The Role We Want You ForThe Cost Manager provides accurate, timely job-level cost data and analysis to support the Project Team's accountability for job profitability and cost management. This role ensures the financial foundation for informed decision-making by Operations, Accounting, and FP&A. Operations owns job performance; Cost Manager ensures they have the cost visibility and data quality to manage it. The role reports to the Business Unit Leader / President, with oversight and support from the VP of FP&A to maintain consistent cost management practices and standards across the business.
The Specifics of the Role- Serves as the primary financial analyst supporting Operations accountability for job performance and profitability.
- Owns accuracy and timeliness of cost data and reporting; validates data quality without absorbing operational ownership.
- Translates field cost reality into forecasts and analysis that Accounting and FP&A can build on without re-checking.
- Anticipates cost and billing risk; escalates early with context and analysis.
- Holds cost code and cost reporting standards consistently across portfolio.
- Builds trust with Operations by explaining variances and supporting their decision-making, not just flagging issues.
- Balances support for Operations and Accounting without absorbing accountability that belongs to the field.
- Applies sound judgment on when a variance is routine versus material enough to escalate to leadership.
Job Cost Forecasting & Data Support- Develop and maintain monthly Estimate at Completion (EAC) forecasts by job, including labor, material, and other direct costs; support Operations' forecast accuracy and decision-making.
- Validate fully-loaded labor cost methodology (wage + tax + WC + benefits) and baseline; flag underestimation issues to Project Team and leadership.
- Conduct monthly cost reviews with Operations teams to validate forecasts, identify cost drivers, and support their variance explanations.
- Validate labor allocation and cost code accuracy; flag misallocations and unbudgeted charges to Project Team for correction.
Job Profitability & Variance Analysis- Analyze and explain job profit/margin variance each month; provide cost drivers and operational context to support Operations' accountability for performance.
- Investigate and document billing variances (actual vs. projected); provide analysis to Accounting and FP&A.
- Escalate material cost and billing variances (>5% or >$250K) to Director and BU Leadership with context and recommended actions.
- Track contingency and management reserve usage; report balances and draws to support leadership's approval decisions.
Cost Controls & Systems- Own job-level cost code structure and standardization; serve as single point of contact for new cost code requests and approvals.
- Configure and maintain Procore cost management modules for job setup; coordinate with Accounting on GL mapping.
- Support labor productivity tracking; validate production rates and flag variance from estimate.
- Validate cost data integrity and flag discrepancies (timing differences, duplications, exclusions) for Accounting and Operations resolution.
Month-End Close & Reporting- Provide job profit and margin analysis for PCL reporting (feeds FP&A's PCL document compilation).
- Support Accounting's GL-to-job reconciliation by validating job subledger data and flagging variances.
- Prepare contingency and reserve position summary for leadership review and draw approval.
- Ensure all cost data supporting PCL reporting is accurate, complete, and audit-ready by close deadline.
Cross-Functional Coordination- Support Schedule of Values (SOV) reconciliation; flag misalignments between billing projections and SOVs.
- Coordinate with Preconstruction on pre-bid cost tracking and cost code capitalization discipline.
- Partner with Contracts on subcontract cost implications and financial risk assessment.
- Serve as financial bridge between Operations, Accounting, and FP&A on job-level cost matters.
Requirements- 7+ years in construction accounting, project controls, or cost management in a self-performing construction environment.
- Proficiency in construction management software (Procore, Touchplan) and ERP systems (JDE, SAP).
- Strong financial acumen: ability to build cost models, analyze budget vs. actual, and interpret profitability data.
- Excellent communication skills; ability to translate cost data into clear explanations for field teams and finance leadership.
- Experience with GL-to-subledger reconciliation and month-end close processes.
- Knowledge of revenue recognition (ASC 606), job costing, and percentage-of-completion methodology.
- Experience mentoring or training project teams on cost processes and systems.
- Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with strong accountability culture.
Some Things You Should Know- Our clients and projects are nationwide - Travel will be required.
- No other builder can offer the collaborative design-build approach that Clayco does.
- We work on creative, complex, award-winning, high-profile jobs.
- The pace is fast!
Benefits- Discretionary Annual Bonus: Subject to company and individual performance.
- Comprehensive Benefits Package Including: Medical, dental and vision plans, 401k, generous PTO and paid company holidays, employee assistance program, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, disability coverage, learning & development programs and more!
Compensation- The salary range for this position considers a wide range of factors in making compensation decisions including but not limited to: Education, qualifications, skills, training, experience, certifications, internal equity, and location. Compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.
