Senior Cost Manager Cost Control

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries.

Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people’s lives.

Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world’s most impactful projects and programmes as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success. Our capabilities include programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions.

We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the premier programme, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.

Please visit our website: www.turnerandtownsend.com

We are seeking an experienced Senior Cost Manager (Cost Control) to join our project finance team in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In this role, you will be responsible for establishing and maintaining comprehensive cost governance frameworks, managing project budgets, controlling expenditures, and ensuring financial objectives are achieved. You will play a critical role in budget development, cost forecasting, variance analysis, and providing strategic commercial recommendations to senior leadership and clients. The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional analytical capabilities, strong commercial acumen, and a commitment to driving cost discipline and financial transparency across all project phases.

• Budget Development & Governance: Establish Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS) aligned with Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and contract pricing schedules. Develop, validate, and maintain baseline budgets, including contingencies, risk allowances, and escalation provisions. Set up budget change control procedures, approval thresholds, and audit trails. Ensure alignment with contract terms and funding approvals.
• Cost Control & Forecasting: Implement cost control procedures covering commitments, accruals, cost of work performed, and Forecast at Completion (FAC/EAC). Lead monthly Budget versus Actual (BvA) reviews and conduct root-cause variance analysis; drive corrective actions in collaboration with Project Managers. Maintain commitment ledgers for purchase orders and subcontracts, verifying progress and measurements with Quantity Surveyors and Planning teams. Prepare and update cash flow forecasts for both project-to-date and at-completion scenarios.
• Reporting & Analytics: Produce comprehensive monthly commercial reports including BvA analysis, Final Forecast Cost (FFC), EAC/FAC projections, cash flow curves, earned value metrics (CPI/SPI), risk exposure assessments, and change order impacts. Present financial health to internal leadership and clients, highlighting risks, opportunities, and recommended commercial decisions. Standardise dashboards and key performance indicators (KPIs) for consistency and comparability across reporting periods.
• Change & Claims Management: Lead commercial evaluation of variations, early warnings, and change orders. Quantify cost and time impacts in coordination with Quantity Surveyors and Planning; maintain change logs and contingency drawdowns. Support claims substantiation and negotiation, coordinating with Legal and Contracts teams.
• Risk, Compliance & Audit: Maintain the cost risk and opportunity register, translating identified risks into budget and contingency movements. Ensure compliance with governance frameworks, approval protocols, and documentation standards. Support internal and external audit activities and regulatory requirements.
• Stakeholder Management: Act as the central point of contact for budget and cost performance across Project Management Office (PMO), Finance, Quantity Surveying, Planning, and Client teams. Coach project teams in cost awareness and commercial discipline, fostering a culture of financial accountability and transparency.

• Degree in Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management, Finance, or Engineering.
  
  

• Detailed knowledge of and experience in the real estate community development, roads, utilities infrastructure and airports, working for a professional cost consultancy.
  
  

• Good knowledge in supply chain management.
  
  

• Good knowledge of construction industry technical matters, such as different procurement routes, value management and value engineering.
  
  

• Good knowledge with the latest construction materials in the market and experienced in infra material in line with the local authorities approved products.
  
  

• Demonstrable experience in client-facing roles, professional approach, and confidence in presenting to consultants, and other project stakeholders.
  
  

• 10-15 years relevant experience (major projects preferred).
  
  

• Strong knowledge of FIDIC/bespoke forms, change management, and claims.
  
  

• Proficient with cost systems (e.g., ERP, cost control tools), Excel/Power BI; familiarity with EVM.
  
  

• Analytical, detail-oriented, and stakeholder-savvy communicator.
  
  

Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.

We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance.

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.

Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/

Join our social media conversations for more information about Turner & Townsend and our exciting future projects:

Twitter

Instagram

LinkedIn

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. In order 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.