Lead Project Cost Controller

Shape the financial success of major projects

We're looking for a Lead Project Cost Controller to join our Project Controls team and play a key role in the successful delivery of complex, high-value projects.

In this role, you'll provide strategic cost leadership, partnering with Project Managers, Commercial teams, Finance, and senior stakeholders to ensure projects remain financially robust from planning through to completion. You'll lead forecasting, performance analysis, reporting, and cost governance activities while helping drive informed decision-making across the project lifecycle.

This is an excellent opportunity for a cost control professional who enjoys combining financial insight, stakeholder engagement, and team leadership to influence project outcomes.

What you'll be doing

As Lead Project Cost Controller, you will:

• Lead project cost management activities across large and complex programmes.
• Establish and maintain effective cost control frameworks, including Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS).
• Manage project budgets, cost baselines, change control processes, and forecasting activities.
• Produce and maintain accurate Estimate at Completion (EAC) and Estimate to Complete (ETC) forecasts.
• Analyse project performance using Earned Value Management (EVM) principles and key performance indicators.
• Identify cost trends, risks, and opportunities, providing recommendations to support project delivery.
• Prepare clear and meaningful financial reports, dashboards, and performance insights for senior stakeholders.
• Support cash flow forecasting, commitment tracking, and expenditure monitoring.
• Collaborate with Finance teams to ensure alignment between project reporting and financial records.
• Lead, coach, and support cost control professionals within the wider Project Controls function.
• Build strong relationships across project, commercial, engineering, procurement, and finance teams.

We're interested in hearing from people who can demonstrate:

• Experience managing project costs within complex project, programme, engineering, infrastructure, construction, energy, defence, or similar delivery environments.
• Strong forecasting, budgeting, and financial analysis capability.
• Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM) and project performance measurement techniques.
• The ability to interpret financial and project data and translate findings into actionable insights.
• Experience working with project controls, ERP, or financial management systems.
• Advanced analytical skills and confidence working with large datasets and reporting tools.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and challenge constructively.
• Experience leading, mentoring, or developing others within a project environment.
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to present complex information to a variety of audiences.

• A degree or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Finance, Accounting, Quantity Surveying, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Professional accreditation within Project Controls, Project Management, Cost Engineering, or a related field.
• Experience working with systems such as SAP, Oracle, Primavera P6, EcoSys, PRISM, or similar platforms.
• Knowledge of NEC, FIDIC, or other commercial and contract management frameworks.

*Please note as part of the onboarding process all candidates will need to complete BPSS security clearance*

We are an Opening Doors employer, committed to equal opportunity and an inclusive workplace. Our approach, shaped by our values of service, trust, excellence, agility, dedication, and you, we focus on removing barriers and recognising potential. We are committed to fairness at every stage, including providing reasonable adjustments and actively working to eliminate discrimination.

We believe talent is everywhere, and by widening access to opportunity and welcoming diverse experiences, we aim to create a workplace where every person feels valued and has an equal chance.

If you experience difficulties or are unable to apply for a role on-line please contact us at people.skills@harland-wolff.com and one of the team will be in contact to help you.