Project Financial Control And Reporting Flashcards

1
Q

You mentioned you are responsible for cost reporting to the client. Please talk me through how you would produce a cost report and how this would be presented to the client.

A

Set up meeting to go through key client objectives. This would include:

  • benefits
  • timescales
  • packages to use
  • cashflow
  • arrangement of changes
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2
Q

How do you produce the cashflows on your project and why is this helpful to the client… What do they use it for?

A

I use the programme and the cost plan to determine each packages value and time taken. I then input this to software to establish the cashflow amounts.

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3
Q

How did you calculate loss and expense on Tolworth?

A

Relevant Matter has occured

Assess the heads of claims

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4
Q

What risks did you price on Tolworth and how did you price these?

A

Inert, Non Haz, Hazardous materials from breaking out the slabs
Phase 2 slabs
Japanese Knotweed

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5
Q

What is the purpose of cost reporting?

A
  • To record all known costs which can be accurately valued
  • To report all costs which are known and can be estimated at the date of the report
  • To forecast costs as can reasonably be foreseen at the date of the report
  • risk allowances necessary as can be reasonably foreseen at the date of the report.
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6
Q

How is Final outturn cost controlled by cost reporting?

A

Outturn cost is controlled by the recognition of cost changes incurred and planned implementation of future cost changes.

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7
Q

What are variable costs?

A
Provisional sums
Risk
Loss and expense
Liquidated damages
Variations
Prime cost sums
Re-measurable contracts
Anticipated instructions
Fluctuations
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8
Q

What is good cost reporting?

A
  • Always accurately track cost and changes
  • Communicate changes effectively as and when required
  • Keep a rolling final account
  • Good cost report document to keep client informed
  • Good relationship with contractor
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9
Q

What is cost control?

A

The process of valuing and manging changes. To ensure the project is delivered at the right price.

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10
Q

Would you issue a final payment certificate?

A

You should never issue a final payment certificate as this would mean you cannot claim for latent defects.

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11
Q

When is the final account produced?

A

Contractor must submit information within 3 months of PC. If they do not, you will need to prepare this and give notice you will do it.

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12
Q

On your projects, why was it important that the contingency pot was only used for risks which there was no provision for?

A

This is because these risks already have a provision in the contract and using the contingency would not be necessary. All costs which can be foreseen should have a provision within the contract.

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13
Q

What are the contents of a monthly cost report?

A
Lump sum contracts
• contract sum
• adjustment of variable costs
• adjustment of variations
• adjustment of fluctuations
• claims for loss and/or expense; and
• adjustment of risk allowances.
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14
Q

Are there any costs you would exclude from a cost report?

A

If it is a construction cost report i would exclude professional fees, 3rd party costs, land costs, agency costs, finance cost and legal fees.

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15
Q

On the basis that most clients don’t want to read a whole report, what do you convey in the Executive Summary?

A

Budget, forecast cost, risk, approved changes, unapproved canges, provisional sums, cashflow

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16
Q

Would you include contractor claims in your cost report? What about loss and expense and LDs?

A

Yes these would be listed under the unapproved variations until they have been approved.

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17
Q

How have you controlled costs in the design stages of a project?

A

Change control and showed differences using precontract cost trackers.
Order of Cost Estimates
Cost Plans

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18
Q

What is the purpose of a cashflow? Who produces one and how?

A

For client:

  • To monitor progress against agreed programme
  • To be able to monitor loan payments and withdrawing money from funder
  • To manage resources

For contractor:

  • To monitor subcontractor’s progress against subcontractors
  • To manage resources
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19
Q

What change control procedures have you implemented?

How did they work?

A

Agreement of CC procedure with client
EA raises ECR / Contractor notifies of change
EA requests quotation (to be submitted within 14 days)
Contractor submits cost
QS assess and agree
EA instructs

20
Q

How do you deal with provisional sums in a cost report?

A

Provisional sums are recorded separately to other packages in terms of package value, purchase orders and spend to date.

21
Q

If a client suggests there is an error in the Cost Report – how would you go about resolving the problem?

