Construction Accounting Problems and their Solutions

  • August 25, 2021
  • OHI

The construction industry has been a growing enterprise for the past few years. By determining the efficiency of the projects and the time taken to develop them, we can determine the growth. In recent years, we have seen some technologically advanced projects constructed rapidly. 

The thriving industry depends on three major things; organizations striving for safety, speed of project execution, and paying attention to minute details. These principles have helped the industry to grow exponentially.

Even though things seem to be moving forward, organizations have to deal with many challenges to manage their finances. Accounting for construction companies requires a lot of detailed attention as it is one of the most crucial aspects of management and administration in the business.

The construction industry faces a unique challenge when it comes to accounting management. When developing a project, the organization may incur both direct and indirect charges.

With the various ups and downs involved in the construction arena, the primary focus has been to complete the project according to specifications.

Various issues make construction accounting challenging and can make the project suffer due to these bottlenecks.  In this article, we will go through the challenges construction industries face for accounting management.

Bad Overhead Estimates

Construction projects have various overhead costs like the cost associated with the workforce, material, rent, office space, and equipment. These overheads fluctuate from season to season and job to job due to the ever-changing nature of the construction industry. The problem can create a lot of fluctuation and makes it difficult to determine if the organization is making a profit.

Cost-Accrual Problems

Cash-accrual problems can put your organization in a sump without giving any prior warning. Generally, most construction companies prefer to declare their revenue after the project is done. This can create confusion as you are putting in cash flow for overhead jobs as well. This extra cost can eventually whittle away your profits and provide you with a vague idea of your overall profitability. 

Scope Limitations

We all know that proper planning can lead us on the path to success. But when it comes to the construction industry, even the best-laid plans are subject to uncertainty. Many factors can hamper the speed and planning of a project, like material availability and site conditions. Managing the clients and sticking to your concluded plan can be challenging to handle. To handle this problem, the project managers and accountants need to work in harmony and draw a line that secures the organization’s profits.

Inaccurate Cost Estimates

One of the most challenging things for construction companies is to estimate a precise cost for their projects. You might face a lot of ups and downs in terms of accurate calculations that can increase or decrease your budget cap. The cost of things like materials, pieces of equipment, and labor can vary differently over the completion of your project. 

Solution

To deal with such situations, you need to pay close attention to your finances. But managing your books and looking after your business can be a bit tedious. The best solution is to create a cloud-based management system that includes book-keeping, enterprise planning, and account management.  

When an accounting team manages a construction company, they can make a calculated decision that benefits the company. 

Having software can further boost your management game. Construction software can also ensure that the workers are paid on time. 

The project manager will also be aware of the equipment, tools, and materials being used in the following month and can easily plan the next month’s requirements by avoiding the bottlenecks.

Conclusion

The construction sector has a lot of scope in process enhancements through technology. Managing the finances with an automated system can help improve the efficiency of the business. This will also help you to track your cash flow and manage them fluidly. With all these advancements, you can get an upper hand over the market and its old practices, helping you to grow in the long run.


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