Cost Assurance Specialist / Cost Manager

About this opportunity Location: Toronto, ON We are seeking a Cost Assurance Specialist/Cost Manager to support one of our major infrastructure projects in Canada. This role will provide commercial, financial, cost management and cost assurance expertise across complex projects, working closely with clients, contractors and other key stakeholders to provide confidence that project costs are accurate, appropriate, well controlled and supported by robust evidence. The successful candidate will bring a strong background in cost management, cost assurance, commercial management, quantity surveying or financial controls, with experience working across the project lifecycle. They will be responsible for reviewing and challenging project costs, budgets, forecasts and commercial performance, while providing independent assurance and insight to support effective project decision-making. This position will report directly to the Canada Operations Director. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced cost management, cost assurance or commercial professional with a strong understanding of project controls, contractor accounting systems, cost management processes and large-scale infrastructure projects. Responsibilities include but are not limited to: • Provide cost management, commercial and financial assurance across major infrastructure projects. • Support the development and management of project budgets, cost plans, forecasts and expenditure profiles throughout the project lifecycle. • Review and analyse project costs against approved budgets, forecasts and commitments, identifying variances, trends, risks and opportunities. • Undertake detailed reviews of actual costs, committed costs, forecast costs and anticipated final costs. • Review contractor applications, payment submissions, cost reports and supporting documentation to assess accuracy, completeness and contractual compliance. • Provide independent verification and assurance of costs across a range of cost categories and project workstreams. • Review and challenge contractor cost forecasts, estimates at completion and cash flow projections. • Support the development and maintenance of robust cost reporting and cost control processes. • Review and assess changes, variations, claims and other commercial adjustments to determine their cost impact and supporting evidence. • Analyse project cost performance and provide recommendations to improve cost certainty, control and overall project outcomes. • Undertake benchmarking and cost analysis to assess the reasonableness of project costs, rates and forecasts. • Review project contingency, risk allowances and cost exposure, identifying areas of potential overrun or savings. • Provide cost input into procurement, tender evaluation and contract strategy where required. • Review and assess contractors’ accounting, commercial and financial management systems and processes. • Develop risk-based audit and cost verification plans aligned with project requirements. • Plan and undertake detailed audits and reviews across a range of cost categories, including actual and forecast costs. • Review supporting documentation and assess the accuracy, completeness and appropriateness of claimed costs. • Analyse financial data, project expenditure and contractor performance to identify trends, risks, discrepancies and potential areas for further investigation. • Review actual cost reimbursement and other commercial contracting models, including cost-reimbursable, target-cost and other complex contractual arrangements. • Interpret and apply different contractual and commercial frameworks when assessing costs, entitlements, changes and claims. • Support the development and implementation of cost control strategies and project reporting frameworks. • Prepare high-quality cost reports, audit documentation, working papers and supporting evidence. • Produce clear, concise and robust reports outlining findings, cost risks, conclusions and recommendations for senior stakeholders. • Present cost and commercial findings to clients, project leadership teams and other senior stakeholders. • Engage confidently with contractors, clients, regulatory bodies and other relevant stakeholders throughout the cost management, audit and assurance process. • Support the development and application of forensic technology, data analytics, cost management systems and cost assurance tools. • Contribute to the continuous improvement of cost management, cost assurance methodologies, processes and tools. • Identify opportunities to improve cost transparency, financial controls and commercial governance across projects. • Support the Canada Operations Director and other senior Gleeds team members on project delivery and wider business initiatives. Who we’re looking for: Experience, Knowledge and Key Skills • A minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience in cost management, cost assurance, commercial management, quantity surveying, audit or a similar discipline, ideally including experience in a lead or senior role. • Strong experience in cost management and cost control across the full project lifecycle, from estimating and budgeting through to forecasting, reporting and final account. • Experience developing, managing and reviewing project budgets, cost plans, forecasts and expenditure profiles. • Proven experience analysing actual costs, commitments, forecasts, variances and final cost positions. • Experience reviewing and challenging contractor cost reports, applications for payment, forecasts and supporting documentation. • Experience in change control, variations, claims and commercial cost assessment. • Experience working with cost-reimbursable, target-cost or other complex contracting models. • Experience working on large-scale infrastructure projects, preferably within a client, consultancy or contractor environment. • Proven experience auditing and verifying actual costs and assessing the accuracy and appropriateness of contractor costs. • Experience developing and delivering risk-based audit plans and programmes. • Strong understanding of project cost control, commercial management, cost reporting and financial governance. • Experience undertaking cost analysis, benchmarking and reviewing rates, estimates and forecasts. • Strong analytical skills, with the ability to review and interpret complex financial, cost and commercial data. • Experience analysing vendor or contractor financial performance, costs and supporting documentation. • Experience preparing detailed cost reports, forecasts, projections and recommendations based on financial and commercial analysis. • Strong understanding of contractor accounting and commercial systems, processes and controls. • Experience using Oracle Enterprise or similar enterprise financial/business management systems would be advantageous. • Experience with cost management and project controls software would be advantageous. • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex cost, financial and commercial information clearly to a range of stakeholders. • Strong stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to challenge cost information and commercial assumptions where appropriate. • Strong attention to detail and the ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities. • Ability to identify commercial and cost risks and translate analysis into practical recommendations for project leadership. Qualifications • Diploma or degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Quantity Surveying, Commercial Management or another relevant discipline; or an equivalent combination of education, training and relevant experience. • A relevant professional certification or designation is preferred but not essential. • Professional qualifications such as CPA, CA, CMA, ACCA, CIMA, RICS or equivalent would be considered an asset. About us Gleeds is a global property and construction consultancy with over 150 years of expertise, operating in 28 countries worldwide. From iconic landmarks to critical infrastructure, we drive innovation, sustainability and value, delivering transformative projects that shape communities and redefine the built environment.