Job Description

Follow Quest on Linkedin at: Quest Energy Group

Quest ( www.questenergygroup.com) is Houston's Leading Offshore Oil and Gas - Executive Search and Talent Acquisition Firm

We are seeking a highly analytical and detail-oriented Project Cost Controller to join a premier, global engineering and construction project team. In this pivotal role within the Project Controls Department, you will establish and manage robust cost control systems to protect project margins and optimize financial performance.

As a trusted advisor, you will directly support the Project Manager in data-driven decision-making to ensure multi-million dollar projects remain within approved budgets. Your primary focus will be the early detection and analysis of budget deviations, forecasting financial impacts, and implementing strategic corrective actions while collaborating across cross-functional engineering and operations teams.

Key Responsibilities & Core Duties

• Cost Management & Architecture: Implement, maintain, and optimize the project’s proprietary Cost Control System. Develop and manage complex, consolidated Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS) and align them seamlessly with overall project execution procedures.

• Financial Reporting & Tracking: Prepare and distribute highly accurate, timely project cost reports. Monitor actual expenditures against baseline budgets and performance forecasts.

• Variance Analysis & Earned Value: Identify critical cost variances, investigate potential overruns, and propose active mitigation strategies. Track project progress and Earned Value Management (EVM) metrics to calculate accurate cost accruals and work-in-progress (WIP) valuations.

• Predictive Forecasting: Formulate highly detailed cost forecasts for future project phases to drive strategic planning and optimal resource allocation.

• Project Risk Mitigation: Contribute quantitative cost-related inputs to risk assessments, utilizing advanced tools and methodologies including Monte Carlo analysis

• Change Management Support: Partner with the project management team during contract modifications, change orders, and claims processes by delivering comprehensive cost-impact and margin analyses.

• Cross-Functional Communication: Serve as the financial bridge between Project Managers, Lead Engineers, and executive stakeholders to clearly communicate cost performance metrics and resolve financial bottlenecks.

• Compliance & Governance: Guarantee all cost engineering and control activities strictly align with corporate policies, financial governance standards, and international reporting procedures.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Finance, Accounting, or a closely related quantitative discipline.

• Experience: 3+ years of direct experience in project cost control, project controls, or heavy industrial project management.

• Technical Proficiency:

  • In-depth, practical knowledge of Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS) implementation.

  • Mastery of modern cost control methodologies, financial modeling, and variance analysis.

  • Advanced Excel skills (macros, VLOOKUPs, pivot tables, data modeling) are mandatory.

  • Direct experience utilizing SAP or equivalent enterprise cost control systems.

• Soft Skills: Exceptional analytical problem-solving abilities combined with strong interpersonal and cross-functional communication skills.

• Language: Professional fluency in written and spoken English.