Project Controls Cost Senior Advisor

Job Description

Terravanta is seeking an experienced Project Controls Lead to support complex energy and infrastructure projects. The ideal candidate must have a strong background in cost management, budgeting, forecasting, and project controls within the energy/infrastructure industry, with a proven finance/accounting background and ability to deliver accurate, timely, and actionable project performance insights.

• Works closely with Transmission and Distribution stakeholders to prepare cost estimates, develop and maintain project budgets, forecasts, and cash flows for T&D operations.
• Sets up cost monitoring and reporting systems.
• Applies extensive technical expertise and full knowledge of other related financial disciplines. Challenges are atypical and require the regular use of critical thinking, creativity, and resourcefulness.
• Ensures the development and maintenance of accurate cost variances which support tracking of actual spend and volume units.
• Ability to present clearly to Senior Management and advise/consult when recorded costs are either overrun or underrun as compared to the approved budget.
• Prepares monthly, and year‑end forecasts and advises management and stakeholders on risks and opportunities in meeting performance targets.
• Analyzes monthly variances from budget and latest forecast and identifies key cost and unit completion trends. Performs trend analysis and actively evaluates monthly project cost performance.
• Develops operating plans for O&M (Operations & Maintenance) and Capital activities.
• Coordinates discussions with stakeholders to propose solutions for gaps to year‑end and operating plan performance targets.
• Stays up to date on industry trends, regulatory changes, and emerging technologies in cost engineering and construction management.
• Leads review process to ensure project costs are accurate and structured in a manner that meets major and multi‑year projects or program requirements (e.g., work breakdown structure, Continuous Property Records, FERC/CPUC jurisdictional splits, and cost elements/drivers).
• Performs highly complex analytics and prepares and presents results, alternatives, and recommendations to support business decisions, manage project costs and schedules, and mitigate potential risks.
• Leads or prepares project controls data request responses and work papers in supporting corporate/Organizational Unit governance (e.g., Business Oversight Team and Capital Review Team), internal/external audits, General Rate Cases, and any pertinent regulatory filings.
• Stays up to date on project controls innovations, industry standards, and participates in industry forums as expert in the industry.

• Bachelor’s Degree in applicable Financial/Accounting profession, business, technical discipline or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• 10+ years’ experience in financial cost controls for utilities.
• Electric Utility Expertise:
  Transmission, Distribution, Substations, Generation.
• Knowledgeable of California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC); understanding of accounting practices of Capital and O&M cost determination.
• Experience using Microsoft Office software, Business Intelligence, SAS, and SAP.
• Expert Excel experience, including Power Query.
• Intermediate Power BI experience, including DAX programming.
• Experience with Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, Visio) and SAP.
• Experience in project controls, construction, or infrastructure projects (strongly preferred).

• Planning & Scheduling Professional (PSP)
• Earned Value Professional (EVP)
• Certified Cost Professional (CCP)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)
• Software
• Microsoft Project
• Microsoft Excel (advanced scheduling applications)

• Strong communication and stakeholder coordination
• Proactive and solution-oriented mindset
• Critical thinking and analytical capability
• Strong judgment and decision-making skills
• Adaptability in dynamic project environments
• High attention to detail and organizational skills