Cost Controller

Project Cost Controller, Renewable Energy Construction

Location: Onsite in Chicago, IL

Salary Range: $90-105k 20% Bonus depending on experience

Benefits: Medical, dental and vision insurance, 401k, paid time off

You will sit at the center of project delivery for utility-scale renewable energy builds, owning cost forecasting, contingency, variance reporting, tariff impact analysis, and the dashboards and reporting that keep projects on track.

What You Will Do

• Run portfolio cost analysis and deliver monthly performance reporting to senior leadership, while mentoring junior Analysts.
• Partner with Project Managers across the full cost lifecycle, keeping actuals, commitments, and forecasts accurate and aligned with company standards.
• Assess vendor and contractor bids, and validate invoices, change orders, and claims against contract terms and budgets.
• Build and maintain cost forecasts covering cash flow, contingency, committed spend, and variances, and explain the drivers behind movement.
• Own the cost control framework, from the cost breakdown structure and budget allocation through to schedule and procurement integration.
• Manage day-to-day financial controls, including requisitions, purchase orders, budget transfers, and commitment management.
• Pilot improvements to cost tools and reporting, and lead the training needed to embed them across the construction group.

What You Will Bring

• A bachelor's degree in engineering, construction management, finance, accounting, or another analytical field.
• Five or more years in project cost control, project accounting, or a comparable project controls role, including three or more years of integrated cost and schedule work on construction projects.
• Strong analytical skills across forecasting, variance analysis, and commercial data, with experience reviewing invoices, change orders, or contract terms.
• The ability to work independently, coordinate across engineering, procurement, finance, and construction teams, and communicate cost information clearly to any audience.
• Willingness to travel up to 10 percent of the time, with occasional days on active construction sites.

Nice to Have

• Construction or EPC experience, plus familiarity with EVM, cost breakdown structures, and CPI monitoring.
• Working knowledge of Primavera P6 or Oracle Primavera Cloud, ERP or cost platforms such as EcoSys or Oracle Fusion, and Power BI.
• Certifications such as AACE (CCP, CEP, or EVP), PMI PMP, or equivalent.