Job Description
Job Title: Cost Engineer
Location: BirminghamContract Type: Permanent, Full TimeSalary: Up to £34,000 per annum (depending on experience)
The Role
An established organisation operating within the rail and infrastructure sector is seeking a Cost Engineer to support project teams across commercial, delivery, and finance functions. The role plays a key part in ensuring accurate cost control, timely supplier payments, and effective financial reporting across major projects.
You will work closely with Quantity Surveyors, project teams, and finance colleagues to manage cost data, resolve account queries, and maintain robust controls over labour, plant, materials, and subcontractor costs.
Key Responsibilities
* Assist with cost control activities across labour, plant, and materials, including tracking orders and reconciling costs against budget
* Ensure timely processing of GRNs and PODs, maintaining DPO targets within business requirements
* Proactively resolve invoice, POD, and account queries with suppliers, delivery teams, and finance
* Collate, reconcile, and report accurate cost data from site records, time sheets, allocation sheets, and delivery documentation
* Liaise with Construction Managers and Supervisors to ensure site records are completed accurately and retrieved as required
* Maintain and review labour, plant, and material trackers, ensuring accuracy and balanced workloads
* Verify hours, quantities, and rates with subcontractors and suppliers
* Organise, reconcile, and archive financial and commercial data in both digital and hard copy formats
* Participate in weekly planned vs actual reporting and project review meetings
* Support the commercial team with cost reports, audits, subcontractor applications, payment notices, and system GRNs
* Review purchase order utilisation and flag orders approaching or exceeding 100% usage
* Work closely with finance and project teams to ensure compliance with internal processes, escalating non-conformance where required
* Actively participate in project management meetings and support delivery managers on commercial performance matters
Essential Experience & Skills
* Experience working in a finance or commercial role within the engineering or construction sector
* Hands-on experience supporting large civil or infrastructure projects
* Strong understanding of cost and budget administration
* Experience with financial and commercial reporting
* Working knowledge of finance systems
* Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Outlook
* Working knowledge of Power BI
* Highly organised, detail-oriented, and proactive
* Full UK driving licence
* Minimum of 2 years' experience as a Cost Engineer on major projects, or
* Minimum of 5 years' experience as a Cost Clerk within a similar industry
* Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. ACostE, AACEI, ICEC)
* Degree qualification in Finance, Construction, Mathematics, Business, or a related field
* Experience using cost control systems such as Copernic, Jade, or LISA
Randstad Business Support is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.