Cost Control Engineer

Role Purpose

To support effective cost management of infrastructure projects (roads, utilities, drainage and marine works where applicable) by maintaining cost control systems, tracking budgets and commitments, monitoring actual costs, supporting forecasting (CTC/EAC), and preparing accurate periodic cost reports aligned with physical progress.

Key Accountabilities

• Maintain cost control structure (WBS/CBS, cost codes) aligned to infrastructure work packages (earthworks, subbase/base, asphalt, drainage/utilities, concrete/structures, marine works where applicable).
• Support development and control of baseline budgets and approved budget transfers/revisions.
• Track budget vs actual costs for labour, plant, materials, subcontractors, preliminaries and overheads; identify variances and cost risks.
• Maintain commitment registers for POs/subcontracts and ensure committed costs are captured and updated (including long-lead infrastructure materials such as pipes, precast, asphalt materials, road furniture).
• Coordinate with Procurement, Stores and Finance to reconcile GRNs, invoices, accruals and cost postings; support month-end closing and audit readiness.
• Prepare weekly/monthly cost reports and dashboards, including variance analysis and key cost drivers (plant utilisation, productivity, material consumption/wastage, rework).
• Support forecasting by collecting progress and productivity data to update Cost-to-Complete (CTC) and Estimate at Completion (EAC) under guidance of senior controls.
• Coordinate with Planning to align physical progress measurement (installed quantities, asphalt tonnage, pipe meters laid, concrete volumes) with cost reporting and earned value where used.
• Support variation and claims cost assessments (rate build-ups, dayworks, resource logs, plant records) and maintain cost impact trackers.
• Assist with cashflow reporting by tracking expected inflows/outflows, payment status, retentions and major procurement spend.
• Maintain controlled cost documentation and filing (approvals, assumptions, backups) to ensure governance and traceability.

Qualifications, Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• Bachelor’s in Engineering / Quantity Surveying / Construction Management (or related)
• 3–6+ years’ experience in cost control/project controls within infrastructure (roads/utilities/drainage; marine exposure an advantage)
• Strong understanding of procurement-to-payment cycle, GRN/invoice controls, and month-end reporting
• Strong Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, dashboards); ERP exposure preferred
• UAE/GCC experience preferred