Cost Assurance Auditor in London

HS2’s new c. 1 billion Old Oak Common station will become the UK’s best‑connected rail station once completed. The Balfour Beatty – VINCI SYTRA joint venture is responsible for the final design, construction, and commissioning of the station in Northwest London.

Responsibilities

• Support in compiling the Audit Scope, arranging initial meetings with Subcontractors and the Commercial team to approve scope and timetable of audit.
• Request information, such as Purchase Orders, Invoices, proof of payments and other data required from Subcontractors to facilitate audits and ensure contract adherence; follow up on outstanding or delayed information.
• Analyse large volumes of data, verify costs against the schedule of cost components aligned to the NEC contract, highlight discrepancies or potential disallowed elements, demonstrating full contract understanding and risk assessment.
• Assist the Cost Verification Manager to implement controls and validate them to support the cost assurance control environment.
• Conduct cost‑verification deep‑dives and internal audits across all work packages, provide recommendations to mitigate disallowed risks, and support the Manager in issuing findings and recommendations for improvement.
• Visit external Subcontractor offices to audit Staff and Labour, understand payroll reports, audit against the Schedule of Cost Components, and perform sample testing on CVs, qualifications, rights to work and timesheets.
• Review company policies for Modern Slavery, Anti‑Bribery and expenses to ensure compliance.
• Travel may be required; the role will be predominantly based at Old Oak House, with a minimum of three days in the office.

Qualifications & Experience

• Strong analytical skills with proven ability to create quality, well‑organised financial analysis from multiple data sources; attention to detail and accuracy.
• Commercial or Quantity Surveying experience is an advantage.
• Previous industry or site‑based experience.
• Strong communication, numerical and presentation skills with the ability to deliver objective and persuasive reports orally and in writing.
• Proactive, problem‑solving individual who takes full ownership and accountability of work.
• Confidence to work closely with the Commercial team and build good relationships with external Subcontractors.
• Experience in contract reviews, commercial proposals, and business cases.
• Ability to act as a strong advocate for best practice, supporting practical deployment and solutions while remaining open to others’ ideas.

Benefits

• Smart working, with flexibility such as staggered start and finish times and up to 40 % remote working where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro‑rata).
• Family‑friendly policies: 28 weeks full pay for maternity or adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity or partner’s leave.
• Pension, share‑incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and more.

Diversity & Inclusion

Balfour Beatty believes that diversity and inclusion are essential to a successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive. We are members of WISE, ENEI, the Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). We are proud to be a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists. As a Disability‑Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long‑term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We offer a disability interview for applicants who meet the minimum role requirements.