Project Controls Specialist

Project Controls Specialist

At NAES, you'll find engaging and challenging career opportunities across conventional power generation, renewable energy, energy storage, grid operations and complex industrial facilities. At every level of the company, our people share a common goal: to instill confidence in our clients through a steadfast commitment to safety, integrity, and the quality of our work.

NAES is largest independent operator of power facilities in the industry, managing more than 400 facilities and over 60 GW of generation under contract across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the UK. Powered by a team of roughly 4,000 people, we now support the full life cycle of energy and industrial plants — from development and construction through operations, optimization, digital transformation and decommissioning — giving our employees the opportunity to grow their careers while helping to modernize the critical infrastructure that keeps communities running.

The Project Controls Specialist is responsible for project and production order setup, tracking, reporting, and invoicing within ERP systems. Ensure accurate project financials, schedule visibility, and billing execution across manufacturing and service operations.

Primary Duties

• Project & Production Order Creation
• Create and maintain projects, work breakdown structures (WBS), and production orders within ERP systems.
• Ensure accurate setup of cost structures, budgets, revenue recognition methods, and billing milestones.
• Align project and production orders with contract scope, schedules, and commercial terms.
• Maintain data integrity and consistency across ERP project modules.
• ERP System Management
• Serve as a key user for ERP project and production modules (e.g., SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations).
• Configure and maintain project parameters, cost categories, and resource assignments.
• Support system improvements, testing, and process standardization.
• Troubleshoot issues related to project setup, cost tracking, and reporting.
• Project Cost Tracking & Controls
• Monitor project costs, commitments, and actuals against budgets.
• Track labor, materials, subcontracting, and overhead costs within ERP systems.
• Identify cost variances and support forecasting and corrective actions.
• Ensure proper cost allocation and financial accuracy across projects.
• Project Reporting
• Develop and maintain standardized project reporting, including:
• Cost vs. budget analysis
• Revenue and margin tracking
• Forecasts and estimates to complete (ETC)
• Project status dashboards
• Provide regular reports to project managers, operations, and finance teams.
• Support earned value management (EVM) reporting where applicable.
• Project Invoicing & Billing
• Manage the end-to-end project invoicing process within ERP systems.
• Generate and validate customer invoices based on milestones, progress, or time & materials contracts.
• Ensure billing accuracy and compliance with contractual terms.
• Coordinate with finance and commercial teams to resolve billing discrepancies.
• Track invoicing status, accounts receivable, and cash flow impacts.
• Cross-Functional Coordination
• Collaborate with project managers, production planners, finance, and supply chain teams to ensure alignment of project data.
• Support project kickoff activities by ensuring proper system setup.
• Provide guidance and training to users on ERP project processes and best practices.
• Process Improvement & Compliance
• Drive continuous improvement in project controls processes, reporting accuracy, and system utilization.
• Ensure compliance with internal controls, financial policies, and audit requirements.
• Standardize templates, workflows, and reporting tools.

The Project Controls Specialist reports to the Project Controls Manager and Finance Manager. Does not have any direct reports.

Compensation: $74,200 to $85,350

Job Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business, engineering or related field from an accredited college or university recognized by the United States Department of Education or equivalent. Relevant work experience may be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.
• Years of Experience:
• Three years of experience in project controls, project accounting, or ERP project systems.
• Experience with project setup, cost tracking, reporting, and invoicing in ERP environments.

• Preferred Experience:
• Experience in manufacturing, power generation, or industrial service environments.
• Familiarity with earned value management (EVM) principles and project KPIs.
• Knowledge of contract types (fixed price, T&M, milestone-based billing)
• Licenses/Certification: PMP certification (preferred)
• Software/Equipment Knowledge:
• SAP, Oracle, JD Edward, & MS Excel
• Microsoft Dynamics 35 Finance & Operations project and production modules (preferred)
• Other Considerations:
• Strong understanding of project financials, cost structures, and revenue recognition.
• Strong attention to detail and data accuracy
• Financial and analytical acumen
• ERP system expertise and process orientation
• Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration
• Problem-solving and continuous improvement mindset
• Able to manage multiple projects and deadlines

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions

Normal working hours are 8:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. Monday through Friday. The employee may sit at a desk and use a computer workstation, stand, walk, use hands and fingers, climb stairs; balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl, talk and hear.

Fit for Duty

All employees will participate in the Fitness for Duty Program. This program includes a post-offer physical examination and drug screening and post-employment random drug screening. There are extensive smoking restrictions in and around the facility.

NAES Safe

Safety is a core value of NAES and as a condition of employment, all employees are expected to be mentally alert and work safely at all times. Additionally, employees are required to adhere to all safety warnings and posted safety signs whenever on company property. Furthermore, employees must follow all NAES safety rules and procedures. Effectiveness in carrying out this responsibility is part of the evaluation of each employee's performance.

NAES is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace. It is the practice of NAES to seek employees of the highest quality and to select individuals on the basis of merit and competence, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, military status or affiliation protected under USERRA, or any other basis of discrimination prohibited by applicable local, state and federal law.