Cost Control Lead

Job Description – Cost Control Lead

Job Purpose

The cost control lead provides expert guidance and oversight on all project cost management activities for the project. This includes cost estimating, forecasting, allocation, reporting, stewardship of expenditures, and financial risk assessment. The role is responsible for developing, implementing, and continuously enhancing cost-related procedures to meet the evolving needs of the business, while offering advisory support to project teams and stakeholders.

Job Context & Major Challenges

• The role requires developing detailed cost planning models, robust project cost estimates, variance analyses, and comprehensive cost reports.
• Must provide accurate, insightful recommendations to optimize processes, improve cost performance, and ensure compliance with company governance.
• Balancing multiple stakeholders while upholding strict cost management standards is a core challenge.

Key Accountabilities

• Develop, maintain, and enhance cost management frameworks, including estimating, forecasting, reporting, cost allocation, benchmarking, and stewardship processes.
• Review and validate all cost estimates submitted by the Project Management Team, ensuring accuracy, alignment with assumptions, and compliance with estimate classifications.
• Identify standardization opportunities to unify cost and expenditure practices across major projects, ensuring process compliance and improved efficiency.
• Assess and review Gate deliverables, including Estimate Basis Memoranda (EBM) and Estimate Confidence Packages (ECP), ensuring the quality of project estimates across Gate stages (Unclassified, Class V, Class III).
• Develop Funding Package submissions, such as Advance Commitments (AC), Full Funding (FF), and Supplementary Funding, ensuring timely and accurate preparation of financial documentation.
• Build and manage cost information and benchmarking databases to support accurate estimating and planning.
• Review cost-related procedures and recommend enhancements based on lessons learned to help achieve departmental objectives.
• Participate in governance reviews (Gate Reviews, IPR, CER, CRR, and Audits) as the cost subject matter expert.
• Provide functional support to PMTs, advising on emerging issues, variances, risks, and mitigation measures related to cost management.
• Support the Project Management of Change (PMOC) process, ensuring compliance with company procedures. Prepare cost estimates for change orders and provide objective analysis to protect the Company’s commercial interests.

Person Specification – Minimum Requirements

• • Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, commercial management, economics, engineering, project management, supply chain, law, communications, technology, mathematics, or statistics.

• • Knowledge & Experience
• Minimum 8 years of experience in a relevant business function.
• At least 4 years of experience in the oil & gas industry.
• Minimum 1 year of supervisory or oversight experience, including working with contractors, subcontractors, vendors, or service providers.

• • Technical & Business Skills
• Experience with oil & gas operators, EPC contractors, or service companies.

• Strong knowledge in business disciplines including:

  • Cost control
  • Estimating
  • Planning & scheduling
  • Claims management
  • Risk management
  • Change management
  • Procurement
  • Contract management (pre- and post-award)
  • Reporting & data analytics
  • Lessons learned management
• Familiarity with international standards and best practices for cost and project control.
• SME?level competence in the candidate’s specific business discipline.
• Proficiency in key software tools: SAP, dashboards, cost databases, analytics platforms, etc.
• Experience supporting large integrated project/operations environments.