A

I would clarify what the error is with the client and then do an inspection of the error. If i find that the client is correct, I will apologize and rectify the error. I will also let the client know of my complaints handling procedure.

22
Q

What is the general risk allowance method?

A

The balance of remaining risk allowance should be maintained throughout the remainder of the project.

23
Q

How did you deal with contractor’s claims in your cost report?

A

These should be treated as unapproved changes until they have been assessed for scope and cost.

24
Q

How would you prepare a final account?

A
  • Check the contract procedures for final account including the timescales.
  • Ensure to resolve all the variable costs (changes, loss and expense, liquidated damages, prime costs, dayworks, provisional sums).
  • If there are any disputes which cant be resolved in any other way, the statutory obligation is to go to adjudication.
25
Q

How do you deal with verbal instructions on JCT (including timescales)?

A

The contractor must confirm the client’s EA team within 7 days of stating the change. The EA must then dissent from the change or it will take place.

26
Q

What are the requirements for the FA on SBC and D&B?

A

6 months Con to submit
3 months to assess

If Contractor doesn’t QS to prepare

27
Q

Who has ownership of the contingency?

A

Although I manage the client contingency the client ultimately has ownership

28
Q

Would you use the contingency pot on variations?

A

I would always seek approval by the client in writing

29
Q

How to control costs pre and post contract?

A

PRE

  • Cost Plans
  • Value Management
  • Cost Tracking

POST

  • Cost Reports
  • Valuations
30
Q

What would you do if your client didn’t want a cost report?

A

Explain the benefits of a cost report

Carry out my own cost report to monitor costs for my own benefit

31
Q

What would you do if your project was over budget?

A

Seek cost saving exercises
Ask the Contractor to seek cost savings in design
Request additional funding

32
Q

What would you advise your client if your behind on a cashflow?

A

Behind on programme
Resequencing of work
Weather
Sourcing of subbies

33
Q

What is ISO 9001?

A

The standard is used by organizations to demonstrate their ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements and to demonstrate continuous improvement.

34
Q

What if your contractor are overclaiming on their valuations and against their cashflow?

A

It could show:

  • poor cashflow of contractor
  • financial concerns to recoup cash
35
Q

How are unapproved changes (risks) dealt with?

A

Included in the Cost Report as “Anticipated Change” to reflect on the potential outturn cost

36
Q

What was your role of the change control?

A

PM / CA agreed change control

To agree variation and report

37
Q

How was your cost reporting protocol agreed?

A

TBC

38
Q

How can you prepare a cashflow?

A

PRE
Programme vs Anticipated Cost

Post
Programme vs Contract value
Contractors cashflow

39
Q

What are the uses for a cashflow?

A

Help client understand drawdowns
Help track progress
Help contractors understand cash and to reinvest
Helps client to obtain loan and bank to monitor progress

40
Q

What is your cost control procedure during the design phase?

A

Agree cost control procedure and communicate w/project team
Designer to submit CRF
Advise client of cost
Client sign off

41
Q

What are some appendices to your CR?

A

Change control log

Risk log

42
Q

What is included on the CRF?

A

Project, Date, and Issuer
Cost implications (MAX)
Programme implications
Approval from client

43
Q

What is a PC Sum?

A

This is a cost included in the tender / pricing document for the supply only rate of a material

44
Q

What is in the Cost Reporting guidance note?

A
Purpose of CR 
Contents of a CR 
Establishing a budget
Reporting on contingencies
CR Example
45
Q

What is included in a project cost report?

A

More of a holistic view of costs on the project including:

Construction Cost
Professional Fees
Stats 
Third Party Fees
Land Fees
Agency Fee
Legal Fees
46
Q

What is a defined provisional sum?

A

Means a sum of money set aside to carry out work that cannot be described and given in quantified items in accordance with the tabulated rules of measurement.

47
Q

What is an undefined provisional sum?

A

Means a sum provided for work that is not completely designed, but for which the information required for a defined provisional sum cannot be provided