Analytical Capability: High attention to detail with a skilled ability to interpret, manipulate, and challenge complex financial data sets or baseline assumptions to drive data accuracy.

• Education & Professional Status: Educated to degree level or equivalent higher professional standard, with a preference for membership in an applicable professional body (e.g., ACostE, APM).

• Communication Skills: Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to confidently convey complex cost performance data to peers, technical engineers, and senior managers.

What's on Offer (Package & Benefits):

• Salary: Highly competitive base salary aligned with market-leading project controls roles.

• Work-Life Balance: Strong corporate focus on flexibility with established hybrid and flexible working frameworks.

• Healthcare: Comprehensive private single medical cover and digital GP service access.

• Family Benefits: Enhanced parental leave pay structures and corporate family wellness support networks.

• Professional Development: Financial backing and reimbursement towards relevant professional memberships and continuous professional development (CPD).

• Corporate Culture: A collaborative, modern workspace backed by extensive global employee networks, matched-funding, and paid volunteering schemes.