Cost Engineer (Naperville)

Job Title: Cost Engineer

Company: Accelerated PM

Job Type: Onsite

Job Location: Naperville, IL

Qualifications: Bachelor’s (required), Cost engineering/cost management experience: 5+ yrs (required), Energy sector experience: 3+ yrs – preferably regulated gas or electric (required)

Accelerated PM is searching for a mid-level Cost Engineer for a client in the energy sector. In this role, you will develop and manage cost-related project controls to support the client’s portfolio. You will work closely with Scheduling, Project Management, Operations, Finance, and Procurement teams. The successful candidate will be detail-oriented, organized, and skilled in analysis, problem-solving, and communication.

Location/Travel:

This is an onsite role based in Naperville, IL.

Duties and responsibilities could include:

• Develop and manage project cost reports including the evaluation of committed, actual and forecasted costs against budgets
• Prepare monthly accruals and forecast reports and review with stakeholders and the Finance team
• Conduct detailed monthly variance analysis and use findings to drive improvements in future budgeting and forecasting
• Support annual planning and budgeting at the portfolio level
• Work closely with the scheduling team to ensure schedule impacts are reflected accurately in the cost forecast/reports
• Carry out reviews of invoices/pay applications of select vendors and subcontractors to ensure accuracy and contract compliance
• Coordinate project change management activities and ensure budget and contract changes comply with standard operating procedures
• Prepare project budgets and cost estimates with input from others
• Provide cost engineering inputs to RFP’s and participate in bid evaluation
• Conduct cost risk analysis and incorporate it into cost forecast
• Conduct project close out activities
• Manage and maintain cost related aspects of the ERP system (Oracle)
• Work with Project Managers and other internal stakeholders (Project Management, Operations, Finance, Procurement) to provide unified, cost-driven solutions, identify potential conflicts, and assist in the facilitation of making critical commercial decisions

Minimum Required Education and Experience:

• 5+ years of cost analysis/cost management experience
• 3+ years working in the energy sector
• Experience working with ERP systems, ideally Oracle
• Experience developing various types of reports, targeting different audiences
• Experience in client-facing positions
• Strong MS Excel skills + other MS Office products (Access, PowerPoint, Word, and Outlook)
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to clearly and accurately communicate with any audience

Beneficial/Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with utility capital projects >$50M.
• Familiarity with FERC, PSC, or other utility regulatory frameworks.
• Knowledge of earned value management and cost risk analysis methodologies.
• Professional certification (e.g., CCP, CEP, or PMP).

Salary: $125 – 135k per year depending on experience (1099 contract available also)

Benefits :

• Paid Time Off and Holidays
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• IRA w/ 3% contribution from Company