Manager Audit Operations (construction Contract Compliance)

Manager Audit Operations (Construction Contract Compliance)

The Manager, Audit Operations (Construction Contract Compliance) provides day-to-day supervision and direction to a construction audit team focused on contract compliance and cost control for large capital projects. This role ensures that all audit activities are executed consistently and accurately, with strong adherence to Cotiviti methodology, client expectations, and construction industry standards. The ideal candidate is an accomplished, results-driven leader with deep experience in construction contract auditing, including AIA billing formats, job-cost reconciliation, GMP/CMAR contract structures, subcontract auditing, insurance cost validation, landlord/developer cost audits, bid leveling, and forensic evaluation of cost support. This role manages staffing assignments, oversees workload distribution, ensures quality control, and drives profitable audit outcomes. This is a U.S.-based hybrid role with periodic travel to construction sites as needed (up to ~20%).

Responsibilities:

Analytics:

Perform complex financial and operational analyses of construction project documentation, including schedules of values, cost reports, change orders, buyout logs, labor productivity, and subcontractor payment applications.

Identify cost variances, risk indicators, and contract non-compliance; synthesize findings and communicate insights to audit leadership and clients.

Client Relations:

Lead and review detailed construction audits to ensure adherence to AIA billing standards (G702/G703), GMP/CMAR contract terms, unit-price schedules, cost-plus agreements, allowances, and budget constraints.

Validate billed costs across labor, equipment, material, subcontractor, and general condition categories; identify billing errors, non-allowable costs, and recovery opportunities.

Construction Technical Expertise:

Candidate must have substantial hands-on experience with:

AIA billing formats and identifying anomalies or unsupported line items.

Construction management software: Procore, Procure, Autodesk Build/BIM 360, Textura, CMiC, e-Builder, or comparable platforms.

Document management tools: Bluebeam Revu for markup/measurement/version control.

Insurance review, including GL, Builders Risk, OCIP/CCIP, and Workers' Compensation policies, and validating allowable insurance billings.

Subcontract audits: TandM validations, change orders, negotiated buyouts, back-charges.

Job cost reconciliations across committed costs, actuals, payments, and cost-to-complete.

Auditing GMP and CMAR contracts, including contingencies, fee caps, shared savings, self-perform costs, and general conditions.

Developer and landlord audits: land acquisition, soft costs, carrying costs (interest and equity), lease costs, and TI allowances.

Completed project audits, including final cost reconciliation and closeout review.

Monthly pay application reviews, including stored materials, retainage, percent-complete validation, and subcontractor compliance.

Bid process evaluation and bid leveling, including how bid assumptions drive contract structure and audit risk areas.

Claim settlement experience, including negotiation between owners, contractors, and developers.

Experience collaborating with legal counsel for arbitration/litigation preparation is a plus.

Procurement and Supply Chain:

Audit material purchases and subcontractor billings for proper procurement, pricing, and compliance with contractual terms.

Assess buyout savings, escalation charges, rental rates, and service procurements; recommend improvements to strengthen...