Cost Controller

Perth Airport is Australia’s Western Hub connecting the people, businesses and communities of Western Australia with the rest of Australia and the world. Operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week throughout the year, Perth Airport plays a significant role in providing economic, social and cultural benefits to West Australians. 

Perth Airport is investing more than $5 billion in new infrastructure so we can support our airline partners to grow, offering more services to new destinations and an improved customer experience. 

Over the coming decade we will expand T1 International, and build new domestic terminal facilities, a parallel runway, two multi-storey carparks and our first airport hotel. This will deliver one airport for the people of Western Australia which will host all flight services in a central location giving passengers a seamless, world-class travel experience. 

The Perth Airport estate is spread over 2100 hectares and has developed a $1.5 billion portfolio of existing industrial premises and significant vacant land holdings. 

We service a truly diverse community and play an important role in strengthening cultural, family and social bonds while supporting business, tourism and leisure travel. 

About the role 

Perth Airport is seeking an experienced Cost Controller to help maintain strong financial governance and cost performance across complex construction and improvement programs. The role is pivotal in analysing cost data, tracking budgets, and enhancing cost control practices across major projects. 

Reporting within the IMT business unit, the Cost Controller will deliver accurate cost analysis, oversee construction budgets, review contractor cost reports, and contribute to cost and performance reporting to support informed decision-making. The role will also include the following: 

• Prepare and analyse detailed costings for complex construction, maintenance, and improvement works, including materials, quantities, and labour time.
• Conduct complex cost analysis to identify variances, efficiencies, and opportunities to improve financial performance.
• Track and monitor construction project budgets, reporting variances and supporting strong financial control.
• Develop and implement project‑specific cost control requirements aligned with contractual obligations and internal procedures.
• Review and provide commentary on contractor weekly and monthly cost reports to support program oversight.
• Independently collate, analyse, and explore data using established tools to generate standard insights and reports.
• Contribute to cost management and strategic planning reports, presentations, and complex documentation.
• Identify and escalate instances of non‑compliance with organisational policies, procedures, or regulatory requirements.
• Model and promote Perth Airport’s commitment to values, safety, and customer service excellence.

About You 

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring a combination of relevant qualifications, demonstrated cost control experience, and the professional skills and behaviours needed to thrive in a fast-paced project environment, including: 

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) plus 4+ years’ cost control/cost engineering experience on major projects.
• Highly organised; plans, prioritises and delivers to tight deadlines.
• Strong stakeholder communication: influences and presents cost insights clearly.
• Commercially minded with strong contract awareness (variations, procurement, claims).
• Project controls capability: cost reporting, forecasting, variance and cash flow.
• Proficient in project/document systems (Aconex preferred) and document control.
• Advanced Excel plus Microsoft 365 skills for reporting and presentations.
• Detail-focused; produces accurate, traceable and audit-ready cost data.
• Analytical; converts data into clear insights, risks and actions.
• Manages multiple cost centres/workstreams and changing priorities.
• Proactive, improvement-focused and high-integrity.

About Us 

We offer a dynamic and supportive team culture, a contemporary workplace with great facilities and a modern approach to work/life integration. Our competitive remuneration package comes with additional company benefits including free parking. 

Perth Airport is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We are committed to building an equitable and diverse workforce representative of the community we serve. We encourage and welcome applications from all communities and backgrounds. 

Doing the right thing by the planet and future generations is important to us. At PAPL we place a strong emphasis on embedding sustainability throughout our business strategy and operations. We remain steadfast in our commitment to driving ESPG (Environmental, Social, People, Governance) performance across our value chain and areas that have material environmental and social impact. 

If this sounds like you, please get in touch.