Project Controls Specialist – Cost Controls (Electric Utilities)

The role

This person will manage cost controls for electric utility capital programs. They will handle budget management, forecasting, accruals, and financial reporting.

What you will do

• Develop and maintain project cost baselines, budgets, forecasts, and estimates at completion.
• Prepare monthly, annual, and multi-year cash flow forecasts.
• Monitor actual costs, commitments, accruals, and projected expenditures against approved budgets.
• Review contractor invoices, purchase orders, and change orders.
• Perform cost variance analysis and recommend corrective actions.
• Prepare and maintain project cost reports.
• Coordinate and lead cost forecasting discussions with Project Managers and stakeholders.
• Support annual capital planning and budget updates.
• Reconcile financial information across project management, accounting, and client reporting systems.
• Coordinate with scheduling and project delivery teams to incorporate progress into cost forecasts.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in project cost controls, project controls engineering, or capital project financial management.
• Prior experience supporting Exelon or an Exelon operating utility, such as Pepco, Delmarva Power, Atlantic City Electric, BGE, PECO, or ComEd, in a project controls or related capacity is required.
• Demonstrated experience developing project cost forecasts, managing accruals, tracking commitments, and performing budget variance analysis.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and standard Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience working with utility project management, financial, or cost reporting systems.
• Ability to work independently across multiple projects while maintaining accuracy and meeting reporting deadlines.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Ability to attend periodic client meetings in the Washington, DC and Maryland region as needed.

Nice to have

• Familiarity with Asset Suite 8
• Familiarity with Primavera P6, project scheduling, or integrated cost and schedule reporting

Benefits

• Full benefits
• 401(k) match
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Health benefits
• Retirement benefits

About the company

CARIAN is a woman-owned consulting and advisory firm dedicated exclusively to the power sector. They partner with electric and gas utilities to provide strategic advisory and execution across program management, business intelligence, and field execution oversight.