Senior Operations Cost Controls Advisor

Worker Type:
Employee Job Post End Date: 09/01/2026

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Operations Cost Control (Oil Sands), the Senior Advisor, Operations Cost Controls is accountable for the opex forecast and cost performance reporting for one or more Oil Sands sites. The role owns the full cost cycle from monthly reporting through the annual Budget and long-range plan, and partners directly with Site Leadership to explain results and drive corrective action.

As the closest financial partner to site Operations and Maintenance, the Senior Advisor helps Site Leadership deliver their annual business plan, manage risk and opportunity, and advance site priorities.

The Oil Sands Operations Cost Control team supports the field-based Operations and Maintenance teams across Foster Creek, Christina Lake, Christina Lake North, and Sunrise.

This is a full-time employee position based in our downtown Calgary office, with occasional travel to the Oil Sands sites.

• Own the monthly operating expense (OPEX) forecast for assigned sites, including assumptions, risks, opportunities, exposure quantification, mitigation plans, and leadership alignment.

• Build and maintain strong partnerships with Site Operations, Maintenance, Supply Chain, Finance, Facility Engineering, Integrity & Reliability, and other key stakeholders to support accurate cost reporting and forecasting.

• Establish and maintain the cost breakdown structure (cost centre and AFE level) used to steward budgets and track site performance.

• Prepare, submit, and quality-check monthly accruals to ensure accurate financial reporting.

• Develop monthly variance analyses and present cost reviews to Site Leadership, Field Managers, and Superintendents, providing clear insights into cost drivers and accountability for performance.

• Lead the annual budget and long-range planning process for assigned sites, developing disciplined cost estimates and scenarios in collaboration with site teams.

• Build business cases, cost-benefit analyses, and financial justifications for operating initiatives, trials, and spending decisions, while driving continuous improvement in cost control effectiveness.

• Provide support and coverage for other sites as required.

Our ideal candidate will have the following minimum qualifications:

• Legally authorized to work in Canada, with a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline; CPA or P.Eng. designation is an asset.

• Minimum 8 years of experience in cost control, project controls, or financial analysis, including support of an operating facility.

• Strong systems and analytical skills, including SAP (cost centres, orders, and transaction tracing), advanced Excel, and experience with Power BI or Spotfire considered an asset.

• Solid understanding of maintenance structures, workflows, and financial processes within an operating facility environment.

• Proven ability to build trusted relationships across cross-functional teams, influence and challenge site leadership, and communicate effectively without formal authority.

• Highly organized and adaptable, with demonstrated success managing competing priorities, working independently against fixed reporting cycles, and improving reporting tools, templates, or processes.

We acknowledge the value of transferable skills and may consider equivalent combinations of experience and education should you not meet a specific requirement.

Cenovus was ranked one of Canada’s Best Employers in 2025. We’re committed to being an employer of choice in our industry by offering a competitive total rewards package, employee programs, and rewarding career development opportunities. Learn more.

If you require accessibility assistance to complete the on-line application or otherwise apply for an open position with Cenovus, its subsidiaries and affiliates, please email ca

Ranked as one of Canada’s Best Employers in 2025, Cenovus is an integrated energy company headquartered in Calgary. We’re committed to maximizing value by developing our assets in a safe,…