What does a cost controller do?
Cost Controller Job Profile
Cost Controllers safeguard the project budget by building and maintaining the cost baseline, tracking commitments and actuals, and forecasting the final outturn. They integrate closely with planning, procurement, and finance to provide timely, accurate cost insight that drives decisions and protects margin.
Key Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
- Develop the WBS/CBS, set control budgets, and align with the schedule baseline (EVM-ready)
- Track commitments, accruals, and actuals; maintain up-to-date cost registers and cash-flow curves
- Prepare monthly cost reports, KPIs, and variance/explanation narratives for stakeholders
- Own change control: assess trends and change orders; quantify impacts and update forecasts
- Model risks, contingencies, and escalation; support scenario and what-if analysis
- Interface with procurement/AP to reconcile POs, invoices, and contract values
- Support audits and stage-gate reviews with well-documented cost evidence
Qualifications, Skills, and Qualities
We've broken down some skills and experience based on seniority so you know more about career prospects.
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Entry Level
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, finance, or quantity surveying
- Advanced Excel; working knowledge of cost tools (e.g., PRISM, EcoSys) a plus
- Understanding of WBS/CBS structures, cost coding, and basic EVM
- Detail orientation and strong numeracy; clear written reporting
Professional Level
- 3–5 years’ project cost experience on capex projects
- Fluent with forecasting, earned value, and change/claims evaluation
- Comfortable reconciling data across ERP, procurement, and planning systems
- Strong stakeholder communication; able to challenge and influence constructively
Senior Level
- 6+ years controlling large, multi-contract portfolios
- Leads cost governance, benchmarking, and continuous improvement
- Expert in risk, escalation, and portfolio/cash management
- Mentors team; shapes project controls strategy and standards
Volatile markets, complex supply chains, and digital delivery increase the need for rigorous cost control. Professionals who pair classic controls with data analytics, integrated toolchains, and business partnering will be in high demand.
Find Cost Controller Jobs with TRS Staffing. Explore our latest Cost Controller openings and apply today.
FAQs about Cost Controllers
Maintains cost registers, validates invoices/commitments, updates forecasts and cash flow, reports variances, and partners with planners and procurement to keep projects on budget.
Advanced Excel plus cost systems (e.g., PRISM/EcoSys), ERP (SAP/Oracle), and familiarity with planning tools (Primavera/MS Project) for EVM alignment.
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