Cost Audit Manager in Wakefield

Support the commercial delivery of a major local authority contract, ensuring robust cost assurance, audit governance, and value for money across a diverse portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Operations
  • Ensure that all contractual obligations are met within the defined area and/or activities assigned, supporting the Account Director and wider Account Management Team in achieving all contractual KPIs.
  • Develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and provide timely responses to requests for support.
  • Work with the Contract Manager and client to obtain approvals for works, ensuring appropriate accruals/commitments are reflected in financial systems.
  • Monitor suppliers to ensure effective day‑to‑day service delivery and escalate performance issues where required.
  • Promote a positive Health and Safety culture, ensuring issues are escalated and addressed.
• Commercial & Audit
  • Lead the independent audit and validation of supplier quotations, invoices, and applications for payment to ensure compliance with contractual terms and commercial accuracy.
  • Challenge costs, assumptions, and scopes of work to ensure value for money and alignment with contract requirements.
  • Identify discrepancies, overcharges, or non‑compliant submissions and take appropriate action, including rejection where necessary.
  • Provide detailed audit reports highlighting savings, cost avoidance, trends, and areas of risk.
  • Support CAPEX planning by validating cost assumptions and providing insight into financial risks and opportunities.
  • Work with Supply Chain and Finance teams to produce monthly reporting on spend, accruals, and forecasted activity.
  • Support the management and audit of contract variations, ensuring full transparency and documentation.
• Technology
  • Utilise the Concerto CAFM system and other client/Bellrock systems to monitor cost performance and audit activity.
  • Produce reports analysing asset performance, lifecycle costs, and replacement priorities.
  • Identify opportunities to enhance cost visibility and audit capability through system improvements, APIs, and data integration.
• Technical
  • Lead audits of statutory compliance records, ensuring both technical and financial alignment.
  • Analyse supplier performance and cost trends, providing actionable insights and improvement plans.
  • Provide lifecycle and forward maintenance cost assurance advice.
• Risk Management
  • Maintain and develop the commercial audit and risk register, identifying financial exposure and trends.
  • Ensure all cost and procurement activity complies with contractual, statutory, and governance requirements.
  • Lead cost investigations relating to incidents, contractor performance issues, or non‑compliance.
  • Support change management by ensuring robust audit, cost validation, and risk assessment of all proposed changes.
  • Attend governance and management meetings as required.
• Business Growth
  • Ensure additional services and variations are commercially robust, audited, and aligned with contractual requirements.
  • Identify and drive cost savings and efficiency opportunities across the portfolio.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement of commercial audit processes and best practice.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in a cost audit, commercial assurance, or Quantity Surveying role within FM, property, construction, or building services.
• Proven experience auditing supplier costs, invoices, and commercial submissions.
• Strong understanding of commercial governance, contract compliance, and cost control mechanisms.
• Ability to challenge and influence stakeholders at multiple levels.
• Advanced Excel and financial analysis capabilities.
• High attention to detail with the ability to identify anomalies and risks.
• Strong understanding of FM commercial models, PPM regimes, and contractual performance frameworks.
• Ability to interpret technical maintenance data and relate it to financial outcomes.

Desirable

• BSc in Quantity Surveying or related discipline.
• MRICS or working toward chartership.
• NEC, JCT, or FM contract experience.
• Facilities Management qualification or working toward one.

AI Fluency & Learning Mindset

• Demonstrate strong curiosity about new technologies and an ownership mindset for continuously improving thinking, working, and delivery.

Working Arrangements

• Flexibility is supported; the successful candidate will work from the Yorkshire site three days a week and the remainder of the week remotely.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays plus an additional day.
• Salary exchange pension scheme.
• Life cover.
• Paid sick leave.
• Health Assured employee assistance and wellness program.
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Additional 5 days holiday purchase scheme.
• Offers and discount scheme for everyday shopping and essentials.
• Healthcare Cashplan.
• MotorSave Scheme.
• Refer a friend.
• Liftshare.
• Virtual GP.