Junior Project Cost Analyst

At the SKAO we are coordinating a global effort to deliver one of the largest science facilities on the planet. The SKAO telescopes will be next‑generation instruments that will help to answer key questions in astrophysics, drive technological innovation and support human capital development.

More than a dozen partner countries and over a thousand scientists and engineers around the world are already on board, making the SKA project an international collaboration like no other, and one of the most ambitious science and engineering endeavours of the 21st century.

Headquartered in the UK, with telescope sites in Australia and South Africa, the SKAO will be one observatory operating two telescopes, an endeavour spanning three continents. Multinational by design, in early 2021 the SKAO became an intergovernmental organisation, one of only a select handful of science infrastructures to do so worldwide.

Our Global HQ is located near the buzzing city of Manchester at the historic Jodrell Bank Observatory, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in the Cheshire countryside. It is home to a rapidly expanding international team of more than a hundred, working in a highly collaborative and inclusive way, in coordination with SKAO teams in Australia and South Africa as part of a global astronomy and engineering community.

Being part of Team SKA means contributing to something extraordinary: a uniquely exciting project to advance human knowledge that will last for decades.

In return, we offer:

• diverse multicultural working environment
• 30 days annual leave plus public holidays
• a generous pension scheme
• visa and support with relocation (if applicable)
• regular social events
• a family‑friendly environment
• and much more.

Come and join us!

The SKAO is an intergovernmental organisation with a global footprint, building and operating advanced radio telescopes across the UK, South Africa, and Australia. The Observatory's mission combines major scientific ambition, international collaboration, advanced engineering, software, data, and long‑term operations.

The Cost Analyst role sits within the Project controls function, within the project management group. This area oversees the cost management and analysis across the programme directorate as part of the wider Project management group and the role itself is the lead focal point on risk and contractual management within this context.

Working closely with stakeholders internal to and external to the project management group to provide EVM and cost analysis the cost analyst role in line with the role description below.

The SKA Project Controls Team forms part of the Project Management Group within SKAO and is responsible for obtaining and analysing data and providing accurate and timely project reports to support decision‑making. The team maintains the Project Management Controls System which includes schedule, budget, cost, earned value, risk, issue and change controls.

The Junior Cost Analyst thus works closely with the Cost analyst, project managers, other members of the project controls team and other managers and stakeholders across the programme to carry out the required cost analyst activities as defined below.

This is a 3-year fixed term position and is based at the SKAO Headquarters at Jodrell Bank, Cheshire, UK.

SKAO is committed to providing an inclusive and flexible working environment, meeting the requests of our Colleagues

whilst also fulfilling the needs and objectives of the Observatory.

There may be occasions where this role requires work across different time zones, and in line with SKAO policy, flexible working hours will be supported in agreement with the line manager.

Working under the guidance of the Cost Analyst, the Junior Cost Analyst will:

• Support the delivery of project cost control activities across the programme.
• Assist with project budgeting, forecasting and cost reporting.
• Support the preparation of monthly financial and project performance reports.
• Assist with contractor invoice validation and financial reconciliations.
• Support budget monitoring and commitment tracking.
• Assist with earned value management…