Cost Accountant

Morning Shift - AU Client

Hybrid Work Set-up

Day 1 HMO

POSITION SUMMARY:

Provide accurate and timely visibility of project costs, commitments, productivity and forecast outcomes. Work with project managers and Finance to maintain reliable budgets and cost-to-complete forecasts, identify financial risks early and support action to protect project margins and cash flow.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Project budgets and cost structures

• Translate approved estimates and project handovers into control budgets, work breakdown structures and cost codes aligned with project scope and reporting requirements.
• Maintain approved budget baselines and records of authorised transfers, variations and forecast changes, preserving visibility against the original budget.
• Validate labour, materials, subcontract, plant, freight, mobilisation and site overhead allowances with Estimating, Procurement and project teams.

2. Cost monitoring and financial control

• Review actual costs and open commitments against budget by project, work package and cost category. Investigate coding errors, missing costs, duplicate charges and unexpected movements.
• Reconcile purchase orders, subcontract commitments and goods or services received with Finance and Procurement. Identify required accruals and prevent double counting.
• Monitor labour hours, overtime, labour rates, installation productivity, plant utilisation and material consumption. Explain the financial impact of variances.

3. Forecasting and margin management

• Coordinate regular forecast reviews with project managers. Use progress, remaining quantities, labour hours, procurement commitments and delivery schedules to assess the estimate to complete.
• Prepare estimates at completion, forecast gross margins and variance commentary. Reconcile movements from the previous forecast and distinguish approved budget changes from cost overruns.
• Challenge unsupported assumptions, overstated progress and incomplete remaining costs. Escalate margin deterioration, forecast losses and contingency usage promptly.
• Maintain forecast assumptions, risks, opportunities and corrective actions, with clear owners and due dates. Track actions through to resolution.

4. Variations and commercial support

• Track the cost and forecast impact of scope changes, delays, rework and variations, distinguishing approved, submitted and potential changes.
• Provide cost records for variation pricing, extension of time claims and commercial negotiations, working with project managers and Commercial.
• Reflect variation costs and recoverability risks transparently in forecasts. Refer revenue recognition decisions to Finance under the approved accounting policy.

5. Month end and project reporting

• Deliver project cost reports, commitment reports, forecast summaries and exception commentary to the agreed weekly and month-end timetable.
• Provide Finance with reconciled project data, accrual recommendations and supporting work in progress (WIP) schedules. Assist with assessments of progress, forecast margins, unbilled amounts and project loss exposures.
• Reconcile project reports to the general ledger with project accountants and retain evidence supporting adjustments and forecast movements.
• Present concise findings to project managers, PMO and Finance, identifying the issue, financial impact, required decision, action owner and due date.

6. Cash flow and continuous improvement

• Provide procurement, subcontract and remaining-cost forecasts for project cash flow planning. Flag timing pressures, retentions and significant upcoming commitments.
• Support project close-out by identifying outstanding costs, open orders, unresolved variations and final forecast adjustments.
• Improve cost coding, reporting templates and forecasting processes. Coach project teams in consistent cost control practices.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Essential

• Relevant qualification in accounting, finance, engineering, quantity surveying or project controls, or equivalent practical experience.
• Demonstrated cost control experience in construction, electrical, industrial, engineering or another project-based contracting environment, typically three or more years.
• Practical experience with project budgets, cost coding, commitments, accruals, labour productivity and estimates to complete.
• Strong Excel skills, including lookup functions, pivot tables and analysis of large datasets, plus experience using an ERP or job costing system.
• Ability to interpret estimates, purchase orders, subcontract arrangements and project progress information, and communicate financial issues clearly in written and spoken English.
• Experience across multiple projects or entities, including Pacific operations, foreign currency costs or switchboard manufacturing.
• Experience with Power BI or comparable reporting tools and integrating cost information with project schedules.