Cost Controller

Job Description

At Transgrid, we play a crucial role in delivering safe, reliable, and sustainable energy to millions of Australians. Operating over 13,000 km of high-voltage transmission lines and 128 substations across NSW and the ACT, we connect electricity generators to the distribution network powering homes, businesses, and communities. As Australia accelerates its energy transition, the work we do has never been more significant.

The Opportunity

Project cost control on major capital works is more than data entry. When the numbers are right, the project team can see what is actually happening, make informed decisions and keep delivery on track. When they are not, problems get missed until they are expensive to fix. The Cost Controller is the person responsible for keeping the cost picture accurate.

We are looking for a Cost Controller to join the Delivery group and take responsibility for the integrity of project cost information across their assigned projects. Reporting to the Project Controls Manager, you will work closely with Senior Project Controllers, Project Managers and the broader project controls team to maintain budgets, actuals, accruals, forecasts and change management records in the cost management system, and make sure the project team always has accurate and timely cost information to work from.

This role suits someone who has a finance, commerce or engineering background and wants to build their career in project cost controls within a capital-intensive environment. You will work alongside experienced Senior Project Controllers who will support your development, and the role offers real scope to grow your technical skills across a program that spans substation upgrades, transmission line works, synchronous condenser installations and data centre connections.

A Day in the Life

Your work will vary across the month depending on where projects sit in their delivery and reporting cycles. Here is a sense of what you will be managing.

• Cost Management and Reconciliation: Maintaining accurate project cost records including timely reconciliations, accruals and financial transaction analysis. You keep the cost management system current, flag issues for escalation to the Senior Project Controllers and make sure contractor progress claims and forecast cashflow information are entered and tracked correctly.
• Forecasting and Change Management: Working with Senior Cost Controllers and project workstream leads to understand project scope, track changes against the forecast and identify potential cost over or under-runs early. You assist in capturing contractual and payment terms in baselines and keep change registers aligned with the current forecast.
• Earned Value Reporting: Assisting with Earned Value reporting across your projects, contributing to the analysis that tells the project leadership team how cost and schedule performance compare to the baseline and where attention is needed.
• Monthly Reporting and Month-End Close: Supporting monthly cost reporting cycles including data gathering, preparation of detailed analysis, ad-hoc financial reports and month-end close activities. You make sure information going to management is accurate, complete and delivered on time.
• Dashboards and Analytics: Helping build analytical reports, visuals and dashboards in Excel and Power BI or similar tools to present cost trends and insights in a format the project team and leadership can actually use.
• Systems and Stakeholder Support: Supporting the use and improvement of project controls and financial systems across the project lifecycle, providing technical guidance to other team members and working collaboratively with other business units to propose and embed system improvements.

Why This Role Matters

Transgrid's capital program involves significant investment in energy infrastructure that NSW and the ACT will rely on for decades. Keeping project costs accurate and well-controlled is not a support function. It is a core part of how Transgrid delivers responsibly and maintains confidence with the regulators, customers and communities that depend on the network.

For someone building a career in project cost controls, this role offers hands-on experience across a varied and technically interesting portfolio, the mentorship of an experienced project controls team and a genuine pathway to more senior responsibilities as your skills develop.

About You

You will have a background in finance, commerce or engineering and some experience in project cost control or a closely related discipline. You are detail-oriented, analytical and reliable, and you want to build your skills in a structured environment with experienced people around you.

• Tertiary qualifications in Commerce, Finance, Engineering or a related discipline, with evidence of continued learning and development.
• Demonstrated analytical skills with the ability to draw meaningful information from multiple data sources and present it clearly and concisely.
• Sound work experience in project cost control, project engineering or cost estimating within a large organisation or utility environment.
• Very strong Excel and Microsoft Office skills with proven reporting and data analysis capability.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work across project teams and present financial information to a range of audiences.
• Strong time management skills with the ability to manage competing priorities and meet deadlines reliably.
• Experience with or willingness to learn project controls management systems and corporate financial software.

Highly Desirable

• Prior experience in project cost estimating or project engineering.
• Experience with Power BI or similar tools for designing reports and performing analysis.
• Exposure to Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project.
• Experience in the power industry or on large substation, transmission line or energy infrastructure projects.
• Familiarity with earned value reporting methodologies and cost performance monitoring.

Our Leadership Principles and Values

Our Leadership Principles, Courage, Care, Clarity and Connection, form the foundation of how we lead at Transgrid. Courage means doing what is right even when it is hard. Care means valuing people and leading with genuine consideration for others. Clarity means making sure your team understands what good looks like and why their work matters. Connection means linking people to our purpose and building strong relationships across teams, customers and partners.

You will also uphold our Values: Safety, Achievement, Integrity and Service, delivering outcomes that are safe, sustainable and genuinely useful to the customers and communities we serve.

Benefits and Perks

At Transgrid, we empower our people with a well-rounded benefits package designed to support their personal, professional and social wellbeing, helping them deliver their best work every day.

• 20 Weeks Paid Parental Leave: Genuine support for every stage of family life.
• Corporate Discounts: Retail, utilities, travel, health and wellbeing, and more.
• Novated Leasing: Tax-effective vehicle options through novated leasing arrangements.
• Workplace Flexibility: Work from home flexibility and flexible arrangements to suit your life and your role.
• Tertiary Education Support: Financial support for ongoing study and professional development.
• Career Mentoring and Training: Regular training and career mentoring to help you grow.

Applications close on 5th of July 2026 however will be assessed on a rolling basis and may close earlier - Apply today and play a crucial role in driving the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future!