Senior Performance Analysis Engineer in Reading

12-Month Contract ~ Hybrid Working (2 Days Onsite) ~ £50 - £60 per hour - Depending on experience ~ Inside IR35

Ceto Talent is supporting a highly secure major engineering and research facility supporting some of the UK's most complex scientific, infrastructure, and national programmes in the search for a Senior Cost Engineer to join its Business Management function on a long-term contract basis. This position sits within a central cost engineering and business management team, providing specialist cost engineering support across a portfolio of complex programmes and projects.

The successful candidate will be responsible for cost forecasting, performance analysis, budgeting, reporting, trend identification, and assurance activities, helping to improve cost visibility and support informed decision-making across the organisation. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Cost Engineer looking to work within a highly regulated and technically complex environment where robust cost management and performance insight are critical to programme success.

The Role

• Provide cost engineering expertise and support to project and programme teams, ensuring the quality, consistency, and integrity of cost data and reporting.
• Analyse project performance, identify emerging trends, support forecasting activities, and provide recommendations to improve project cost performance and delivery confidence.
• Support the ongoing development of cost engineering capability, processes, and best practice across the wider organisation.
• Implement appropriate procedures, processes, and systems to ensure the quality and consistency of cost data.
• Prepare, monitor, and control project forecasts and budgets, including change control activities.
• Produce detailed cost reports, trend analysis, and early warning indicators.
• Interrogate project systems to analyse actual expenditure, commitments, and accruals.
• Conduct detailed Schedule Performance Index (SPI) and Cost Performance Index (CPI) variance analysis.
• Perform root cause analysis and provide narrative reporting, recommendations, and recovery plans.
• Establish and maintain Project Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS).
• Lead cost studies and benchmarking exercises using historical project data.
• Develop and maintain benchmarking information to support project and programme requirements.
• Provide Project Managers with trend analysis, performance forecasts, and recommendations based on emerging project data.
• Track manpower productivity and analyse resource utilisation against project plans.
• Review labour performance, resource constraints, and time booked to projects, providing recommendations where required.
• Support project teams with forecasting, reporting, and cost performance management activities.
• Assist with the coordination and deployment of Business Management resources where required.
• Promote continuous improvement and cost engineering best practice across the organisation.
• Maintain high standards of safety, security, quality, and environmental compliance.

Requirements

• Proven experience in Cost Engineering, Cost Control, Cost Management, or Project Controls.
• Background within engineering, construction, infrastructure, manufacturing, defence, nuclear, utilities, or other major project environments.
• Experience conducting SPI and CPI analysis within an Earned Value Management (EVM) environment.
• Ability to undertake trend analysis, forecasting, benchmarking, and performance reporting.
• Experience tracking labour productivity, resource utilisation, and manpower performance.
• Ability to provide meaningful recommendations and challenge project assumptions where appropriate.
• Proficient in cost management and project controls systems.

For a confidential discussion regarding this opportunity, please contact Ceto Talent and reference no.