Cost Manager

Overview

*Commercial Leadership & Governance*

• Act as the primary client-side on site commercial lead across assigned projects/packages.
• Establish and maintain commercial governance frameworks, processes, and reporting standards.
• Provide support and strategic commercial advice to management on cost, risk, and commercial/contractual matters.
• Ensure alignment of all commercial activities with project objectives and financial targets.
• *Management of Cost Consultants*
• Lead, manage, and oversee appointed consultants including but not limited to LDC, cost consultants etc.
• Review and validate cost reports, payment certifications, variation assessments, and final accounts prepared by consultants.
• Challenge assumptions, ensure consistency, and drive accuracy in all consultant deliverables.
• Ensure consultants are meeting contractual obligations, KPIs, and reporting timelines.
• *Post-Contract Cost Control*
• Monitor overall project cost performance against approved budgets and business plans.
• Review and consolidate cost forecasts, cash flows, and financial reports.
• Identify cost risks and opportunities, ensuring proactive mitigation strategies are implemented.
• Maintain oversight of commitments, expenditures, and cost-to-complete.

*FIDIC Contract Administration Oversight*

• Support in the administration of FIDIC contracts.
• Ensure support in application of contractual mechanisms including: variations and change control, payment certifications, claims and extensions of time.
• Provide commercial input on contractual correspondence and key notices.
• Support dispute avoidance and resolution strategies in coordination with project and HO teams.

*Change, Variation & Claims Management*

• Provide strategic oversight on evaluation and negotiation of variations and contractor claims.
• Ensure all changes are commercially justified, properly instructed, and documented.
• Review entitlement, quantum, and contractual compliance of claims.
• Lead high-value or sensitive negotiations where required.

*Commercial Due Diligence & Risk Management*

• Support commercial due diligence for design development, procurement strategies, and delivery approaches.
• Assess cost implications of design changes, value engineering proposals, and scope adjustments.
• Identify commercial risks across packages and implement mitigation strategies.
• Ensure alignment between project budgets, feasibility studies, and ongoing delivery costs.

*Financial Reporting & Stakeholder Management*

• Prepare and present high-level commercial reports to senior management.
• Provide clear insights on project financial status, risks, and forecasts.
• Liaise with internal stakeholders (development, design, finance, legal, project management) and external parties (consultants, contractors, local authorities).
• Support reporting where required.

*Final Account & Project Close-Out*

• Oversee the agreement of final accounts prepared by cost consultants.
• Ensure timely and efficient commercial close-out of all contracts.
• Capture lessons learned, benchmarking data, and cost intelligence for future projects.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Engineering, or related discipline.
• 8–15 years of relevant experience, preferably with a developer, client-side organization, leading consultancy or contractor.
• Strong experience in post-contract commercial management of large-scale developments (residential/mixed-use/masterplan).
• Proven experience working with and managing external cost consultants.
• In-depth knowledge of FIDIC contracts and European construction practices.
• Experience in claims, variations, and final account negotiations.
• Familiarity with EU procurement and regulatory environments is an advantage.

Key Competencies

• Strong commercial leadership and strategic thinking.
• Excellent understanding of commercial processes and contract mechanisms.
• High level of analytical and financial acumen.
• Confident in challenging consultants and contractors constructively.
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to operate at both strategic and detailed levels.
• Clear and concise reporting and communication skills.
• Experience in liaising with local authorities and regulatory bodies, with a commercial understanding of permitting, approvals, and compliance requirements within European project environments.
• Ability to support the commercial and contractual aspects of authority approvals, including managing cost implications.

Preferred / Added Value

• MRICS (Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) or equivalent professional accreditation.
• Experience delivering projects in Europe or similar regulatory environments.
• Experience in large-scale master-planned communities or infrastructure-led developments.