About the Company
Job Description
This client facing consultancy have a Senior Cost Manager position available in Milton Keynes. The Senior Cost Manager oversees the financial performance of multiple construction projects, ensuring cost-efficiency and budget compliance from inception to completion. This role includes leading the monitoring of expenditures and identifying cost-saving opportunities. The Senior Cost Manager collaborates with project teams, contractors and clients to ensure the alignment of financial planning with project objectives, ensuring projects are delivered within budget while maintaining quality and regulatory standards.
Key Responsibilities:
To work closely with clients and project managers to ensure alignment on project objectives and financial outcomes.
To use various digital measurement tools to quantify works during site visits and from drawings for use in cost plans and contractor submission reviews.
To lead pre-contract cost management services to clients including cost planning, procurement, tendering and value engineering advice.
To lead post-contract cost management services to clients including conducting valuations, issuing Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) and New Engineering Contract (NEC) contract notices, and managing contract practices.
To gather and analyse quotations, prepare cost comparisons, and support procurement processes.
To lead the development of project budgets, ensuring they take account of any client budgetary constraints and requirements, providing cost-effective solutions where possible.
To identify and mitigate any potential risks that may impact project costs.
To oversee the preparation of regular cost reports including invoices, purchase orders, updates and forecasts for clients, ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the project.
To complete financial reports and due diligence assessments.
To oversee the maintenance of cost-related documentation, including invoices, purchase orders, and contracts.
To oversee project variations, ensuring changes are costed, approved, and incorporated into financial controls.
To oversee the drafting of post-contract documentation, including Payment Notices, Final Account Statements, and Instructions.
To lead site progress meetings.
To attend site visits for valuation and account purposes
To attend regular team meetings.
To attend business conferences and networking events as and when required.
To receive and act on constructive feedback to improve performance and skills.
To engage in training sessions, development activities, and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) initiatives.
To maintain up to date knowledge of industry trends, regulations, and best practices within the field.
To offer guidance and support to junior staff members as and when required.
To carry out performance review meetings and 1 to 1’s with any direct reports.
To provide regular feedback, coaching and support to any direct reports including managing any underperformance issues with individuals.
To review workload with any direct reports and highlight any resource issues to the Associate Director (Cost Management).
To provide recruitment support as and when required (including conducting interviews and liaising with recruitment consultants etc.).
To comply with and ensure any direct reports comply with internal policies and procedures.
The above provides the general nature of work performed in this role and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties.
Key Results / Objectives:
To ensure clients always receive excellent service and projects are completed to a high standard and within budget.
To ensure consistent performance on various projects.
Requirements
Experience and qualifications
Essential Criteria
Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline or equivalent level of knowledge gained by practical work experience.
Experience of working as a Cost Manager or in a similar client facing role.
Experience of working in the construction and property industry.
Line management experience.
Experience of working with measurement software Matterport and CostX.
Desirable Criteria
MRICS/NECReg qualified.
PQS experience.
Experience of working with Autodesk Design
Review and Site Audit Pro.
Skills & Abilities
Essential Criteria
Good technical competence across the full range of building consultancy service lines.
Demonstrated ability to lead on the financial aspects of complex projects.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively across all levels of the organisation and with external stakeholders, ensuring alignment and understanding.
Ability to analyse complex situations, identify issues, and develop effective solutions.
Strong ability to build relationships, work collaboratively with diverse teams, and foster a positive, cooperative work environment.
Good leadership capabilities.
Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate risks.
Good commercial project management abilities, with experience in overseeing multiple projects, ensuring they are delivered on time, within scope and to budget.
Strong ability to influence key stakeholders and negotiate effectively.
Ability to identify opportunities for process improvement, champion change initiatives, and implement processes that drive organisational efficiency and innovation.
Strong understanding of the administration of building contracts.
Strong measurement and cost planning skills.
Good presentation skills.
Comfortable leading meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
Strong technical attention to detail.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (formula writing).
Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office, specifically Word.
Knowledge & Understanding
Essential Criteria
Good understanding of the construction and property industry (including market knowledge).
Strong knowledge and understanding of building contracts and cost plans.
Good understanding of the Building Safety Act and the amendments to the Building Regulations.
Basic understanding of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2015.
Good understanding of Joint Contracts Tribunal (JCT) forms of contract.
Desirable Criteria
Good understanding of how a business functions including key processes, financial management and organisational structure.
Familiarity with public policy, funding mechanisms, and their impact on construction and property development.
New Engineering Contract (NEC) experience.