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Control Account Manager

Control Account Manager (CAM)

EVM Terms Reviewed by forProject Technology - updated Sep 2026
Quick definition: The Control Account Manager (CAM) is the individual directly responsible for managing a Control Account, including its scope, schedule, cost, and technical performance.

The CAM owns and takes responsibility for the Control Account's authorized budget, its Budget at Completion (BAC). The CAM plans the work within the Control Account, breaking it into Work Packages and Planning Packages, and manages the people and other resources needed to do it. As work is performed, the CAM tracks progress against the plan, explains significant Cost or Schedule Variances, and prepares the Estimate to Complete (ETC) for the remaining work. Most projects have several CAMs, each responsible for one or more Control Accounts.

What this means for you

Assigning one person integrated responsibility for a Control Account's scope, schedule, and cost puts accountability with someone close to the work. Because the CAM sees how those areas affect one another, they can make informed tradeoffs among them and deal with problems early, before they affect the wider project.

Also known as
N/A
Used in
Responsibility Assignment Matrix

FAQ

Does the CAM personally do the work in the Control Account?
No. The CAM plans and manages the work, but it's usually done by others, often from several departments or disciplines.
How is a CAM selected on a project?
CAMs are selected based on their ability to effectively manage the scope, schedule, cost, and resources of their assigned Control Accounts.
Definition maintained by forProject Technology.
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