Cost Controller

Role overview

South East Water UK is seeking a Cost Controller to support major project delivery by keeping budgets, reporting, and commercial controls accurate and on track. This position sits at the centre of the project team, helping ensure multi-million pound works are managed with strong cost discipline, clear analysis, and reliable reporting.

The role works closely with project management, commercial, engineering, contractors, and wider stakeholders to maintain effective cost control across the project lifecycle.

What you will do

• Support projects from early setup through to completion, making sure they are correctly captured and managed in P6 and IMS.
• Create new project schedules, set baselines, process change requests, and follow the approved change control process.
• Track project health by reviewing performance measures such as SPI and CPI, then flag meaningful cost or schedule deviations with useful insight for stakeholders.
• Handle financial project administration, including preparing CER forms promptly to secure funding.
• Serve as a main contact for contractors and attend site progress meetings to monitor delivery.
• Check contractor programmes against NEC contracts and any other applicable obligations to confirm compliance.
• Support health, safety, and compliance activity, including on-site safety observations and reporting potential hazards.

Skills and experience needed

• Formal Primavera P6 training to a professional standard.
• Strong capability in building and presenting detailed financial reports and analysis.
• Good organisation and the ability to work with others to meet deadlines.
• Sound knowledge of cost accounting and financial analysis methods.
• Proven experience as a project controller in the construction sector using P6.
• Strong planning and scheduling expertise.
• Clear understanding of change management.
• Working knowledge of earned value and VOWD.
• Awareness of relevant health and safety regulations.
• Relevant construction experience on major multi-disciplinary infrastructure projects.

Additional information

Employees are expected to remain flexible and may be asked to carry out other duties within their capability. The responsibilities and contents of the role profile may change over time as business needs evolve.

Benefits

• Stakeholder pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 10%.
• 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays each year, rising to 30 days with length of service.
• Option to buy or sell annual leave.
• Paid volunteering days.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Health cash plan.
• Life assurance.
• Wellbeing-related benefits.

Recruitment requirements

• Applicants must have the legal right to work in the UK at the time employment begins.
• Successful candidates will need to complete background, identity, and employment reference checks.
• Applications should be submitted through the company careers website using a CV.
• Recruitment agencies are asked not to submit CVs without direct invitation from the HR Resourcing team.

Equal opportunity statement

South East Water values diversity and aims to create an inclusive workplace across age, race, gender, ethnicity, religion, and identity. The company is committed to fair treatment in recruitment, employment, and career progression.

Compensation

The annual salary is £42,000 to £49,000, depending on experience.