Cost Intelligence Lead

In this new and exciting role, you will lead the company's approach to costing and benchmarking for regulatory investment and submissions, and assist in the optimisation of our overall investment plan.

You will shape how we estimate, benchmark, challenge, and present costs across our strategic and business plans, directly influencing our investment for the next 25 years.

Cost intelligence, benchmarking and assurance

• Lead approach to cost and carbon estimation at PR29 – to evidence and secure significant investments (forecast to be more than £6bn).
• Prepare and deliver cost estimates, cost plans, and benchmarking reports across a portfolio of hundreds of projects and investment areas, each with significant value (e.g. more than £10m).
• Analyse, validate, and manage cost intelligence databases and tools, ensuring data quality and consistency.
• Monitor industry cost trends, drivers, and regulatory expectations.
• Challenge internal cost proposals for regulatory submissions, ensuring scope, assumptions, and efficiency levels are evidence‑based.
• Support triangulation and ranking of investment options, ensuring transparent and defensible decision‑making.
• Assist in the optimisation of our overall investment plan.

Strategic leadership and framework development

• Lead the development of a cost and carbon estimation framework for regulatory submissions, embedding best practice, regulatory expectations, and robust governance. Including the triangulation of multiple methodologies, tools and systems.
• Produce external‑facing documentation to support strategic plans and business plan submissions. Including the development of templates and standards for investment case cost estimation and presentation.
• Provide guidance and training to teams undertaking cost estimation, ensuring consistent application of the framework.
• Contribute to a knowledge‑sharing culture and drive continuous improvement in cost estimation processes, tools, and governance.

External engagement and procurement

• Set up and manage procurement frameworks for external cost estimation and assurance providers.
• Engage with external contractors to secure independent challenge where required by the regulator.
• Coordinate external benchmarking, cost modelling, and assurance activities to strengthen regulatory submissions.

We are looking for someone who:

• has significant experience in cost intelligence, cost management, commercial auditing, and project controls for portfolios of major infrastructure projects (e.g. projects ranging from £10m to over £100m in value)
• is degree-qualified in Finance, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, Cost Management, Accounting, or similar
• has a strong understanding of commercial contracts, cost drivers, and risk allocation
• has strong analytical skills with the ability to challenge assumptions and frameworks
• has excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to senior stakeholders
• is highly proficient in Excel and relevant cost estimation tools and software
• is proactive, dependable, and comfortable working independently or collaboratively.

• A combined pension contribution of up to 20%.
• Career progression and professional development opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service.
• The opportunity to sell up to five days of holiday every year.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days of holiday each year (subject to conditions).
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• The opportunity to lease a new electric car through salary sacrifice (subject to conditions).
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• Access to an interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from trained mental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone who is successfully recruited by us.

YTL UK is part of the international YTL Group based in Kuala Lumpur. The UK companies include:

• Wessex Water – one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9…