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136,000+ live jobsSenior Cost Controller
Hybrid in Culham·Full-time·Added 10 days ago (last checked 3 Oct)
44 open roles
Overview
Job details
Full-time
Per the ad.
Hybrid
Office and home days — the ad has the split.
Requirements
Be near Culham for hybrid days
No relocation package mentioned.
Have 2+ years of experience
Senior-level role.
Benefits
25 days holiday + bank holidays
Paid annual leave, per the ad.
21.5% employer pension
Paid in by the employer, per the ad. The legal minimum is 3%.
Skills
Nice to have
Requirements
What we're looking for
- Proven experience (5+ years) in project cost control for large-scale engineering, construction, or energy projects, or 2-5 years’ experience monitoring and controlling project costs within R&D
- Strong knowledge of cost management methodologies, forecasting and financial reporting.
- Experience presenting cost and budget information to senior stakeholders and project governance boards.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate across multidisciplinary teams.
- Experience leading, developing and managing high-performing teams.
- A recognised project management qualification (e.g. AACE, PMI, APM, Princes 2)
Pay & benefits
What you'll get
A full list of benefits can be found here and highlights include:
- £71,815 salary inclusive of specialist allowance
- Up to 7% corporate performance bonus
- Final salary defined benefits pension scheme with an equivalent of 21.5% employer pension contribution
- 25 days annual leave, 2.5 privilege days and 8 Bank Holidays
- 3 days of site closure over Christmas break
- Flexible working options plus family-friendly leave provisions
The role
What you'll do
- Develop, maintain, and monitor detailed project cost control budgets for multi-million-pound R&D and first of kind projects.
- Track actual costs against forecasts, identify variance and recommend corrective actions to keep projects on target.
- Analyse performance trends, identify opportunities for improvement
- Collaborate closely with Project Managers, planners and commercial teams to align financial data with project timelines and deliverables.
- Prepare and present accurate, timely cost reports to senior leadership, steering committees and Government boards
- Support contract management by understanding NEC4 payment processes and validating invoices and ensuring compliant with agreed term and / or change orders.
- Lead cost risk assessments and contribute to contingency planning for complex R&D projects.
- Mentor Junior cost controllers sharing best practices and fostering a culture of accuracy and accountability.
- Build effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including collaboration partners, suppliers and senior leadership.
- Support strategic resource planning and contribute to the continuous development of UKAEA's project delivery capability.
How you'll work
UKAEA is an onsite organisation, and this role requires regular onsite presence (usually between 3-5 days in any given week) in line with business needs. We actively support flexible working arrangements where this is compatible with the role.
About the Job
Join UKAEA's Portfolio Management Office (PfMO) and play a key role in delivering some of the UK's most complex and ambitious programmes. As a Senior Cost Controller, you will be the focal point for all aspects of cost within the projects. You will ensure that all spend is correctly manage, validate the accuracy of the forecasts, liaise with Work Package Manager and Finance to ensure timely receipting and invoicing for accurate cost reporting. You will provide guidance and support to all stakeholders to support informed decision making, influencing the projects’ ability to delivery to budget. You'll also support the Project Controls team driving continuous improvement across the organisation's project delivery capability
Hiring process
Your application · Online test
MS Teams pre-qualifying interview
With Talent Acquisition team · Video call · 10–20 min
A virtual interview with a member of the Talent Acquisition team about your experience and motivations for joining, which may include technical questions.
Face-to-face or virtual panel interview
With a panel · 60 min
A second-stage panel interview with a mixture of behavioural and technical competency questions; may include a short prepared presentation on a topic given at least a week ahead, and role-relevant assessments.
Pre-employment checks
- Initial CV review usually completes within about a week of applying (the How to apply page says within 3 working days).
- Feedback after the panel interview is usually given within two weeks, depending on the size of the recruitment campaign.
- Travel expenses for interviews are reimbursed only for Graduate Scheme Assessment days; all roles require Baseline Personnel Security Standard clearance and some also need UK Security Vetting, which requires five years' UK residency.
About UK Atomic Energy Authority
- Website
- ccfe.ukaea.uk
In their own words
About the company & team
Fusion, the process that powers the sun and stars, is one of the most promising options for generating the cleaner, carbon-free energy that our world badly needs. UKAEA leads the way in realizing fusion energy, partnering with industry and research organisations to achieve ground-breaking advancements. Our goal is to bring fusion electricity to the grid by developing the power stations of tomorrow and the skilled workforce to deliver them.
Additional information
UKAEA’s mission is clean energy for all, and we welcome talented people from all backgrounds to help us achieve this goal. We are committed to equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility and strive to ensure fair representation across our workforce.
We particularly encourage applications from groups currently underrepresented in STEM, including women and individuals from diverse ethnic backgrounds, while ensuring all appointments are made on merit. Further information can be found here.









