Project Controls Specialist

Posted Yesterday
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Los Angeles, CA, USA
In-Office
125K-145K Annually
Senior level
Other
The Role
Manage project cost controls for K-12 and higher-education construction programs: maintain budgets and forecasts, perform EAC and variance analysis, allocate ETCs, support change management, reconcile month-end costs, produce financial reports, validate contract amendments and payment applications, and collaborate with PMO and scheduling teams to identify and mitigate cost and schedule risks.
Summary Generated by Built In

Who We Are
Our Education team partners with K-12 school districts, community colleges, and universities to design and manage transformative programs that align with their goals. We partner with institutions on projects including:

  • Modernization and expansion of facilities
  • Infrastructure improvements for safety and sustainability
  • Development of specialized spaces such as laboratories, research centers, and classrooms.
Position Description:
  • Maintain and manage the accuracy and integrity of project budgets and financial forecasts, ensuring compliance with established cost management procedures and policies.
  • Collaborate with Project and Construction Managers in drafting white papers for project establishment, re-baselining, and securing funding for capital projects.
  • Participate in monthly Estimate at Completion (EAC) reviews, collaborating with the Project Management Office (PMO) to provide in-depth variance analysis and identify underlying causes.
  • Allocate and manage Estimates to Complete (ETCs) for projects, including but not limited to change order proposals, task order requests, online vendor portal requests, and PBAs to ensure continued alignment with financial objectives.
  • Participate in the change management and risk assessment meetings to analyze cost-related trends, risks, and exposures, contributing to proactive cost mitigation strategies.
  • Conduct detailed analysis of cost variances, performance data, and trends to identify potential impacts on budgets, recommending corrective actions where necessary, ensuring financial data aligns with project goals.
  • Perform monthly reconciliation of budget & costs to ensure month-end data reporting accuracy
  • Track and analyze trends in project costs and the effectiveness of mitigation plans, comparing these against actual performance and forecasts.
  • Review project budgets and expenditures across multiple funding sources to ensure alignment with overall financial goals and objectives.
  • Work with scheduling teams to assess the impact of cash flow and schedule performance on project costs, identifying variances, cost overruns or underruns, and potential forecasting issues.
  • Review and analyze financial reports, cost performance, and progress data to ensure accuracy, providing insights into potential financial risks on a regular and/or as needed basis.
  • Examine staffing plans to identify resource demand peaks and recommend cost-effective strategies to level resources and reduce unnecessary financial strain.
  • Assist in preparation and validation of contract amendment exhibits, task order requests, and change orders, PBAs for proper budget allocation, cost coding accuracy, and adherence to reporting and financial standards ensuring alignment with project budget and cost tracking procedures.
  • Ensure compliance with district policies and procedures regarding cost management for capital projects with multiple funding sources.
  • Generate detailed financial and budget reports for campus-specific budgeting, cost control, auditing, and asset tracking using systems like Proliance, Deltek Costpoint, and other standard office program & applications
  • Create and deliver tailored financial, budget, and schedule reports in response to directives from the project director and other stakeholders.
  • Serve as the primary contact for College financial information requests from CPLT and the PMO, providing timely and accurate budget and cost details.
  • Administer the processing of budget transfers, financial closeouts, contract requests, purchase requisitions, amendments, PBAs, change orders and other necessary documentation into the cost management systems.
  • Collaborate with the PMO to validate and collect project budget data, contributing to the development of accurate dashboard reports for stakeholders.
  • Manage and reconcile project control data, ensuring accuracy in program control databases and related financial reports.
  • Oversee the review and approval process for contractor and consultant payment applications, ensuring financial accuracy and compliance.
  • Assist in assembling contract requests, purchase requisitions, amendments, PBAs, and change orders, ensuring proper accounting treatment and alignment of supporting documents.
  • Assist in gathering physical completion data and perform necessary data entry to adjust project budgets and forecasts accordingly.
  • Take on additional duties or special projects as needed to support cost management initiatives and overall project success.

