Associate Quantity Surveyor in Birmingham

Our small Canadian-born business was founded in 1978 and has become a global organization that now spans 120 locations across 20 countries. Our expansion has been rapid, but what matters most is the common belief that drives all 5,000 of our people to be a different type of real estate organization. We believe that the places in which we live, work and play have the power to make us happier and healthier, and we are united by a shared sense of purpose, to have a positive impact on people’s lives.

We are a global commercial real estate advisory firm with a simple aim: to make real estate a leading force in creating vibrant buildings, cities and places that deliver long‑lasting social value and economic impact.

We believe that our industry is changing, and we want our business to be a melting pot of curious minds, passionate hearts and strategic intelligence. Your gender, religion and race are all highly respected, but are less important to us than your ability to step up and change the game. We provide you with a place where you can do just that, with like‑minded people. Collaboration is embedded in the way we work – our people have the autonomy to collaborate on client relationships, engage teams across the business, lead operations, work collectively on projects, participate in strategy and are ultimately responsible for our growth.

This role carries voting rights, so our people have a very real say in the future direction and operation of our business. This means that we are able to attract, engage and retain the best talent from the industry.

We are looking to hire a highly skilled chartered Quantity Surveying professional. With experience gained within private practice or within a house builder or Housing Association you are willing and able to work in a team environment or on your own. You will have excellent commercial and residential experience and will work on a portfolio of challenging projects. You will be highly motivated and will have a proven ability to provide high quality service to clients. This opportunity offers excellent career prospects with rapid progression in a vibrant office.

Main Duties, Responsibilities & Accountabilities

• Bank Monitoring and Cost Consultancy: You will need to be able to demonstrate experience of the Procurement and Development process through feasibility to practical completion, whilst providing accurate and up to date costing information. You will be analytical, have a flair for numerical data and be prepared to assume responsibility from Procurement to final account.
• Bank Monitoring: Manage and undertake a portfolio of development monitoring projects from initial pre‑lending appraisal through to completion of the developments; Undertake the initial appraisal of the proposed development comprising a review of the Borrower’s cost plan and a detailed risk analysis of every aspect of the proposed development to assess the risks to the Bank/Funder; Prepare the initial appraisal report to clearly identify our assessment of the potential risks and shortcomings in the Borrower’s proposals and our recommendations on the actions and precautions that can be taken to protect the interests of the Bank/Funder; Undertake regular site inspections, attending progress meetings and valuation meetings and prepare monthly progress reports for the Bank/Funder; Approve valuation and drawdowns.
• Cost Consultancy: Prepare initial and subsequent cost estimates for the construction and associated costs of specified projects; Administer and prepare progress payments throughout the duration of the project and final accounts at completion; Advise on and prepare appropriate forms of contract documentation to ensure that clients’ interests are protected at all times; Undertake QS pre and post contract roles for project related work; Manage the financial aspects of the building contract and advise on so the work can be approved where necessary and the budget/payments are amended accordingly; Monitor cash flow and expenditure against approved budgets ensuring any shortfall is fully explained and appropriate supplemental budgets applied for and obtained; Provide cost advisory support to Building and other business units and support cross team proposals/tenders; Undertake RCAs for Building and other business units including Corporate Recovery and Valuation, the latter being of some large scale assessments of properties/portfolios in the UK and abroad.

Desired Knowledge, Skills And Experience

• Varied experience in construction sectors. Experience of the residential development process would be advantageous;
• Ability to demonstrate core QS skills and operate in a commercial context such as preparation of estimates, cost plans, budgets, cash‑flow forecasts, RCAs, interim and final accounts, valuations and payment certificates etc;
• Client facing with good relationship‑building/networking skills;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Good presentation and client skills;
• Ability to write technical reports to lay clients;
• Ability to work unsupervised;
• Analytical and thorough;
• Knowledge of forms of appointments and collateral warranties;
• Cost experience of a wide range of buildings.

Qualifications

MRICS

Equal Opportunities

At Avison Young, we’ve always put people at the heart of what we do. In the last few years, we’ve increased the diversity at our board, leadership and Principal levels. Avison Young stands out for our commitment to empowering women. In addition to increasing the number of women on our board and in our leadership ranks, our internal Women’s Network of more than 500 members come together for networking and learning, and advise the business on strategies for promoting access, opportunity and inclusion in our industry.

Our global DEI steering committee shapes our strategy to continue to increase industry access for underrepresented groups and accelerating initiatives led by our employee resource groups, including our Women’s Network, Black Professionals and LGBTQ+ groups. In addition to leading global initiatives, the steering committee’s work examines our policies and practices, creating accountability for results and communicating progress to our executive leadership, our clients and our communities.

Our culture is underpinned by our approach to diversity, inclusion, and well‑being. We are committed to building an inclusive culture that empowers all our employees to thrive, reflects all backgrounds and talents, allows individuals to be successful and feel a sense of belonging, and foster a workplace that is supported, inclusive and has a strong sense of community between colleagues.

Avison Young is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to treating all its employees and job applicants equitably. This includes implementing deliberate strategies that advance underrepresented communities in commercial real estate careers. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to removing any obstacles to inclusion. If you need any adjustments to support your application or any part of the recruitment process, such as information in alternative formats or special requirements to access our buildings, or you are eligible under the Disability Confident Scheme please contact us at careers.uk@avisonyoung.com and we will do everything we can to help.

We are committed to inclusion in our hiring processes, and we want to give everyone a chance to show what they can bring to our organisation. If you are not sure that you have all the skills in the person specification, please still apply. We value passion and potential in our employees, so it would be great to hear from you and why you would suit this position.

Some of our roles may be remote and some roles may be specific to our offices, but you will need to confirm you have the right to work in the UK.