Cost Engineer Consultant – Contracts Assurance

Role Purpose The Cost Engineer Consultant provides independent cost assurance and financial oversight of engineering and construction contracts to ensure that all contractor claims, invoices, and cost-related submissions are accurate, justified, contractually compliant, and aligned with project progress. The role is critical to the certification of contractor payments, ensuring that payments reflect actual work done, approved rates, and contractual provisions, while safeguarding the client against overpayment, cost inflation, and commercial risks. The Cost Engineer acts as a key member of the independent monitoring team, working closely with discipline engineers (civil, mechanical, electrical, instrumentation) and quantity surveyors to validate quantities, progress, and cost claims. Key Responsibilities Contractor Invoice Review and Certification: Review contractor interim payment applications (IPAs) and invoices. Verify that claimed quantities align with: Approved drawings Site progress Measured work quantities. Ensure all claims comply with: Contract terms Agreed rates Approved variations. Recommend certified payment amounts for client approval. Quantity and Cost Verification: Work with Quantity Surveyors and discipline engineers to validate: Measured quantities Completed work percentages Material usage. Cross-check contractor submissions against: Bills of Quantities (BOQ) Schedules of rates Cost breakdown structures. . Identify discrepancies, over-measurement, or duplicate claims. Contract Compliance and Commercial Review: Interpret contract provisions relating to: Payment terms Variation orders Provisional sums Escalation clauses. Ensure contractor claims comply with contractual requirements. Review supporting documentation for completeness and validity. Variation and Change Order Assessment: Evaluate contractor variation claims and change orders. Verify: Technical justification Quantity impact Cost implications. Provide independent assessment of fair and reasonable valuation. Track and maintain records of all approved variations. Cost Monitoring and Reporting: Monitor project costs against: Approved budgets Contract values Committed costs. Prepare periodic reports including: Cost status Forecast vs actual expenditure Potential cost overruns Savings opportunities. Highlight financial risks and recommend mitigation strategies. Progress and Earned Value Assessment: Evaluate contractor progress in relation to cost claims. Apply earned value principles where applicable to assess: Value of work done Cost performance Schedule performance. Ensure payments are aligned with actual progress on site. Risk Identification and Cost Control: Identify commercial risks such as: Inflated claims Scope creep Unapproved variations Contract ambiguities. Recommend corrective actions to protect client financial interests. Support implementation of cost control mechanisms. Dispute and Claims Support: Provide support in resolving: Payment disputes Variation disagreeme