Project Cost Engineer
Location: Preston
Scope: Inside IR35
Security Clearance: BPSS
About the Company
Our client is a well-established specialist engineering and project services organisation operating within the UK nuclear sector. With decades of experience supporting complex and highly regulated environments, they deliver a broad range of services across the project lifecycle, including consultancy, engineering design, project delivery, refurbishment, installation, decommissioning, and waste management. Their reputation is built on technical excellence, safety, and the successful delivery of challenging projects across major nuclear sites throughout the UK.
The Role
We are seeking an experienced Project Cost Engineer to provide comprehensive cost control, reporting, and forecasting support across a portfolio of nuclear projects. The successful candidate will work closely with Project Managers and Project Controls personnel to ensure robust financial management, budget oversight, and accurate project reporting.
The role will support the effective delivery of projects by monitoring expenditure, managing cost performance, identifying trends and variances, and contributing to project control activities throughout the project lifecycle.
Key Responsibilities
Project Controls
- Support the implementation and adherence to project control procedures, processes, and systems.
- Assist with the preparation and management of change control processes and associated documentation.
- Work closely with Planning Engineers to ensure project plans are accurately costed.
- Maintain records relating to change control, trends, and project change logs.
- Support day-to-day project controls activities across multiple projects.
- Produce monthly and ad-hoc reports for project teams and senior stakeholders.
- Assist with additional project controls activities as required.
Project Cost Management
- Analyse project expenditure and financial performance using business systems and reporting tools.
- Prepare monthly cost reports, highlighting trends, risks, and areas of concern.
- Monitor budgets against approved funding limits and financial procedures.
- Support accrual processes and forecasting activities.
- Provide cost analysis and early warning indicators to project teams.
- Ensure project changes are managed in accordance with established change control procedures.
Project Reviews
- Support ongoing project reviews and performance assessments.
- Identify cost variances and potential risks.
- Recommend mitigation strategies and corrective actions where required.
Continuous Improvement
- Contribute to the ongoing improvement of project controls processes and systems.
- Support personal and professional development activities.
- Promote best practice across project controls and cost management functions.
Requirements
Qualifications
- Degree qualified, AAT qualified, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Membership of a relevant professional body is advantageous.
- Health & Safety qualifications such as IOSH Managing Safely are beneficial.
Experience
- Experience within project controls and cost engineering environments.
- Strong understanding of change control processes and project governance.
- Experience managing financial performance, forecasting, and budget control.
- Ability to produce high-quality reports and present financial information clearly.
- Experience working with confidential and commercially sensitive information.
- Previous experience supporting major projects within highly regulated industries is desirable.
Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
- Strong analytical and reporting capabilities.
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously.
- Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Strong team-working and collaboration abilities.
- Knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards would be advantageous.
