Functional/Technical

Compliance and Monitoring

• Leads the cost management function and provides direction to cost controllers and project accountants to ensuring full compliance with processes for the cost management component of capital projects, including cost estimating, budgeting, accounting, appropriate cost allocation and short/long range forecasting that evaluates financial performance during the project lifecycle

• Ensures that accountability mechanisms as outlined in the Cost Management Plan are instituted for related processes and activities and that they are communicated and enforced

• Responsible for ensuring the embedded financial staff in the project delivery units are performing to the Cost Management standards and

  provide training to project delivery teams and new individuals within the finance teams as required.

• Leads the development of financial and accounting strategies that enhance Metrolinx’ cost management policies and procedures

• Leads the implementation of cost management frameworks for managing cost throughout the project life cycle

• Manages the development and implementation of reporting mechanisms and controls to proactively support, monitor, and communicate budget, actual status, and forecast for cost and delivery time frames for active and developing projects

• Develops, implements, and advises on performance measures, benchmarking, and quality assurance standards to establish and maintain high quality standards for cost management activities; addresses findings and recommendation from quality assurance reviews.

• Develops and provides tools to facilitate compliance audits and ensure that the action plans developed as a result of the audits are implemented in a timely and sustainable manner.

Cost Management Expertise and Advice

• As the lead for cost management practices, provides direction and guidance on governance structures and change management systems and ensures processes are implemented and followed on a multi-billion dollar capital program

• As subject matter expert, recommends cost management solutions to minimize the negative effects of the changes on project baselines

• Provides subject matter expertise on project costing, how to allocate those costs, and methods to estimate and forecast costs that are based on best practices as well as implements consistency for the multi-billion dollar program to control costs

• Provides strategic advice, insight and recommendations to the Director, Capital Planning, and Vice President, Capital Finance and the Capital Projects Group senior management team on complex cost management risks, issues, potential funding concerns trends and challenges and provides mitigation strategies/options

• Works with the risk team to understand risks and implements risk management strategies and controls to mitigate financial risk and exposure on multi-year multi-billion-dollar capital projects

• Leads the development of a training framework and specific learning strategies to build the skills, knowledge and capabilities of staff, project consultants and third-party partners on cost control policies and project cost management process requirements

• Facilitates financial decision-making for capital projects by promoting the effective use of strong cost accounting, financial data analytics and financial modeling for cost validation

• Leads and manages the effective and timely implementation of audit recommendations by the Office of the Auditor General and supports Internal Audit through providing oversight to the coordination efforts when audits are being undertaken in the cost management and financial area for capital works.

Customer/Stakeholder

• Builds and strengthens working relationships with the CFO, Corporate Controller and Finance Services to ensure the cost management framework and linkages are established and being implemented

• As a trusted advisor, builds strong client relationships with senior management of the Capital Projects Group in support of improved cost management performance

• Establishes and effectively leverages cross-discipline relationships within project leadership teams to facilitate the development and implementation of effective and efficient cost management controls and quality assurance systems, processes and procedures

• Builds collaborative environments to collect, analyze and synthesize information in order to provide ongoing expert advice on trends and issues that potentially impact project baseline.

Operational Excellence

• Leads and establishes financial and administrative controls and procedures for payments, financial reporting and systems in support of program objectives and within accounting standards and best practices and corporate accounting policies and procedures.
• Influences the management of project organization so as to achieve the goal of an accurate and timely cost control
• Applies quality control measures and risk analysis to all cost management processes for adherence to policies and procedures; ensuring alignment with Metrolinx’ strategic direction
• Identifies and acts upon opportunities to improve cost management procedures, templates and products
• Conducts ongoing monitoring and analysis of emerging and priority issues impacting effective cost management and project baselines
• Provides advice and support to Capital Project Group staff and managers regarding adherence to the cost management plan, internal policies and processing requirements
• Provides leadership to strategic planning activities and works with management colleagues across the Capital Finance Division and all of Capital Projects Group to ensure consistency and collaboration in QA/QC, reporting and overall cost control activities.

Financial Stewardship

• Monitors project costs at the program level identifying issues and risks, to ensure project objectives are delivered within the multi-billion-dollar budget

• Supports project managers and embedded project staff in understanding cost management, what the costs mean and how the financial performance is trending

• Oversees cash flow analysis and compliance with policies and processes to identify trends and issues related to the cost management plan

• Assures that financial data flow in the system is robust and follows the policies and processes for reliable financial data to manage project performance

• Provides oversight and management of the business planning process for CPG as it relates to corporate processes and tools and the review of labour and expense reports to ensure complete and accurate information

• Meets service delivery objectives and manages project and department activities within budgetary limits.

People Leadership

• Creates a working environment that is aligned with the organization’s desire to be an “employer of choice”, ensuring that people resources possess the required skills, are properly aligned, and are provided with the resources to do the job
• Demonstrates leadership and core competencies at a high level of development and is an exemplary model of living the corporate Values and Code of Ethics
• Provides senior leadership and direction over an integrated team, oversight and indirect supervision of staff in a matrix environment; delivers timely feedback to ensure a cohesive operational unit and the optimum use of team skills; monitors work assignments for adherence to timelines and compliance with policies and processes; develops and implements action plans to address performance gaps.
• Provides senior leadership in the area of cost management to program management leads that are dedicated to each of the program delivery units.

• Education: Completion of degree in Business Administration, Engineering or Accounting, or related discipline or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent

• Experience: Demonstrated progressively responsible experience leading cost management processes in a construction environment

• Certifications or Designations A recognized accounting designation (CA/CPA) is considered an asset, AACE or PMP are also considered an asset

Technical Competencies:

• Knowledge and experience in accounting, financial analysis, controllership, risk management and reporting principles and practices in large, complex multi-billion dollar and multi-project construction and infrastructure environments
• Knowledge of Human Resources legislation (e.g. Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act, etc.) to manage and direct employees and contractors, including experience in the application of collective agreement provisions
• Governance and accountability, performance management, quality management systems and mitigation strategies to plan and ensure quality and adherence to policies and processes
• Influencing skills to convince senior management, colleagues and clients of the need to adhere to financial and the cost management plan
• Analytical and problem-solving skills to analyze, describe and implement risk management and control strategies with consideration given to the project’s needs, trends and issues
• Proficiency in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other software tools and applications to document and illustrate financial standing and recommendations

• Interpersonal and oral/written/presentation skills to develop and recommend improved financial management policies and to provide complex explanations, recommendations and advice to the Vice President and senior management; to provide advice and guidance to staff; and to manage relationships with vendors