Capital Project Analyst

Location: On-site, Champaign, IL

Make an immediate impact modernizing core manufacturing assets. In this on-site role, you will be the connective tissue between engineering, procurement, and finance, turning project data into decisions that keep critical capital initiatives on budget and on schedule. You will help stand up new projects, forecast spend, flag risks early, and give leaders clear visibility into value creation across an active portfolio.

What you will do:

• Build monthly project snapshots, comparing actuals, commitments, and forecasts, highlight variances, and update estimates to complete in partnership with project managers.
• Translate cost and schedule data into actionable insights for stakeholders, identify trends and risks across scope, schedule, and budget, and recommend course corrections, including support for earned value and cash flow forecasting.
• Partner with finance to connect business case assumptions to project metrics, and routinely report return on invested capital over the multi year horizon.
• Reconcile purchase orders, receipts, invoices, and payments on a regular cadence, resolve discrepancies with accounts payable and vendors, and maintain clean data across systems.
• Set up new projects in enterprise systems, including chart of accounts, fixed asset capitalization support, and closeout activities such as PO cleanup and lessons learned.
• Coordinate purchasing activities, from purchase requests and receipts through delivery, returns, and vendor setup, while tracking equipment and rental costs.
• Track contractor progress and productivity against schedule of values, review weekly and monthly contractor reports, and support on-site safety and KPI reporting.
• Keep complete, audit-ready project files and assist with communications and steering-level presentations.

What you bring:

• Associate’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business, or similar, plus 3 or more years in project accounting or financial analysis within industrial, construction, or manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on experience with purchase orders, accounts payable, project cost tracking, and fixed asset processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, Power BI, and SharePoint, with the ability to present financials clearly to both technical and non-financial audiences.
• Strength in organization, detail, and deadline management, with a proactive mindset and strong communication skills across levels.

Bonus points:

• Exposure to ERP or EAM tools such as SAP, Maximo, Coupa, or similar.
• Familiarity with construction benchmarking, schedule of values, and contractor cost tracking.

Work setting and travel:

• This role is on-site in Champaign, IL, supporting local operations and regional stakeholders, with occasional travel as projects require.

Why this role

Join a growth-minded manufacturer investing in capital upgrades across a multi site footprint. You will report into a capital projects leadership group, collaborate closely with project managers, and gain visibility with finance and operations while shaping how projects are planned, measured, and delivered.

About Blue Signal:  

Blue Signal is an award-winning, executive search firm specializing in various specialties. Our recruiters have a proven track record of placing top-tier talent across industry verticals, with deep expertise in numerous professional services. Learn more at bit.ly/46Gs4yS 

Capital Project Analyst- Decatur, IL 

This is a full-time, exempt-level position. 

Position Summary: 

The Capital Project Analyst compiles data from active capital projects into concise information to allow the project team to effectively complete projects that meet ADM’s objectives. 

This person would be responsible for supporting the Capex Regional Manager and Project Managers with various project management needs in the following areas: Project cost tracking of approved funding versus current project expenditures and spend forecasts, assisting in project setup and management, Procurement, Contractor setup and management, and other general project areas. 

This includes both day-to-day activities and troubleshooting, as well as longer range analysis and planning. 

Essential Job Functions: 

Cost & Schedule Management 

• Reporting and monitoring cost and schedule performance of assigned capital project(s); Develop Capex monthly project progress reports including actuals, commitments, and forecast expenditures, variance analysis and estimates to complete in coordination with the project manager 
• Participate in capital project meetings and work with project engineers regarding financial issues, project cost estimates, and related issues 
• Assist project manager in monitoring and analyzing actual project costs versus budget (in USD and other currencies as applicable) 
• Assist project manager in project schedule monitoring by analyzing actual milestone dates vs baseline schedule deviation including substantial completion date(s) 
• Conduct monthly reconciliations on Purchase Orders, Receipts, Invoices, Payments, and resolve identified discrepancies in the data 
• Analyze project performance data (cost, schedule, and scope) to identify risks, trends, and opportunities; support Earned Value and cash flow forecasting 

