A template for cost professionals who keep major projects on budget, from BOQ to final account.
Quantity surveyors control the money on a construction project. They prepare the bill of quantities, price tenders, value the work done each month, settle variations, and protect the margin from first estimate to final account. On a major project they often manage cost packages worth tens of millions, sitting between the contractor, the consultant, and the client. A typical week mixes measurement and take-off, commercial reporting, valuing change, and chasing entitlement under a JCT, NEC, or FIDIC contract. Most report to a commercial manager or project director, and the work rewards people who stay precise, calm under pressure, and comfortable defending a number with evidence.
MRICS-chartered Quantity Surveyor with 11 years of commercial experience on major projects worth over GBP 900M. Specialist in JCT, NEC, and FIDIC contract administration, BOQ preparation, and final account settlement. Delivered GBP 4M in value-engineering savings across infrastructure and high-rise packages.
Quantity surveyor CVs need a clear commercial track record: package values managed, cost savings delivered, and the contract forms you worked under. Lead with chartered status (MRICS) if you have it, and name your flagship projects. Quantify everything. "Managed a GBP 180M facade package" beats "responsible for cost control".
BOQ preparation, quantity take-off, cost estimating, cost control and forecasting, tender and commercial analysis, variation valuation, interim payment applications, contract administration (JCT, NEC, FIDIC), and your software (CostX, Cubicost, Primavera P6, advanced Excel). Match the skills to the advert, not to a generic list.
Listing duties instead of results. A QS CV that says "prepared BOQs and valuations" tells a recruiter nothing. Give the value, the saving, the claim settled, the variance protected. Also avoid hiding chartered status at the bottom, because recruiters screen for MRICS first.
Two pages maximum. Put MRICS and your main contract forms near the top. Use a projects line per role with project name, value, contract form, and your scope. Keep a tight skills block with software. If you worked on a flagship project, say so in the summary.
Figures in USD. Ranges reflect mid-level experience (3–7 years). Senior roles and major metro areas typically sit at the top of these bands.
Cost consultancies and client-side teams (Turner & Townsend, Gardiner & Theobald, Currie & Brown, AECOM) want RICS chartered status front and centre, plus contract experience (JCT, NEC, FIDIC) and named projects. Main contractors (Mace, Balfour Beatty, Laing O'Rourke, Kier) care more about package value managed, procurement speed, and how cleanly you settle final accounts. Always put the contract form you worked under and the software you use day to day.
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