Summary
Our client is seeking an experienced Project Controls Specialist III (Cost Analyst) to support large-scale capital construction projects for the Los Angeles Community College District. This individual will play a critical role in project budgeting, forecasting, cost analysis, financial reporting, and change management throughout the full project lifecycle.
The ideal candidate is highly analytical, detail-oriented, and experienced in construction cost controls within large capital programs. This person should be comfortable collaborating with project teams, leadership, and stakeholders while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Strong experience with budgeting systems, financial reporting, forecasting, and project controls software is required.
Duties & Responsibilities
Project Cost Controls & Financial Management
- Maintain and manage the accuracy and integrity of project budgets and financial forecasts
- Ensure compliance with established cost management procedures and policies
- Monitor budget performance throughout the project lifecycle
- Support overall project financial health and reporting accuracy
- Participate in monthly Estimate at Completion (EAC) reviews
- Collaborate with PMO teams on variance analysis
- Identify underlying causes of budget variances
- Recommend corrective actions and mitigation strategies
- Allocate and manage Estimates to Complete (ETCs)
- Support change order proposals, task order requests, PBAs, and vendor requests
- Ensure alignment with project financial objectives
- Maintain accurate cost coding and budget allocation
- Perform monthly reconciliation of budgets and project costs
- Ensure month-end reporting accuracy
- Validate cost tracking data and financial records
- Monitor cost overruns and underruns
- Review and analyze project budgets across multiple funding sources
- Ensure alignment with overall financial goals
- Track and forecast project expenditures
- Identify financial risks and exposures
Forecasting, Reporting & Analysis
- Conduct detailed analysis of:
- Cost variances
- Performance data
- Forecasting trends
- Schedule and cash flow impacts
- Generate detailed financial and budget reports using:
- Proliance
- Deltek Costpoint
- Excel
- Other project controls systems
- Create customized reports for:
- College Project Directors
- PMO leadership
- Campus stakeholders
- Financial and auditing teams
- Assist with staffing analysis and resource forecasting
- Identify demand peaks
- Recommend cost-effective staffing strategies
- Support financial efficiency initiatives
Change Management & Project Controls
- Participate in change management and risk assessment meetings
- Analyze cost-related trends and exposures
- Support proactive mitigation planning
- Monitor effectiveness of mitigation efforts
- Assist with preparation and validation of:
- Contract amendments
- Purchase requisitions
- Task order requests
- Change orders
- PBAs
- Financial closeouts
- Administer project control documentation within cost management systems
- Ensure financial accuracy and compliance
- Maintain reporting standards and procedures
- Support dashboard and reporting development
- Manage and reconcile project controls data
- Validate project budget information
- Maintain database accuracy
- Ensure alignment between financial systems and project reporting
Collaboration & Stakeholder Support
- Serve as a primary point of contact for project financial information requests
- Provide timely and accurate reporting
- Support PMO and stakeholder communication
- Collaborate closely with project teams and leadership
- Work with scheduling teams to:
- Evaluate cash flow impacts
- Assess schedule performance impacts on costs
- Identify forecasting concerns and financial risks
- Support contractor and consultant payment application reviews
- Ensure compliance and financial accuracy
- Validate supporting documentation
- Assist with approvals and reconciliation
Qualifications & Requirements
Required Experience
- 5–10 years of professional experience in:
- Project controls
- Program controls
- Construction cost management
- Capital construction programs
- Experience supporting projects through the full project lifecycle
- Strong knowledge of:
- Cost management
- Schedule management
- Earned value management
- Forecasting
- Risk assessment
- Change management
- Experience presenting financial and cost data to leadership teams
- Strong communication and organizational skills
- Ability to work effectively in:
- Fast-paced environments
- Team-oriented settings
- Professional business environments
Preferred Experience
- Experience with:
- Proliance
- Deltek Costpoint
- Data Warehouse systems
- Large capital construction programs
- Educational facility projects
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
Education Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree in:
- Engineering
- Construction Management
- Business
- Related field
- Additional qualifying experience may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis