Project Cost Controls Analyst

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in New Jersey, +3 more states.

📋 Description

• Develop and uphold project-level cost forecasts by collaborating cross-functionally with project managers and field operations.

• Track changes in assumptions while proactively pinpointing cost drivers, risks, and opportunities.

• Oversee the monthly reporting process, delivering precise cost performance summaries, variance analyses, and data-driven insights for executive reviews.

• Aid in the creation, documentation, and upkeep of internal controls over financial reporting to ensure compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act.

• Implement analytical models to predict future project costs based on historical data and key project parameters, facilitating proactive cost management strategies.

• Support the budget mapping process, ensuring fiscal accuracy and responsibility throughout the department.

• Examine project performance trends to identify principal drivers of variance related to costs, schedules, and resource utilization.

• Perform root-cause analyses on cost and schedule deviations, collaborating with leadership to inform mitigation strategies and corrective actions.

• Design and maintain cost tracking and reporting systems to ensure accurate operational reporting.

• Work with project teams and other stakeholders to collect cost data and deliver insights into trends.

• Discover opportunities for cost savings and process enhancements through thorough analysis.

• Distill complex datasets into coherent, compelling narratives and create executive-ready presentations that emphasize trends, performance metrics, and strategic recommendations.

• Convert variance drivers into clear business narratives and suggestions for senior leadership.

• Actively participate in field improvements by visiting project sites to understand challenges, devise solutions, foster trust, and serve as a resource for project teams.

• Identify risks and early warning indicators utilizing historical data, benchmarks, and trends.

• Engage in scenario planning to investigate various future scenarios and evaluate their potential impacts on project outcomes. Develop robust contingency plans by simulating different scenarios and assessing their implications to adapt effectively to changing circumstances.

• Communicate a data-driven narrative to both technical and non-technical audiences regarding key business insights, in partnership with key cross-functional collaborators.

• Define and evaluate key metrics to manage project health, mitigate risks, demonstrate impact, and enable ongoing improvement.

• Lead data quality audits and resolve coding or cost discrepancies in collaboration with field teams.

• Contribute analytical insights to project lessons-learned reviews and portfolio trend reports.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Economics, Data Science, or a related analytical discipline.

• 1–3 years of experience in project controls, FP&A, or data-driven positions.

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel; experience with Power BI, Python, and/or SQL is highly preferred.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with a systematic approach to modeling and interpretation.

• Experience collaborating with internal stakeholders to define objectives and work cohesively to achieve them.

• Highly effective communicator able to translate complex technical data into business language for senior leadership.

• Data-driven and analytical mindset.

• Strong data management skills with a creative approach to business problem solving.

• Proven track record of creating clean, professional presentation decks that influence decision-making.

• Detail-oriented, motivated self-starter.

• Willingness to travel as necessary to successfully fulfill responsibilities and duties.

• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without requiring employer sponsorship now or in the future.

🏝️ Benefits

• Employees (and their families) are eligible for medical, dental, vision, basic life, and disability insurance.

• Employees can enroll in our company's 401(k) plan and receive vacation, sick, and holiday pay.