This expert's task involves determining the cost of a new project, product, service or facility (whether a building or a piece of infrastructure) and analysing its components. It requires good analytical accounting skills and experience with the relevant IT tools (specialised cost-benefit analysis software).

• Prepare an itemised breakdown of the parts of the good or service that must be produced internally within the company or externally.
• Analyse the cost of purchasing them (call potential suppliers to find out).
• Analyse the cost of producing the goods or services within the company: study each of the steps required for internal manufacturing, from the design phase to production. To this effect, draw up schedules and timescales (for example, for the design phase, bearing in mind not only the time involved in designing per se, but also the time required by trial and error tests and reworking designs), define learning and life cycle curves (usually, the more a product is manufactured, the less it should cost to make), calculate the resources required for production (workforce, machinery) and determine how much they cost. This phase of work is carried out in conjunction with the the company's industrial engineers. Other costs that must be determined also include those relating to software (software development is increasingly expensive and extremely difficult to calculate); for this reason, there are cost estimators who specialise exclusively in this area.
• Once the internal production or external purchasing costs have been determined, cost estimation experts must decided which of the two options is the most cost-effective for the company.
• The bulk of this work is done using computers, which are extremely useful for producing calculations and estimations and minimise a routine and repetitive part of the role.

• When a site is suggested for a new construction project, it is necessary to ascertain whether it has all of the general facilities required (gas, electricity, water, drainage, communications, telephone line, etc.) or whether these will need to be requested.
• Analyse the topography of the site and the difficulties for building on it.
• Define the cost of the construction project: materials, machinery, workforce, the elements, insurances, taxes, etc. This is an extremely specialised roles and, in the case of big construction companies, or consulting and engneering firms, these professionals may specialised in particular areas of the construction phases.
• Once the cost estimate has been finalised, provide information and define the criteria for determining the case for carrying out the project in question (at least in the conditions set up to that point).

Regulated training and graduates

• Certificat de Professionalitat de la Família Edificació i Obra Civil: Control de projectes i obres de construcció (Nivell 3)
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Building and Civil Engineering Works - Advanced Level: Construction projects
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Building and Civil Engineering Works - Advanced Level: Building projects, renovation and restoration professional profile
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Building and Civil Engineering Works - Advanced Level: Civil engineernig projects
• Grau: Administració d'empreses i gestió de la innovació
• Grau: Administració i direcció d'empreses
• Grau: Economia
• Grau: Economia i gestió
• Grau: Ciències empresarials-management
• Grau: Comptabilitat i finances
• Grau: Arquitectura
• Grau: Arquitectura tècnica
• Grau: Enginyeria civil
• Grau: Enginyeria d'obres públiques
• Grau: Arquitectura tècnica i edificació

Complementary training

Other specific skills

Analytical thought: Level 3

Concern for order and quality: Level 2

Communication: Level 2

Orientation within reach: Level 3

Strategic orientation: Level 2

Planning and organisation: Level 2

Management

The organisation, administration and control of a company or entity are the main interests of people related to the management field. Activities included in this field of interest vary from effective resource management, feasibility analyses and solving business problems to the development of skills and fostering of motivation in relation to human resources. Knowledge regarding specific techniques of strategic administration and business management are required to carry out these activities.

Logistics

The planning, organisation, control and carrying out of logistics and administrative tasks are the focus of people who work in the field of logistics. Activities in the field of logistics include the organisation and planning of supply, storage, production and distribution systems, taking inventories, controlling stock and estimating production, as well as the organisation and/or carrying out of the administrative tasks necessary for the implementation of these activities. Knowledge of organisation, control and management techniques is essential for carrying out these activities.

Stock market trader

Actuary

Treasury manager

Auditor specialised in finance

Risk Analyst

• Work hours

  Full eight-hour working day.

• Salary

  Their salary is highly variable and based on their level of experience, knowledge and the size of the company for which they work. It normally ranges from 28,000 to 80,100 euros a year gross.

• Professional category

  Technician

• Human resources and equipment

  The human resources required to set up a consulting firm or agency to work in the field of cost estimation are: specialised staff (senior or junior) and the material resources needed to carry out the work (it is essential to have appropriate computer resources).

• Initial investments

  The investment that must be made (as a self-employed worker) is the cost of the computer equipment and transport. If you are self-employed and have established a consulting firm or agency, the investment required relates to the setting up of a business with some sort of infrastructure (premises, workers, computer and support system).