Senior Project Cost Controller | CAPEX Projects

We are looking for an experienced Project Cost Controller to join a large-scale international CAPEX investment project within the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.

The project focuses on the modernization and replacement of existing production equipment and technologies. It is currently in an advanced execution phase, with established project controls processes and structures already in place.

You will work closely with the Project Director and play a key role in ensuring financial transparency, cost control, accurate forecasting, and successful financial closure of the project.

This is a hands-on role requiring someone who understands the financial lifecycle of major capital investment projects, can independently manage project costs, and proactively identify potential financial risks before they become critical.

What You Will Be Responsible For

• Managing and monitoring project costs, budgets, financial commitments, and forecasts across multiple work packages.
• Maintaining and updating project cost baselines, ensuring accurate cost allocation and financial reporting.
• Performing monthly cost reconciliation, validating financial data, and ensuring correct allocation of costs at WBS level.
• Preparing monthly financial forecasts, analysing cost deviations, and identifying potential budget overruns.
• Monitoring internal and external resource costs, including time reporting and related financial allocations.
• Coordinating month-end closing activities, accruals, and financial reporting in cooperation with Finance and Procurement.
• Managing project contingency, including monitoring and reporting contingency drawdowns.
• Supporting scope and change control processes, including evaluating their financial impact.
• Collaborating with work package owners, engineers, suppliers, and local and international finance teams to ensure accurate cost information.
• Supporting project asset creation, financial reconciliation, documentation, and capitalisation activities as the project approaches completion.
• Preparing financial reports and analyses for project leadership and other stakeholders.
• Proactively challenging inconsistencies in financial data, investigating discrepancies, and supporting corrective actions.

What We Are Looking For

• Proven hands-on experience in cost controlling on CAPEX / capital investment projects – essential.

• Practical understanding of the CAPEX project lifecycle, ideally including project execution, forecasting, financial closing, and asset capitalisation.
• Demonstrated responsibility for project cost forecasting, budget monitoring, cost reconciliation, and financial reporting.
• Experience working with the SAP finance module, particularly financial reporting and cost-related processes.
• Strong Excel skills and confidence working with complex financial data.
• Ability to analyse financial information, identify inconsistencies, and proactively investigate potential risks.
• Experience collaborating with engineering teams, procurement, finance departments, and project stakeholders.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills in an international environment.
• Ability to work independently, take ownership, and quickly understand an ongoing project without extensive training.
• Fluent English for daily communication with international stakeholders.
• Willingness to work in a hybrid arrangement with regular on-site presence in the Prague-East area and attend initial onboarding abroad.

Nice to Have

• Experience with large-scale industrial, engineering, construction, or pharmaceutical CAPEX projects.
• Previous involvement in project financial close-out and asset creation / capitalisation.
• Experience with project controls systems such as PIMS (Omega 365).
• Previous experience in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• Czech language skills.

Previous pharmaceutical industry experience is not mandatory. Candidates from other industries with relevant CAPEX cost controlling experience are welcome.

What We Offer

• Opportunity on an international CAPEX project, expected to run until December 2027.
• Opportunity to contribute to a major investment project within a global pharmaceutical manufacturing environment.
• Close collaboration with experienced international project leadership and finance teams.
• Hybrid working arrangement, with on-site presence agreed based on project needs.
• Initial onboarding and knowledge transfer from HQ.
• Opportunity to become part of the largest community of freelance Project Managers and Business Analysts in the Czech Republic and Slovakia – Projectman
• Full Projectman support throughout the assignment
• Access to networking, educational and community events