Proper
cost accounting and financial management are essential elements of any
successful construction job, and therefore make up essential skills for
construction project managers and project engineers. Many textbooks on
the market focus on the theoretical principles of accounting and finance
required for head office staff like the chief financial officer (CFO)
of a construction firm. This book's unique practical approach focuses on
the activities of the construction management team, including the
project manager, superintendent, project engineer, and jobsite cost
engineers and cost accountants. In short, this book provides a seamless
connection between cost accounting and construction project management
from the construction management practitioner’s perspective.Following
a complete accounting cycle, from the original estimate through cost
controls to financial close-out, the book makes use of one commercial
construction project case study throughout. It covers key topics like
financial statements, ratios, cost control, earned value, equipment
depreciation, cash flow, and pay requests. But unlike other texts, this
book also covers additional financial responsibilities such as cost
estimates, change orders, and project close-out.
Also
included are more advanced accounting and financial topics such as
supply chain management, activity-based accounting, lean construction
techniques, taxes, and the developer’s pro forma. Each chapter contains
review questions and applied exercises and the book is supplemented with
an eResource with instructor manual, estimates and schedules, further
cases and figures from the book.
This textbook is
ideal for use in all cost accounting and financial management classes on
both undergraduate and graduate level construction management or
construction engineering programs.