Cost Manager

Key Responsibilities:

Cost Planning & Budget Management:

– Develop and maintain the overall project cost plan and budget.

– Establish cost benchmarks and monitor project expenditure against approved budgets.

– Prepare cost estimates at various stages of design development.

– Provide cost advice to the Client and Project Director during design and execution.

– Identify potential cost risks and recommend mitigation measures.

Pre-Contract Cost Management:

– Review project scope, drawings, specifications, and BOQs for cost implications.

– Prepare preliminary and detailed cost estimates.

– Develop and maintain cost plans through concept, schematic, design development, and tender stages.

– Support value engineering exercises to optimize project cost without compromising design, quality, or functionality.

– Review tender documentation and ensure alignment between scope and budget.

Tender & Procurement Management:

– Support procurement strategy and packaging of works.

– Prepare/review BOQs, pricing schedules, and commercial tender documents.

– Manage tendering activities from a cost management perspective.

– Analyze contractor quotations and prepare detailed commercial comparisons.

– Participate in commercial negotiations and provide recommendations for contractor appointment.

Post-Contract Cost Control:

– Monitor project costs, commitments, forecasts, and actual expenditure.

– Review contractor interim payment applications and payment recommendations.

– Track variations, change orders, claims, and potential commercial exposure.

– Maintain the project Cost Report, Cash Flow, Commitment Register, and Change Control Register.

– Prepare monthly cost reports highlighting budget status, forecast cost, and key risks.

Change & Variation Management:

– Establish and manage an effective change control process.

– Review contractor variation submissions and assess entitlement and valuation.

– Monitor design changes and their impact on project cost.

– Provide cost advice before approval of changes.

– Ensure all changes are properly documented and approved.

Commercial & Contract Coordination:

– Coordinate closely with the Contracts Manager, Quantity Surveyors, Project Managers, Planning, Design, and Procurement teams.

– Review contractual/commercial implications of project decisions.

– Support assessment of contractor claims and commercial disputes.

– Provide commercial inputs for EOT and delay-related claims where required.

Forecasting & Reporting:

– Prepare monthly and periodic cost reports for the Client and senior management.

– Monitor actual cost against approved budget and forecast final cost.

– Prepare cash flow projections and expenditure forecasts.

– Highlight cost overruns, potential risks, and opportunities.

– Provide clear recommendations to support Client decision-making.

Value Engineering:

– Lead and coordinate value engineering exercises with the design and project teams.

– Identify alternative materials, construction methodologies, and design solutions to achieve cost savings.

– Evaluate the cost, programme, quality, and lifecycle implications of proposed alternatives.

Final Account & Close-Out:

– Review and agree contractor final accounts.

– Ensure all variations, claims, and commercial matters are closed before project completion.

– Verify final project cost and reconcile against the approved budget.

– Support commercial close-out and final reporting.