Project & Business Analytics 

• Collaborate with business financial analysts, project managers and Capex Commercial Assurance manager to understand the project's business assumptions used in the business case and its correlation to the project’s financial metrics 
• Analyze the project's financial metrics, including costs, revenues, and investment requirements, to assess the expected cash flows and 3 year -ROIC 
• Regularly report ROIC performance to stakeholders, including project sponsors, executives, and finance teams 
• Use financial modeling tools and techniques to assess the potential positive or adverse effects of project delays, cost overruns, or schedule improvements on the project’s cash flows and 3 year -ROIC 
• Provide clear and actionable insights into how project decisions (e.g., scope changes, schedule adjustments, and budget reallocations) impact overall project’s delivery and business value. 
• Highlight risks and opportunities related to the project’s financial metrics, ensuring stakeholders understand the financial implications of project changes 
• Regularly review data hygiene to ensure accuracy of information. Collaborate with various teams to correct data and data procedures 

Project Setup & Management 

• Work with Project Engineers & Global Fixed Assets set up Chart of Accounts 
• Liaison between Project Team, Global Fixed Assets, and Project Controls Team 
• Assist Project Managers with the capitalization, preparation of property ledger, and project close out process (including PO closing) 

Capital Project Procurement 

• Assist with procurement of goods and services, including generating Purchase Requests, entering receipts, follow-up with vendor on estimated delivery dates, coordination, &/or expediting of deliveries, coordinate returns and corrections with vendors, and other duties as assigned 
• Track and follow-up on unpaid bills, rebate credits, process payment over-rider requests, etc. with Accounts Payable as needed 
• Assist the Project Manager in resolving vendor/supplier issues 
• Review &/or resolve discrepancies on invoices or reports (Receipt/Invoice variance approvals, CIP, etc) 
• Work with Procurement on new vendor set up activities including proper documentation, contacting Contractor Services to verify ability to work onsite, and other duties as assigned 
• Work with CapEx Procurement in the scheduling, expediting, and tracking of equipment and material deliveries at the direction of the Project Manager 

Project Contractor Management 

• Assist with tracking and consolidation reporting of construction labor productivity (benchmarking) for CapEx projects 
• Support the creation of contractor schedule of values (cost, progress, labor hours, etc.) against the project's schedule milestones, and review weekly/monthly contractor progress reports against the schedule of values 
• Monitor and report on ADM and contractor equipment rental costs and terms 

Other Capital Project Activities 

• Assist Project team with maintaining complete project files, including contractors, subs, and vendors for the entire duration of the project 
• Assist in the preparation and distribution of project communications 
• Assist with tracking and reporting of project safety statistics for contractors at job site 
• Assist in project closeout activities including entry and management of “Lessons Learned” and development of project KPIs per Capex Requirements 
• Prepare special reports and complete other assignments as directed (i.e., Steerco presentations) 
• Support and promote development and use of ADM &/or industry best practices, ADM Engineering Standards, and ADM Policies 
• Provide administrative support as needed 

Required Qualifications: 

• Fluency in English (or native language fluency in project locations required) 
• Associates degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or a similar field of study and 3+ years experience of project accounting and or financial analysis in a construction industry or manufacturing environment 
• Knowledge or experience with purchase order, accounts payable, project cost tracking, and fixed asset systems 
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with high attention to detail 
• Proficient in the following business applications: Microsoft Office 365 applications, MS Power BI, and Sharepoint 
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills with all levels of management 
• Ability to present financial data in a clear and actionable format for project managers and non-financial stakeholders and be able to translate technical cost issues into business impact 
• Possess self-management skills, including the ability to work successfully in a project focused, diverse global team environment 
• Strong organizational skills, detail-oriented, ability to work under pressure to meet established deadlines; proactive thinker with innovative ideas, dynamic, highly motivated, and results-oriented 

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Experience with SpheraCloud, Maximo, Coupa, SAP, IBM applications or systems 

Working Conditions: 

• The scope of this position will encompass office work in an office environment; some travel may be required 

Excited about this role but don’t think you meet every requirement listed? Studies have shown that applicants may self “select-out” of consideration if they do not meet every posted requirement. We encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this role or another one of our openings. 

ADM requires the successful completion ofabackground check. 

REF:98835BR