General Manager - Budgets & Controls

Role Purpose

The Budgets & Controls Head is responsible for end-to-end project budgeting, cost planning, cost control, and commercial governance across luxury residential projects. The role ensures financial discipline, cost optimisation, and alignment with approved business objectives, while supporting delivery on quality, timelines, and brand standards.

Key Responsibilities

1. Financial Perspective

• Prepare and maintain project-wise detailed budgets covering Civil, Finishing, MEP, Façade, and External Development works.
• Develop baseline cost plans from concept stage through execution and update budgets in line with approved changes.
• Track actual costs against approved budgets and provide timely visibility of cost variances and forecasts.
• Prepare and monitor project cash flows, ensuring alignment with procurement and construction schedules.
• Provide Estimate at Completion (EAC), cost-to-complete, and cash flow forecasts on a periodic basis.
• Drive cost optimisation initiatives while ensuring adherence to approved specifications and quality standards.

2. Customer Perspective (Internal & External Stakeholders)

• Partner closely with Project, Design, Procurement, and Finance teams to align cost plans with delivery objectives.
• Support leadership decision-making through accurate, timely, and transparent cost and financial reporting.
• Ensure commercial discipline without adversely impacting customer experience, product positioning, or brand commitments.
• Coordinate with external consultants, contractors, and auditors to ensure clarity on commercial and cost matters.

3. Process, Governance & Controls Perspective

• Establish and implement robust cost control mechanisms, approval matrices, and change management processes.
• Review and control variations, change orders, claims, and contractual deviations in line with approved authority limits.
• Support tendering strategies, rate analysis, and commercial evaluations in coordination with procurement teams.
• Ensure compliance with contractual obligations, internal controls, and applicable regulatory and audit requirements.
• Standardise costing templates, SOPs, benchmarks, and MIS formats across projects.
• Support statutory audits, internal audits, and management reviews through accurate documentation and reporting.

4. People & Capability Perspective

• Lead, mentor, and manage teams responsible for project costing, budgeting, and cost monitoring.
• Build functional capability through training, process standardisation, and performance management.
• Promote a culture of accountability, transparency, and financial discipline across project teams.
• Ensure continuity, succession planning, and capability development within the cost management function.

MIS & Reporting

• Prepare and present monthly project cost MIS to senior management.
• Provide structured dashboards covering budget vs actuals, EAC, cash flow, and key risk areas.
• Maintain audit-ready documentation and cost records across the project lifecycle.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering.
• 18+ years of experience in project budgeting, costing, and commercial management within the real estate sector.
• Strong exposure to luxury and high-rise residential developments.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Deep expertise in project costing, budgeting, and financial control.
• Strong understanding of contracts, BOQs, rate analysis, and tendering processes.
• High proficiency in Excel, ERP systems, and MIS reporting.
• Strong leadership, stakeholder management, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to operate effectively within structured governance and control frameworks.