Minimum Required Qualifications:
  • 5 - 10 years experience professional experience in program and/or project controls on a construction program.
  • BS/BA Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business or related degree. Additional qualifying experience in excess to the minimum stated above may be substituted for the required education on a year for year basis.
  • Experience working through the entire project life cycle
  • Knowledge of theories, principles and practices of cost/schedule management, earned value management, change management, forecasting, and risk assessment
  • Ability to present data to management in an organized manner
  • Exceptional communication skills required
  • Ability to adapt to changing requirements and situations
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
  • Ability to work as part of a team
  • Ability to perform in a business environment, maintaining professionalism in all communications and demeanor
About Harris
Harris & Associates is a 100% employee-owned company focused on solving today's complex challenges in the planning, designing, and constructing of public infrastructure. We serve clients in the municipal, water, transportation, and education markets to build equitable, resilient, and sustainable communities by providing a long-term financial framework as they plan their future. Our offices and project sites span the West Coast in California, Nevada, and Washington with a staff of over 290 employee-owners.
Harris fosters a collaborative work environment, understanding that diverse perspectives enhance our ability to better serve our clients and their communities. We are deeply passionate about our work, our clients, our team’s personal and professional growth. We offer a mentorship program, on-the-job training, Harris University, and an annual staff summit all aimed at developing well-rounded consultants proficient in the full spectrum of services we provide. Additionally, we prioritize a healthy work-life balance and organized social and team building events.
Compensation & Benefits
The annual salary range offered for this position is $125K-145K. Actual pay offered will be dependent on the experience and expertise of the incoming candidate. 
In addition to base salary, we also offer:
•    Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
•    ESOP
•    401K Match
•    PTO, 8 Paid Holidays + "1 WorkAversary" paid holiday to celebrate you!
•    Health & Well-Being Allowance
•    Tuition reimbursement
•    Flexible hybrid/remote work plans
Harris & Associates is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE AA M/F/Vet/Disability) and provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics.
Harris expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
#LI-ONSITE

Skills Required

  • 5-10 years professional experience in program and/or project controls on a construction program.
  • BS/BA Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Business or related degree (or equivalent experience substituted year-for-year).
  • Experience working through the entire project life cycle.
  • Knowledge of cost/schedule management, earned value management, change management, forecasting, and risk assessment.
  • Ability to present data to management in an organized manner.
  • Exceptional communication skills.
  • Ability to adapt to changing requirements and situations.
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment.
  • Ability to work as part of a team.
  • Professionalism in business communications and demeanor.
  • Experience generating financial and budget reports using systems like Proliance, Deltek Costpoint, and standard office applications.

Harris & Associates Compensation & Benefits Highlights

The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Harris & Associates and has not been reviewed or approved by Harris & Associates.

  • Equity Value & Accessibility Employee ownership via an ESOP provides long-term equity value in addition to salary. The firm highlights sustained ESOP growth and access for employee-owners.
  • Retirement Support Retirement offerings include a 401(k) alongside company-funded ESOP contributions. Materials describe consistent company-paid retirement contributions as part of total rewards.
  • Healthcare Strength Health, dental, and vision coverage are complemented by employer-paid life insurance and disability protection. HSA/HRA support and an Employee Assistance Program indicate a robust healthcare foundation.

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The Company
HQ: Concord, CA
414 Employees
Year Founded: 1974

What We Do

Harris & Associates is a singular source for the many highly experienced professionals needed to deliver today's complex planning, funding, environmental, civil design, and construction projects. We are trusted advisors who understand the interpersonal aspects as well as the technical—who stay ahead of trends and can see what is coming around the corner. Driven by our shared values to build stronger communities where we live and work, Harris & Associates delivers results for clients across the West Coast in four key markets: education, municipal, transportation, and water. Make one call to Harris & Associates, and you will see what responsiveness means. That has been the Harris Way since 1974. It is why public, private, and institutional clients keep coming back. We are sized to keep your project a priority, with a team of over 200 employee owners throughout the West Coast who are passionate about their work—and about making you look heroic in yours. Learn more at www.weareharris.com.

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