Project Cost Controller Manager - Defence

Job Description

At Turner & Townsend, we are passionate about making a difference by delivering better outcomes for our clients and helping our people realize their potential. With 245 offices worldwide, we support major global clients on highly technical projects. The Defence Infrastructure Cost Centre supports projects across Programme and Project Management, Project Planning, Cost Engineering, Risk Management, and Commercial Disciplines, delivering infrastructure projects ranging from a few hundred thousand pounds to over £200 M.

About Us

In the UK, Turner & Townsend partners with a diverse portfolio of clients across Health, Local Government, Higher Education, Highways, Utilities, Rail, and Defence. We are a Tier 1 supplier of Project and Programme Management Services to the UK Ministry of Defence and key strategic Defence suppliers, playing a vital role in national security.

Role Overview and Purpose

We have an exciting opportunity for a Cost Controller (Project Controls Engineer Grade) to join our growing Defence South East team. You will play a key role in delivering cost control and performance management services across a portfolio of high‑profile projects and programmes, working at the forefront of UK Defence.

Key Responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with project delivery teams as part of a wider cost control function or independently with support from experienced cost professionals.
• Implement, administer, and maintain cost control systems and procedures to monitor project budgets, commitments, expenditures, and forecasts.
• Support the development and maintenance of a robust, integrated Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB) in collaboration with the Integrated Project Team, ensuring alignment with the change control process.
• Assist in the creation of Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS) and align time‑phased budgets with the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) to enable accurate cost tracking and control.
• Prepare accruals to ensure timely and accurate reflection of the Actual Cost of Work Performed (ACWP) in project cost data.
• Develop and maintain cost tracking tools as needed, generating regular cost reports, including Earned Value Analysis (EVA) to assess project performance.
• Provide cost input to support the development of Change Requests, participate in change control boards, and integrate approved changes into the project baseline.
• Update project forecasts to maintain an accurate and comprehensive Estimate to Complete (ETC).
• Deliver timely and accurate cost information to support project status reporting, performance management, and informed decision‑making by project leadership.

Working Location

We offer a hybrid working arrangement, expecting you to be at client sites or Turner & Townsend offices about 60 % of your time, with flexibility depending on business and client requirements.

About You

We’re seeking individuals with a strong background in performance and reporting management, ideally within the Defence sector or a similarly complex and regulated environment. A desire to be part of a high‑performing, collaborative team committed to delivering world‑class outcomes for our network of Defence clients is essential.

Experience and Skills

• Proven experience in cost control and project controls within large‑scale infrastructure or Defence programmes.
• Strong understanding of cost management principles, including budgeting, forecasting, accruals, earned value management (EVM), and cost performance analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain CBS and align them with WBS and project schedules.
• Experience producing high‑quality cost reports and dashboards, communicating complex financial data clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and leadership skills, with experience managing or mentoring junior cost professionals and collaborating across multidisciplinary teams.
• Sector‑specific experience in Defence or Nuclear industries, with understanding of the regulatory, commercial, and security frameworks.
• Proven ability to build and maintain trusted advisor relationships with clients, contributing to long‑term partnerships.
• Experience coordinating contractors, consultants, and advisors across multiple concurrent projects.
• Practical experience using Microsoft Excel and other MS Office applications for cost tracking, analysis, and reporting.
• Proficiency in Cost Management tools such as ECOSYS, PRISM, COBRA, or similar platforms.
• Awareness of how cost control integrates with scheduling, risk management, reporting, and change control, with ability to collaborate effectively across these functions.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working with UK Government departments and agencies on complex infrastructure or capital investment programmes.
• Proven ability to lead and manage multidisciplinary project teams, fostering collaboration and delivering successful outcomes through strategic direction and influence.
• Broader project management expertise, including change management, stakeholder engagement, and governance across the project lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Must hold, or be eligible to obtain, UK Ministry of Defence Security Clearance (SC or higher); UK passport required.
• Degree qualified in a relevant technical, engineering, or management discipline, or possess equivalent professional qualifications and demonstrable experience in Cost Control.
• Membership of a recognised professional body such as the Association for Project Management (APM) or Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
• A UK driving licence or ability to travel to client sites across the region as required.

Additional Information

We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change, supporting a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work‑life balance.

SOX control responsibilities may be part of this role, which are to be adhered to where applicable.

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Project Management

Industries

Construction, Civil Engineering, and Business Consulting and Services

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time.

Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e‑mail accounts are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. To be an authorised recruitment agency/search firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.