Commercial Assistant / Estimator in Bury

Job Description

Excellent opportunity for a Commercial Assistant / Estimator to join a leading construction company based in Bury St Edmunds.

Salary: Negotiable

Location: Bury St Edmunds head office with multi-site travel

Job Type: Full Time Permanent

Reports to: Company Director

Benefits

• Competitive salary. Pension scheme, healthcare, annual leave

The Company

They provide professional building services across Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, and across the region. As award-winning building contractors, they combine traditional craftsmanship with modern techniques to deliver exceptional results on every project. They are a team of passionate craftspeople committed to creating and restoring beautiful buildings and preserving our heritage for future .From new builds and extensions to heritage restorations, they handle projects of all sizes with precision and care. They are a rapidly growing company, and committed to recruiting talented, experienced and dedicated professionals.

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Construction & Site Surveying

• Site Inspections: Conduct thorough physical site surveys and inspections of historic buildings to assess existing conditions, access constraints, and structural layouts before pricing.
• Defect Identification: Identify visible and potential hidden defects, structural decay, and fabric issues characteristic of heritage buildings to ensure accurate risk pricing.
• Tender Preparation: Analise site survey findings alongside drawings, specifications, and schedules of works to produce precise, competitive tenders.
• Detailed Take-Offs: Perform precise measured take-offs from both physical site dimensions and design drawings for bespoke, high-end, and historical elements.
• Supply Chain Engagement: Coordinate site visits for specialist subcontractors (e.g., stonemasons, lime plasterers) to secure accurate, project-specific quotes.

Post-Contract & Quantity Surveying

• Cost Management: Administer contracts (e.g., JCT) and maintain robust cost planning, budgeting, and financial reporting throughout the project lifecycle.
• Subcontractor Accounts: Manage the commercial aspects of subcontractor accounts, including processing payments and agreeing final accounts.
• Cash Flow & Reporting: Forecast costs, prepare monthly Cost value reconciliation (CVR) reports, and assist with smooth project handovers.
• Cost Control & Budgeting: Monitoring ongoing project expenditures in real-time, handling cost-value reconciliations (CVR), and executing value engineering to optimize costs.
• Invoicing & Billing: Generate, verify, and raise project invoices accurately based on completed on-site milestones.
• Variations: Track and price project variations and handle interim payment applications.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Heritage Experience: Some experience successfully estimating, surveying, and managing costs within the heritage or conservation sector.
• Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of traditional building techniques, sympathetic material sourcing, historic structural repairs, and building defects.
• Surveying Skills: Proven ability to accurately measure and survey existing historic buildings manually and using digital tools.
• Commercial Acumen: Degree or HNC/HND in Quantity Surveying, Estimating, or Construction Management (desirable).
• Travel Requirements: Full UK driving license and willingness to travel to various project sites as required

The employer fully supports Equality in Employment. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit and business need.

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