Project Cost Engineer

Our Story:

Avison Young is a global commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm, offering transaction, management, financial and consulting services. We’ve designed our corporate structure to best serve our clients by enhancing collaboration across our organization.

 

At Avison Young, we are committed to providing a comprehensive suite of commercial real estate services to our clients while fostering a supportive and inclusive workplace culture for our employees. Our collaborative approach and emphasis on personal and professional growth create an environment where individuals can thrive. Real estate can have a significant positive impact on people’s lives – and we’re in the business of making spaces and places work better for people. Our purpose is to create real economic, social and environmental value as a global real estate advisor, powered by people.

 

If you're looking for career opportunities where you can excel and contribute to a strong company culture, we want to hear from you. Join our highly motivated team and take pride in your work as we create a better future together.

Overview:

Avison Young Studio Delivery Services is seeking a Project Cost Engineer with 5–10 years of experience managing project financials in a design-build or construction environment. Architectural project accounting experience is beneficial, particularly with design fees, consultant agreements, and billing across multiple design phases.

 

This position supports the full project lifecycle—from budget and contract setup through procurement, billing, forecasting, change management, and final closeout.

 

The Project Cost Engineer will collaborate with project managers, architecture and interior design teams, preconstruction and construction teams, leadership, and corporate accounting to maintain accurate financial information and support informed decisions.

 

The base salary is aligned with market data and is estimated between $90,000 to $110,000 with the ability to achieve additional compensation through bonus.  This salary range reflects base compensation for the position across all US locations. Within this range, individual pay is determined by work location and other factors including relevant education/training, experience, and internal equity.

Responsibilities:

• Establish and maintain project budgets, contracts, commitments, cost codes, and billing schedules.
• Monitor project costs, revenue, gross profit, cash flow, and forecasted costs to complete.
• Review purchase orders, subcontractor and consultant invoices, pay applications, and change orders against approved budgets and contract terms.
• Prepare client progress billings and supporting documentation, including AIA pay applications where applicable.
• Support accounting for architectural and interior design services, including design fees, phase-based billing, consultant costs, reimbursable expenses, and additional services.
• Reconcile approved, pending, and projected change orders with project budgets and forecasts.
• Conduct regular financial reviews with project managers, identify variances, and follow discrepancies through resolution.
• Reconcile financial information across accounting systems, Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), and project tracking tools.
• Monitor accounts receivable, accounts payable, retainage, and outstanding project balances.
• Prepare monthly financial reports for project teams and leadership.
• Support final project reconciliation and financial closeout.
• Maintain consistent financial controls and help improve project accounting workflows.

Qualifications:

• 5–10 years of project accounting experience in design-build, construction, architecture and engineering, or a closely related field.
• Experience with all phases of project financial management, including budget setup, commitments, forecasting, billing, change management, and closeout.
• Architectural project accounting experience is beneficial, including management of design fees, consultant agreements, phase-based budgets and billing, and additional services.
• Strong understanding of construction contracts, subcontractor billing, cost coding, and project financial reporting.
• Proficiency with Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC), Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Smartsheet.
• Experience with accounting software and reconciling financial data across multiple systems.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills, with close attention to detail.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet billing and reporting deadlines.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.

Our Equal Opportunity Commitment:

Our Equal Opportunity Commitment

Avison Young is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to promoting diversity and inclusivity within our workforce. Our non-discrimination policy ensures that all individuals are treated equally, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. We believe in fostering a positive and inclusive work environment that values accessibility and fair recruitment practices for all employees. We hope you will join us in committing to create a workplace that is fair, equitable, and welcoming to all.

 

Benefits offered to full time W2 employees:

• Traditional and Roth 401k with generous employer match and immediate vesting
• 12 weeks of Paid Parental Leave after one year of tenure
• Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance
• Company paid Life and AD&D Insurance
• Company paid Short & Long-Term Disability
• Voluntary Critical Illness and Accident Coverage
• Healthcare, Dependent Care, Commuter & Transit Pre-Tax Benefits
• Wellness program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Work-Life Balance:

• Competitive paid vacation days
• 2 personal/wellness days
• Paid holidays plus 2 floating holidays
• Annual volunteer day for Day of Giving