Purpose of the Job

To manage and support cost management systems, processes and reports with the central Programme Controls team.

To support Project Cost Engineers, Business Managers and Project Managers in cost management and the processing of trends and other Prism system transactions.

To manage the trend process centrally and process Programme Changes.

To carry out cost engineering and cost management responsibilities for completed and completing Projects as required.

Principal Accountabilities

• Maintain the integrity of all cost management records, specifically within the Prism cost management system
• Support the Project cost teams in maintaining accurate and valid cost records and forecasts
• Prepare consolidated Programme cost reports
• Prepare and validate cost, forecast, trend and AFC reports.
• Review and validate Project cost records and forecasts
• Manage the Prism trend process and other Prism transactions, preparing and validating reports for senior management, including reports of trends to be approved.
• Work with the Prism System Administrator to ensure that Prism approvals and workflows function correctly and in line with best governance
• Liaise with the Finance and Risk teams on cost reporting and forecasting
• Liaise with the Planning team on schedule and milestone reporting
• Interface with contract administration on contract issues and status of changes. Aiding with assessment of changes.
• Participating in the preparation of cost studies utilising historical data, statistical analysis and cost and quantity comparisons.
• Assisting Projects and Change Team in identifying and assessing changes.
• Support the the delivery teams in areas including bottom up forecast production and validation and ACWP / AFC validation
• Archiving procedures in PRISM and period close out.
• Providing support and training to PRISM users

Main Challenges of the Job

• Demonstrating good knowledge of the project scope/schedule and all cost related issues as part of an integrated project team.
• Delivering cost information inline with the project reporting timetable as part of a 4 weekly reporting cycle.
• Working closely with team members to help prevent the possibility of cost surprises.

Dimensions & Interfaces (Internal and External)

Key interfaces include:

• Project Cost Engineers and Business Managers
• Project Managers and Project teams
• Programme Controls Director and team
• Finance Director and Finance team
• Commercial Director and commercial team

Person Specification

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent, preferably in Engineering or Construction Management or Quantity Surveying or equivalent experience.
• RICS or accountancy qualification or part qualification desirable
• Advanced experience of major project cost control and cost management systems including Prism
• An advanced level of MS Excel skills
• Knowledge of cost engineering functions, including cost estimating, cost control, and cost analysis.
• Experience of producing cost reports and forecasts to tight deadlines and reviewing and critiquing cost reports prepared by others.
• Knowledge of the NEC suite of contracts
• Experience of forecasting, scheduling techniques and risk analysis
• Experience in technical and practical application of estimating, pricing and costing on major infrastructure projects.
• Proactive self-starter, able to form supportive relationship with a wide variety of colleagues across the Programme. Experience of reporting to and supporting senior project managers and directors.
• Skilled in oral and written communication, with experience of presenting cost engineering information to management and an ability to make complex information easy to understand
• Experience of identifying, analysing, and solving problems.
• Strong analytical skills
• A pragmatic focus on commercial issues
• A good academic record
• A high standard of professionalism
• Natural attention to detail.