Senior Cost Engineer

With offices in Africa, Australia, Canada, Peru and the Philippines, Lycopodium proudly delivers high quality professional engineering and project delivery services globally, across the resources, infrastructure, and industrial processes sectors. By joining our global team and learning from renowned subject matter experts, we can offer you a diverse career that could take you anywhere in the world.

Lycopodium Africa is seeking an experienced Senior Cost Engineer to join our growing team in Cape Town. The Senior Cost Engineer is responsible for the accurate, effective and timely control of project costs and accounting functions to produce results in alignment with the client, company and project requirements.

The tasks you’ll perform

• Participate with project team members in project set-up to establish:
• Work breakdown structure
• Procurement and subcontracts operations plans
• Project code of accounts and the cost breakdown structure (capital cost reporting)
• Mapping of WBS – CBS – packages (EWP, PWP, CMP) – Activity coding – deliverable lists
• Project cash flow and forecasting
• Labour/resource planning
• Earned Value Management analysis using various EVM techniques
• Lead the cost engineering team (project specific) in establishing project cost control base and reporting/control routines and workflows.
• Supervise, audit with overall responsibility for the activities of the cost engineering staff on a project (if applicable). If not applicable, then to carry out the activities of these functions.
• Establish and maintain clear lines of communication within the project for efficient cost control.
• To ensure the smooth and efficient operation of cost systems active on the project.
• Monitor and control site cost engineering or support to the Site Cost Engineer / Cost Accountant
• Report to the Project Controls Manager and Project Manager (project specific) all problem areas on the project to enable timeous action to be taken.
• Participate in functional audits of cost engineering functions.
• Support Commercial in the preparation/review of proposals/bids/tenders.
• Prepare and ensure accuracy of the project statistics.
• Budget and Change Management Control throughout the project lifecycle.
• Assist with risk mitigation.
• Measure project performance, ensuring cost targets are met at project close out.
• Assessment of all budgets and cost projections / trends.
• Commit to maximising efficiency at all levels without compromising quality.
• Close collaboration with the Planning and Procurement teams to facilitate effective cost techniques and control including forecasting. 
• Presentation of monthly cost reports and alert reports to the Project Manager and Senior Management.
• Report on Project finance, including deviations and trends.
• Support key project personnel, by providing cost control guidance.
• Close collaboration with the Planning and Procurement teams to facilitate effective cost techniques and control including forecasting. 
• Work in conjunction with all department heads/project teams to ensure maximum profitability.
• Develop and implement proactive solutions and cost-cutting measures.
• Present new strategies and assessments to stakeholders in a compelling fashion.
• Supervise the close out of project accounts upon project completion.
• Support and mentor cost control team.

The expertise you’ll bring

• Relevant Tertiary-level qualification, preferably in Accounting, Cost Control or Quantity Surveying
• Minimum 8 years’ proven working experience in same or similar role, in an EPC or EPCM environment preferably within mining/minerals.
• South African Citizen or Permanent Resident
• Cape Town based
• Proven experience in Cost Management.
• Knowledge and experience in AACEI standards and guidelines for cost management.
• Sound knowledge of best practices in estimating, cost control, financial reporting, planning/scheduling and the procurement lifecycle.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office suite of programmes
• Demonstrate ability to and/or proficiency in the use of specific, relevant proprietary software packages.
• Solid technical aptitude, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision whilst consistently producing a high quality of deliverables.
• Demonstrate ability to and/or proficiency in the use of relevant ERP and Project Management software packages.
• Excellent organisational and personal time management skills.
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills

The benefits we'll provide

Lycopodium has a strong company culture focused on career progression and technical skill development. You can expect to be involved in a wide range of large projects whilst working amongst a team of highly skilled professionals.

We recognise that everyone is different and needs may change over the course of your career.

That’s why we:

• Invest in our people for the long-term, building a diverse and rewarding career, mentored by the best in the industry.
• Allow our people to balance work with other commitments, like family or study, offering flexible work arrangements.
• Are undertaking significant people and technology initiatives that will support the workplace of the future.

We encourage and value diversity and inclusion and welcome applications from all backgrounds regardless of gender, age, disability and ethnicity.

Our commitment to equal opportunity is embodied in our values of Respect, Integrity & Diligence. They are inherent in who we are, as individuals, and collectively as a Company.

As part of our commitment to providing the best possible care and service to you the candidate, we commit to respond to every applicant.

Please submit your CV by clicking the 'Apply' button.