Project Controls Analyst

Shape your future. Serve your community. Belong to something bigger.

At Lismore City Council, we are delivering one of the most significant regional reconstruction efforts in Australia. Our Flood Restoration Portfolio (FRP) is a multi-year, once-in-a-career program rebuilding the community’s essential infrastructure following the 2022 natural disaster events. With a capital value exceeding $1B, this is an opportunity to shape the future resilience of a regional city while contributing to work that genuinely matters.

Lismore’s Northern Rivers location fosters an ideal work-life balance. It offers lush farmland, beautiful parks, a World Heritage-listed rainforest to explore, great restaurants, a diverse arts and cultural scene, and more—all just a stone’s throw from the Gold Coast, Ballina, and Byron Bay. 

Today, Lismore is flourishing, and it's the perfect time to embrace and celebrate everything that makes the regional city so unique, while also being directly involved in shaping its future. 

 The Opportunity 

We seek a highly analytical and commercially astute Controls Analyst to support the financial performance and delivery of our program of works. Reporting to the Project Controls Manager, you will play a critical role in monitoring, analysing, and improving project cost performance, working closely with Project Managers and key stakeholders to ensure financial integrity and delivery outcomes.

Responsibilities include:

• Support the implementation and monitoring of project controls across the FRP program

• Analyse project financial performance against approved budgets and forecasts

• Partner with Project Managers to provide insights on cost trends, risks, and opportunities

• Contribute to project controls frameworks, reporting dashboards, and governance processes

• Monitor cost to complete, cash flow, and variance analysis across multiple projects

• Support forecasting, budgeting, and financial reporting cycles

• Ensure alignment with funding requirements, acquittals, and audit expectations

• Produce clear, accurate analysis to support decision-making across the commercial and finance teams

• Managing multiple priorities while maintaining strong attention to detail and data accuracy

• Support or lead business intelligence and process optimisation initiatives that improve internal reporting capabilities

• Monitor compliance with funding conditions, and support acquittal requirements

• Identify risks, trends and variances in project delivery and escalate where required

• Assist with audits, governance reviews and program assurance processes

• Work with project teams to strengthen documentation and reporting standards

• Contribute to continuous improvement of portfolio management systems and controls.

 What you'll need to be successful

• Degree qualifications in Civil Engineering and Project Management

• 10+ years of experience in project management, ideally on large-scale ground engineering projects

• Experience in cost analysis, project controls, or financial analysis (infrastructure, construction, or government highly regarded)

• Strong ability to interpret financial data and translate into actionable insights

• Proven experience partnering with operational stakeholders (e.g. Project Managers)

• High attention to detail with strong analytical and problem-solving capability

• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, financial modelling, dashboards)

• Strong communication skills to work with technical and non-technical stakeholders

• Experience supporting compliance with funding agreements, grants or government programs (highly regarded)

• ​Experience managing and mentoring people.

• ​Experience in managing challenging stakeholders and issues management.

• ​Good negotiation and liaison skills with an interest or experience in facilitation.

Please review the position description and use your resume and application responses in the application form below to demonstrate your ability to fulfil the position's responsibilities.

Additional details

• Term Contract: contracted hours of work 35 hours a week/70 hours a fortnight up to 31 December 2027.

• Closing date: Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate pool is established.  

• Location: The position will be primarily at our Flood Portfolio Office in Lismore. Flexible work options are available, working within operational requirements. 

• Contact: If you would like to learn more about this opportunity, please don't hesitate to contact Jennifer McEwen, HR Business Partner, at 0428 522 907.

• Conditions of Employment: Conditions of employment are in the Local Government (State) Award and relevant Council policy, procedures, and agreements.

•  Pre-employment Screening: Before employment, there may be a series of pre-employment checks that may include health assessments, validation of the right to work in Australia, validation of qualifications and licences, criminal history checks, psychometric assessments, and referee checks.

• Future Opportunities: This recruitment exercise may be utilised for vacancies and the possible establishment of a merit list for future opportunities within six months.

Lismore City Council is a proud employer of a diverse workforce, welcoming applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including those with disabilities. We are committed to fostering a diverse, flexible, and inclusive workplace that reflects the community we serve. We also welcome discussions about how our roles can be undertaken flexibly. Adjustments can be made throughout the application and selection process to support disabled applicants. If you would like to discuss adjustments, don't hesitate to get in touch with the People and Culture team on 02 6625 0500 or email people@lismore.nsw.gov.au