Junior Project Controls Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Turner & Townsend is a global professional services company with over 22,000 people in more than 60 countries. 

Working with our clients across real estate, infrastructure, energy and natural resources, we transform together delivering outcomes that improve people's lives. Working in partnership makes it possible to deliver the world's most impactful projects and programmes as we turn challenge into opportunity and complexity into success. 

Our capabilities include programme, project, cost, asset and commercial management, controls and performance, procurement and supply chain, net zero and digital solutions. 

We are majority-owned by CBRE Group, Inc., the world's largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, with our partners holding a significant minority interest. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the premier programme, project and cost management offering in markets around the world.

Turner & Townsend is seeking a Senior Cost Engineer to support our Oil & Gas Pipeline client. This role requires a highly experienced, analytical, and strategic professional responsible for leading cost control activities, financial forecasting, budget management, and project performance reporting across a portfolio of capital projects. The Senior Cost Engineer will provide critical financial insights to project teams and leadership, ensuring the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of all cost-related reporting while driving continuous improvement in cost management processes.

This individual will collaborate closely with project managers, finance teams, procurement, contractors, and key stakeholders to support decision-making, identify risks and opportunities, and ensure effective financial governance throughout the project lifecycle.

*Work in office as necessary (Whiting, IN)*
Responsibilities: 

• Lead project and portfolio cost control activities, ensuring alignment with approved budgets, forecasts, and company financial objectives.
• Develop, manage, and maintain detailed project cost forecasts, cash flow projections, and variance analyses.
• Monitor and analyze project financial performance, identifying trends, risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.
• Prepare and present monthly cost reports, forecasts, and executive-level financial summaries to project teams and senior leadership.
• Review and reconcile actual expenditures against forecasts and budgets, providing detailed explanations for variances.
• Lead the preparation and analysis of project reporting metrics including VOWD, earned value, cash flow analysis, commitment tracking, PO headroom, and vendor invoice management.
• Oversee invoice validation, cost allocation, and reconciliation activities within SAP.
• Support project change management processes by evaluating cost impacts and maintaining accurate forecasting of approved and pending changes.
• Collaborate with project managers, procurement teams, contractors, and finance partners to ensure cost accuracy and financial compliance.
• Drive process improvements, standardization initiatives, and best practices related to cost engineering and project controls.
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior cost engineers and project controls personnel as required.
• Support internal and external audits and ensure compliance with SOX controls, corporate governance requirements, and established financial procedures.
• Assist with annual budgeting, long-range planning, and project funding requirements.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
• A minimum of 6 years of post-graduate experience in cost engineering, project controls, financial analysis, cost management, or a related role, preferably within Oil & Gas, Pipeline, Energy, Industrial, or large capital projects environments.
• Demonstrated experience managing project budgets, forecasts, cost reporting, and financial performance for complex, multi-million-dollar projects or portfolios.
• Advanced analytical, organizational, and project management skills with the ability to interpret complex financial data and provide actionable recommendations.
• Strong understanding of project controls methodologies, including budgeting, forecasting, cost forecasting, change management, and variance analysis.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to effectively communicate financial and project performance information to project teams, senior leadership, and executive stakeholders.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment while managing multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional collaboration among project management, finance, procurement, and contractor teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with SAP and ECOSYS is required.
• Experience with Power BI or other data visualization and business intelligence tools is highly preferred.
• Ability to mentor junior team members and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives within project controls and cost management functions.

The salary range for this role is $115,000-135,000. This range reflects the company's good faith estimate of the base salary for this position at the time of the posting. Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. In addition to base salary, employees may be eligible for bonuses and a comprehensive benefits package.

*On-site presence and requirements may change depending on our client's needs*

Our inspired people share our vision and mission. We provide a great place to work, where each person has the opportunity and voice to affect change.

We want our people to succeed both in work and life. To support this we promote a healthy, productive and flexible working environment that respects work-life balance. 

Turner & Townsend is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and actively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Please find out more about us at www.turnerandtownsend.com/ and https://www.heery.com/

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

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It is strictly against Turner & Townsend policy for candidates to pay any fee in relation to our recruitment process. No recruitment agency working with Turner & Townsend will ask candidates to pay a fee at any time. 

Any unsolicited resumes/CVs submitted through our website or to Turner & Townsend personal e-mail accounts, are considered property of Turner & Townsend and are not subject to payment of agency fees. In order to be an authorised Recruitment Agency/Search Firm for Turner & Townsend, there must be a formal written agreement in place and the agency must be invited, by the Recruitment Team, to submit candidates for review.