Project Portfolio-Cost Analyst, Lead

Tallgrass•Houston, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Responsible to control and monitor project total expenditure including verifying and checking of invoices and claims from suppliers, vendors, and subcontractors to ensure that all project expenditures are captured and properly recorded. Provide planning and cost-controlling support for all projects which may include variation reporting, monitoring of milestone progress to the preparation of customer billing processes, etc. This role provides project control support to the Project Management (PM) team, which may include cost control and reporting, invoice tracking, account reconciliation, purchase order/work directive analysis, and project status reports as needed. The analyst conducts budget status reviews, committed cost analysis, PO status, and change order status, acting as an auditing function to ensure all budget variances are reviewed in a timely manner to avoid project cost overruns. Support is provided for the development and implementation of robust change control processes directly tied to delegation of authority to ensure compliance with all company and industry standards. The role involves providing detailed and management-level cost reports for assigned areas, including open commitments, forecasts, contingencies, and line-item variance analysis to the project budget and prior forecast versions. Development and maintenance of the overall project plan for assigned work areas and backup support as needed is also a key function. The analyst develops communications and reporting networks for data gathering, review, analysis, and presentation of recommendations to ensure projects remain on schedule and within budget. Development, implementation, and maintenance of cost control measures, reports, cash flows, and forecasts on specific Projects and Programs are essential. A basic understanding of risk management tools (R, Y, G, chart, etc.) is required, along with facilitating forecasting/planning meetings. The role generates reports to update the PM team concerning progress curves and updated monthly spend forecasts. Leading, coordinating, and facilitating interactive planning sessions at each phase of the project to assist in overall project plan development and update forecasts is expected. Preparation, submission, and tracking of bills for payment, research of unexpected items, and resolution of inaccuracies are also part of the responsibilities. Managing all competing priorities as part of the assigned project, gathering, retaining, and properly storing supporting documentation regarding the receipt of materials on projects are crucial. The role requires dealing with a wide variety of people with tact, courtesy, and professionalism, speaking clearly, both in person and by telephone, using a high level of verbal skills and listening carefully. Maintaining regular, dependable attendance and a consistently high level of performance is expected. Non-traditional hours may be required. A high regard for personal safety, for the safety of company assets and employees, and the general public must be maintained. Other daily, weekly, monthly, or special project duties as identified and defined may be assigned. Reviewing invoicing for accuracy based on contractual constraints on a project-by-project basis, ensuring budget tracking against purchase orders or subcontracts, and generating purchase order information for processing and tracking are key tasks. Serving as a point of contact for project control-related inquiries and managing integrated data on multiple platforms are also required. Facilitating the Administrative Closeout procedure to formally close out projects is part of the role. Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance or a related discipline. A minimum of three (3) to five (5) years of direct work experience in project control or financial analysis may be considered as a substitute for a degree.
Understand the overall basic terminology of a project’s principle practices and concepts, project cost forecasting and budgets.
Must be able to understand the needs of the Project Manager and business unit(s) for which development work is being performed.
Good basic math skills (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, decimals, fractions, etc.).
Advanced office equipment skills (phone, fax, printer/copier, files and organizational skills, etc.).
Knowledge of natural gas and crude oil terminology.
Knowledge of FERC Standards of Conduct (Order 497).
Intermediate proficiency level in MS Office applications that may include but are not limited to Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook.
Sharepoint, Microsoft Teams, Oracle.
Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and a driving record satisfactory to the company and its insurers (for travel).
Must be process oriented and able to maintain multiple tasks.
Must possess general understanding of how corporate policies, procedures, practices and processes relate to the Gas/Oil Pipeline business segment, associated business units, and internal and external customers.
Intermediate to advanced MS Excel skills including formatting, formulas, ad hoc reporting including pivot tables, etc.
Must be able to perform all essential and marginal functions of the job.
Must be able to work with a team, take direction from management, adhere to required work schedules, focus attention to details, and follow work rules.
Ability to successfully perform multiple tasks with strict deadlines.
Ability to organize and prioritize daily work.
Must be able to sit for prolonged periods of time.
The employee is regularly required to use hands to type, touch, handle, or feel.
The employee is required to talk and hear.
The employee is frequently required to stand and reach with hands and arms.
The employee is occasionally required to walk and climb or balance.
The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
May be required to carry a cell phone and be available to respond during working and non-working hours.
The successful candidate will be required to clear a drug screen and a complete background check, including credit report for certain positions, after an offer has been extended and prior to being employed.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree from an accredited institution in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance or a related discipline.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills
Familiarity of the Oracle ERP system, and specifically the Projects module
Proficiency in Primavera, Microsoft project, or similar scheduling software.

Responsibilities

Provide project control support to the Project Management (PM) team which may include cost control and reporting, invoice tracking, account reconciliation, purchase order/work directive analysis, and project status reports as needed.
Conduct budget status reviews, committed cost analysis, PO status, change order status, and act as an auditing function to ensure all budget variances are reviewed in a timely manner to avoid project cost overruns.
Support development and implementation of robust change control processes directly tied to delegation of authority to ensure compliance with all company and industry standards.
Provide detailed and management level cost reports for assigned area to include open commitments, forecasts, contingencies, and line-item variance analysis to the project budget and prior forecast versions.
Develop and maintain overall project plan for assigned work areas and back up support as needed.
Develop communications and reporting networks for data gathering, review, analysis and presentation of recommendations to ensure project remains on schedule and within budget.
Develop, implement, and maintain cost control measures, reports, cash flows and forecasts on specific Projects and Programs.
Facilitate forecasting/planning meetings.
Generate reports in order to update the PM team concerning progress curves and updated monthly spend forecasts.
Lead, coordinate and facilitate interactive planning sessions at each phase of the project to assist in overall project plan development and update forecasts.
Prepare, submit, and track bills for payment.
Research unexpected items and resolve inaccuracies.
Manage all competing priorities as part of the assigned project.
Gather, retain, and properly store of supporting documentation regarding the receipt of materials on projects.
Deal with a wide variety of people with tact, courtesy, and professionalism.
Speak clearly, both in person and by telephone, using a high level of verbal skills and listen carefully.
Maintain regular, dependable attendance and a consistently high level of performance.
Will work non-traditional hours as needed.
Maintain a high regard for personal safety, for the safety of company assets and employees, and the general public.
Review invoicing for accuracy based on contractual constraints on a project-by-project basis.
Ensure budget tracking against purchase orders or subcontracts.
Generate purchase order information for processing and tracking.
Serve as point of contact for project control related inquires.
Managing integrated data on multiple platforms.
Facilitate Administrative Closeout procedure to formally closeout projects
Other duties as assigned.