Project Controls Specialist / Cost Control
Job DescriptionJob Description
Project Controls Specialist
POSITION SUMMARY
The MR&I Projects Control Specialist plays a critical role in supporting the MR&I Projects Team by maintaining accurate cost tracking, reporting, and forecasting to ensure project alignment with assets financial goals across all the Gulf of America.
The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in cost control within capital/OPEX-intensive industries such as oil and gas, utilities, infrastructure, or industrial construction. The Cost Control Specialist works closely with multiple stakeholders including Operations, Finance, Global Supply Chain and Integrity to manage MR&I Project budgets, purchase requests, Authorizations for Expenditure (AFEs), and cost reporting from project initiation through closure. This role will be based in Houston, TX, reporting to the Manager MR&I Projects.
ROLE & RESPONSIBILITIES
Cost Control & Financial Management
• Serve as the dedicated cost controller for MR&I (Maintenance, Reliability and Integrity) projects.
• Support AFE packages, ensuring alignment with project scope, budget, and corporate guidelines.
• Coordinate and/or support AFE closure, validating all costs have been captured and reconciled.
• Review and validate work orders (WOs) and purchase orders (POs) to ensure alignment with project budgets and scopes.
• Audit and review vendor labor tickets and invoices for accuracy and scope compliance prior to MR&I Project Lead approval.
• Ensure adherence to Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) Act requirements by maintaining effective internal controls over financial reporting, supporting external audits, and ensuring accurate and reliable corporate disclosures.
VOWD & Accruals
• Support Project Leads by monitoring and maintaining Value of Work Done (VOWD) and Forecast reports monthly to Finance, ensuring all accruals are justified and documented.
• Ensure project actuals, VOWD, accruals and committed cost are updated in coordination with Project Leads and align with financial reporting calendars.
• Track cost trends, variances, and risks, escalating concerns and recommending corrective actions where necessary.
• Create and maintain weekly cost dashboards and ensure accurate and timely updates for Project Leads and MR&I Management.
Schedule, Cost Alignment & Risk Management
• Work closely with schedulers and project leads to ensure cost curves, actuals, VOWD, and forecasts reflect project timelines and milestones.
• Cross-validate project cost data against project schedules to identify misalignments or anomalies.
• Support the evaluation of changes, including estimating and tracking cost impacts related to scope, schedule, and contract adjustments. Ensure all changes are documented and communicated to relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with Global Supply Chain (GSC) teams to monitor vendor performance and validate invoice accuracy against purchase orders (POs) and change orders. Ensure compliance with contractual terms and conditions.
• Work with Project Leads to assess cost risk exposure and recommend contingency drawdowns or adjustments. Develop and maintain risk registers to track potential cost impacts and mitigation strategies.
• Conduct detailed cost impact analyses for project changes and risks, providing recommendations for corrective actions to maintain budget integrity.
Meetings & Collaboration
• Attend weekly Project meetings with Project Leads to provide real-time cost status, upcoming commitments, and forecast adjustments.
• Partner with Operations, Finance, Global Supply Chain, and Construction to ensure timely and accurate cost-related workflows.
• Facilitate effective communication between Project Leads, Contractors, and Operations Management to ensure alignment on cost-related issues and risk management strategies.
QUALIFICATIONS
Experience/Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in project cost control, preferably in oil & gas, onshore/offshore facilities, or capital/OPEX projects.
• Strong working knowledge of AFEs, PO management, VOWD reporting, accruals, and cost forecasting.
• Experience with SAP or other enterprise project controls systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerBI, including pivot tables and dashboard reporting.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project or Primavera for detailed project scheduling
• Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
• Certifications are CCP, PMP, AACEI, or similar certifications.
Skills/Attributes
• Strong collaboration skills with cross-functional teams (Projects, Operations, Maintenance, Integrity, Construction, Global Supply Chain)
• Must be able to understand business issues and direct favorable outcomes.
• Ability to energize others, ability to act critically and deliver results.
• Ability to apply sound, independent judgment and be decisive to determine a course of action consistent with an established project control process.
• Ability to work effectively under stress and time pressures.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational and time management skills
Company DescriptionTaylor Technical Services began business in 1977. Since then, we have grown to become one of the largest suppliers of Engineering personnel in the Houston/Gulf Coast area and Alaska. We pride ourselves in having recruiters and account managers that have experience and have worked in the oil & gas engineering industry.
Specialties: Cad Drafters, Electrical Designers, Instrument Designers, Structural Designers, Piping Designers, Electrical Engineers, Instrument Engineers, Structural Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Pipe Stress Engineers, EH&S, QA/QC, Procurement, Project Controls, Document Control, AdministrativeCompany DescriptionTaylor Technical Services began business in 1977. Since then, we have grown to become one of the largest suppliers of Engineering personnel in the Houston/Gulf Coast area and Alaska. We pride ourselves in having recruiters and account managers that have experience and have worked in the oil & gas engineering industry.\r\n\r\nSpecialties: Cad Drafters, Electrical Designers, Instrument Designers, Structural Designers, Piping Designers, Electrical Engineers, Instrument Engineers, Structural Engineers, Mechanical Engineers, Pipe Stress Engineers, EH&S, QA/QC, Procurement, Project Controls, Document Control, Administrative