Job Description/Specification:
A Senior Cost Controller plays a critical role in keeping major engineering and energy projects financially on track. This opportunity is suited to an experienced project controls professional who understands how budgets, manpower, procurement costs, forecasts and project changes connect throughout the lifecycle of an oil and gas project.
Based in Qatar on a long-term assignment, the role supports projects covering FEED, Pre-FEED, brownfield and greenfield scopes across the energy sector.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain project Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS).
- Support the preparation of project budgets based on approved scope, estimates, assumptions and planned man-hours.
- Monitor project commitments, expenditure and overall cost performance throughout the project lifecycle.
- Coordinate with engineering, procurement, construction, finance and timekeeping teams to ensure costs are captured accurately.
- Track labour and manpower costs and assess the financial impact of changing resource forecasts.
- Prepare and support regular cost reports and project cost forecasts.
- Assist with budget setup, cost-code allocation and project work approval processes.
- Monitor project changes, variations and change notifications and communicate their potential cost and schedule impact.
- Track contingency usage and support cost and estimate risk analysis activities.
- Participate in project meetings, compliance reviews, continuous improvement initiatives and project cost close-out activities.
Requirements
Successful candidates are expected to have:
- A Bachelor's degree in a relevant technical or business discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
- At least 15 years of relevant professional experience.
- Experience in project cost control within oil and gas, engineering, construction or major energy projects.
- Exposure to onshore and/or offshore oil and gas projects.
- A strong understanding of project management and project controls principles.
- Good computer and project cost management software skills.
- Experience working with project budgets, forecasts, commitments and actual costs.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
- Good organisational skills, initiative and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
Why You'll Love This Opportunity
- Work on major energy projects covering both brownfield and greenfield developments.
- Gain exposure to complex FEED, Pre-FEED and project execution environments.
- Join a long-term assignment in Qatar's active energy and engineering sector.
- Access benefits including competitive compensation, medical coverage, life insurance and end-of-service benefits.
- Continue professional development through support for relevant memberships, certifications or registrations.
Who Should Apply?
This role is best suited to a senior project controls or cost professional with substantial experience in the oil and gas industry. The ideal candidate will be comfortable working across multiple project functions and translating operational activity into accurate cost data and forecasts.
You should be analytical, detail-oriented and confident communicating with engineers, procurement teams, finance professionals and project managers. Experience in Qatar, the GCC or wider Middle East energy market can be valuable, although strong technical experience in major international oil and gas projects is equally relevant.
Skills That Will Help You Succeed
Strong cost controllers do more than produce spreadsheets. You will need the ability to identify trends before they become financial problems and explain complex cost information clearly to project stakeholders.
Useful skills include cost forecasting, budget management, earned value awareness, change control, manpower cost analysis, risk awareness and strong reporting abilities. Attention to detail is essential, but so is commercial judgement. You should understand how procurement delays, scope changes or resource increases can affect the final project cost.
How to Stand Out
Hiring managers will look for evidence that you have managed significant project budgets and contributed to better financial control.
Your CV should highlight:
- The value or scale of projects you have supported.
- Experience with offshore, onshore, brownfield or greenfield projects.
- Examples of improving forecast accuracy or identifying cost risks early.
- Experience managing project changes, variations or contingency.
- Cost savings, budget improvements or reporting efficiencies you helped achieve.
Use measurable results wherever possible. For example, mention project values, team sizes, cost reductions or improvements in forecasting accuracy.
Interview Preparation
Expect questions about how you build and maintain a project budget, investigate cost variances and prepare reliable forecasts.
You may also be asked to explain how you would handle a major scope change, an unexpected increase in manpower costs or a procurement commitment that exceeds the original budget.
Prepare examples that demonstrate your technical knowledge as well as your ability to communicate concerns to project leadership. Be ready to discuss the systems, reporting methods and cost-control processes you have used on previous projects.
Career Growth
A Senior Cost Controller role can lead toward positions such as Lead Cost Controller, Project Controls Manager, Cost Engineering Manager or senior commercial and project management roles within the energy sector.
Frequently Asked Questions
What experience is required for this Senior Cost Controller role?
Candidates should have at least 15 years of relevant experience, ideally within oil and gas, engineering or major project environments.
Is oil and gas experience important?
Yes. Experience in onshore or offshore oil and gas projects is particularly relevant to this opportunity.
What type of projects will the role support?
The position covers FEED, Pre-FEED, brownfield and greenfield project scopes.
What are the most important skills for this role?
Budgeting, forecasting, cost analysis, change control, project controls knowledge, communication and strong attention to detail are all important.
Is this a senior-level Qatar job?
Yes. This is an experienced project controls position designed for professionals with extensive industry experience and the ability to work independently.