Cost Engineer

At H.J. Russell & Company, we know that exception outcomes start with the right people. We believe that work should be challenging, and the challenge should be fun. We also believe that exceptional outcomes are more likely to occur with a respectful, satisfying, and empowering company. We value and respect our employees – their experience and expertise as well as their energy, passion, and diversity – and their innovative approach to work and life.

SUMMARY

Russell is currently seeking a Cost Engineer in our Atlanta, GA office to support the Centralized Project Management Office (CPMO) in support of our client, Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) pursuit to rehabilitate, enhance and expand their light and heavy rail infrastructure, bus rapid transit lanes, transit facilities and stations, and state of good repairs initiatives. Responsible for providing budget, commitment, invoice, and cost forecasting support. The successful candidate will have proven cost engineering experience with complex, multi-phase, multi-million-dollar construction and/or renovation projects.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES – Includes the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Monitor project budgets for a multi-billion-dollar Capital Improvement Program.

Review and analyze sub-contractor invoices for accuracy, earned-to-date values, and legitimacy of charges.

Assign job costing reports to allocate these expenditures against the appropriate WBS to ensure that both commitments and expenditures follow the same allocation methodology.

Perform cost-to-complete analysis for all cost elements within a project taking into consideration staffing plans, contract commitments, expenditures to date, change orders, and trends.

Attend project meetings to provide Project Management with current financial information and trend logs regarding potential impacts on project budget or forecast.

Provide progress reporting documents and briefing materials as required. Develop creative reporting tools to communicate complex project sequencing and/or progress assessments.

Review task orders for contractors and sub-consultants to ensure necessary budget and/or contract capacity exists.

Analyze bid award values against the current budget and prepare reconciliations to include in the current forecast at completion.

Analyze change order values against the current budget and prepare reconciliations to include in the current forecast at completion.

Update contract commitments, reconcile and analyze actual expenditures, perform budget transfers, monitor trend status, and maintain continuity of WBS structure.

Create and maintain reports to accurately reflect current budgets, encumbrances, invoices, and committed costs; projected-to-go or cost-to-complete estimates; budget variances; cash flow projections; and schedule of values for individual projects.

Develop trending information to assist in forecasting potential problems with cost and time.

Assist in the development of work breakdown structures.

Provide conceptual estimates for various design and construction estimates to provide program budgets.

Understand and correlate cost documents received from the Contractor Contracts, Subcontracts, Pay Applications, and Change Notices in terms of the Construction Project Budget.

Maintain change management logs, review, and analyze monthly cost reports from the contractor,

Create and maintain Project Contingency and Project Allowance logs.

Review Owner Authorization Forms (OAF’s) for approval of trades.

Manage the coordination of cost information required for Procedures and various Cost Control Systems.

Perform work in a safe manner and actively encourages others to do the same.

QUALIFICATIONS 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Engineering, Construction Management, or other related fields preferred.

5-7 years of experience in Cost Engineering on large-scale projects/programs

Strong knowledge of MS Excel and databases is required.

Knowledge of construction, engineering, procurement, industry standards, and other project-related activities, their interfaces, and interdependencies.

Transit experience is a plus but not required.

Federal Transportation Administration (FTA) Experience, desired but not required.

Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification, desired but not required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee work is normally performed in a typical interior/office work environment and the noise level is usually moderate.