Cost Controller – Maintenance, Turnarounds and Construction

PBF Energy•Martinez, CA

3d•$106,788 - $189,503•Hybrid

About The Position

The Cost Controller is responsible for the planning, tracking, forecasting, and reporting of costs associated with refinery maintenance, small outages, large non-routine maintenance projects (>$250K), turnarounds, and capital construction activities. This role ensures strong financial stewardship, cost visibility, and disciplined execution aligned with refinery business objectives. The Cost Controller partners closely with Maintenance, Turnaround, Construction, Finance, and Procurement teams to support safe, reliable, and cost-effective asset performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Finance, Accounting, Construction Management, or related field (or equivalent experience).
5+ years of cost control experience in refining, petrochemical, or heavy industrial environments.
Direct experience supporting maintenance, outages, turnarounds, or construction projects.
Available in off hours and days to respond to refinery issues or emergencies, including on-call emergency response functions.
Possess a valid Drivers’ License
Candidate must have active TWIC card or be able to obtain a TWIC card.

Nice To Haves

Experience in refinery operations, particularly within Maintenance or Turnaround organizations.
Familiarity with SAP (cost tracking, work orders, procurement)
Familiarity with Primavera P6 (scheduling integration)
Familiarity with Advanced Excel and reporting tools
Understanding of earned value management (EVM) and project controls.

Responsibilities

Develop detailed cost estimates and budgets for: Routine maintenance activities, Small outages and unit shutdowns, Large non-routine maintenance projects (>$250K), Major turnaround events and capital projects
Support scope definition and validate cost assumptions during FEL, planning, and pre-turnaround phases.
Assist in funding approvals and budget authorization processes.
Track and manage all cost elements, including labor, materials, equipment, and contractor spend.
Maintain accurate cost records across systems (SAP, project tools).
Monitor: Commitments (POs, contracts), Accruals, Actual expenditures
Ensure alignment between field progress, work orders, and financial reporting.
Develop and maintain cost forecasts throughout the lifecycle of maintenance events and projects.
Perform variance analysis (Plan vs. Actual vs. Forecast).
Identify cost risks, trends, and savings opportunities, especially for: Emergent work during outages, Scope growth in non-routine maintenance
Provide actionable recommendations to leadership.
Support cost control for turnaround and outage execution, including daily reporting during active events.
Deliver: Daily cost tracking and burn rate analysis, TA/outage-specific dashboards and KPIs
Track and quantify cost impacts from: Scope changes, Productivity variances, Schedule deviations
Provide cost tracking and forecasting for large maintenance projects (>$250K).
Support Project Managers in managing budget adherence and change control.
Ensure disciplined cost management consistent with capital project controls where applicable.
Track, validate, and document cost impacts of scope changes and field execution adjustments.
Ensure proper approvals and integration into cost forecasts.
Support Management of Change (MOC) and project controls governance.
Prepare and present regular cost reports for: Maintenance leadership, Turnaround leadership team, Construction/project managers, Finance and refinery leadership
Develop clear, concise dashboards and metrics.
Actively participate in: Daily outage/turnaround meetings, Weekly cost reviews, Project status and gate reviews
Maintain data accuracy across SAP, Primavera, and cost tracking tools.
Drive improvements in cost tracking processes, reporting automation, and data integration.
Ensure audit-ready documentation and compliance with financial controls.