Job costing, WIP schedules, and bonding-ready financials for builders and subcontractors who need cash flow clarity without a full-time hire.
Construction is one of the most financially complex industries a CFO can work in. The project-based nature of the work, the timing mismatch between expenses and collections, percentage-of-completion accounting, WIP schedule management, and the critical importance of bonding capacity all require specialized financial expertise that most general-purpose CFOs simply don’t have.
At Delegate CFO, we’ve been working with construction companies, builders, and subcontractors for 20+ years. We understand how construction finances actually work, and we know where the problems show up before they become expensive.
Already looking for a CFO who knows construction? Delegate CFO has worked with builders and subcontractors for 20+ years. Fixed-rate pricing, no long-term contract, and forensic-level oversight built in. Book a free consultation →
Most accounting software and most CFOs are built for businesses that sell products or services with straightforward revenue recognition. Construction doesn’t work that way. A project that takes 12 months to complete, with retainage withheld by the owner, 30 to 60-day pay application cycles, and front-loaded subcontractor obligations creates a cash flow pattern that looks nothing like your income statement.
The financial metrics that matter in construction are industry-specific: your WIP schedule, gross margin by job, over/under billings, job borrowing costs, and bonding capacity. If your financial reporting isn’t built around these metrics, you’re managing your business with incomplete information.
Our approach with construction clients is proactive and tailored. We invest time in understanding your specific jobs, your bidding process, your subcontractor relationships, and your banking and bonding requirements. Here’s what that looks like in practice:
WIP schedule review
We review your WIP with the same rigor a lender or surety applies, catching margin fade before a job is nearly complete.
Job costing and profitability
Gross margin by job and location, over/under billings, and job borrowing costs, so you know which jobs make money while there's still time to act.
Cash flow forecasting
Forward-looking cash models that account for retainage timing, pay application cycles, and subcontractor obligations so you always know where cash is headed.
Bonding and banking support
We prepare the financials your bonding company and lenders need, and manage those relationships so conversations happen on your terms, not in response to a surprise.
Internal controls review
Every engagement includes a forensic accountant review of your controls. For construction, where cash moves quickly across multiple jobs and subcontractors, this level of oversight matters.
Change order tracking
We make sure change orders are documented, priced, and recovered. Unapproved or untracked change orders are one of the most common and preventable sources of margin leakage in construction.
Client 1: WIP reconciliation issue One of our construction clients was using an industry-leading accounting software. The jobs were set up correctly in the system, but there was a disconnect between the WIP schedule and the financial reporting. We identified where the discrepancies were arising and restored accurate monthly financial statements the client could actually use to manage the business.
Client 2: Cash shortage and bidding process A second construction client came to us facing a recurring cash shortage. We identified issues with their WIP schedule and budgeting process. Once corrected, the client could monitor which jobs were heading toward a loss position early enough to either pursue change orders or increase supervision. The enhanced bidding process that came out of this work also helped them establish a true cash reserve for the first time.
Delegate CFO works with construction companies across a range of sizes and specialties including general contractors, specialty trade subcontractors, residential builders, and commercial developers. Our virtual CFO services are delivered fully remotely, so geography is never a barrier.
We offer three different service levels, each with additional a-la-carte services that can be added on, so you only pay for exactly what you want and need.
Your dedicated Virtual CFO partners with you year-round on the decisions that actually move your business forward. You get cash flow forecasting, a rolling 12-month forecast, company-wide KPIs, performance tracking by project and team member, bank relationship management, and up to 6 virtual meetings per month. If you’re making major decisions about growth, hiring, or financing and need a senior financial partner in your corner, this is the right fit.
Your Virtual Controller focuses on the accuracy and reliability of your financial reporting. You get a clean month-end close, GAAP-compliant financial statements, company-wide KPIs, 12-month forecasting, and up to 2 scheduled meetings per month. The right fit if you need stronger financial infrastructure and forward-looking reporting without full CFO-level strategy.
Your Virtual Accounting Manager picks up where your bookkeeper leaves off. We review your books at month-end, adjust to accrual accounting, and produce financial statements you can hand to your banker or shareholders. The right fit if you need a senior review layer over your existing bookkeeping without the cost of a Controller or CFO engagement.
Delegate CFO promises we will never hide our pricing or charge you ‘hourly billing’ rates. Our fees are fixed and based on your company’s specific needs. Our pricing is fixed for 12 months and you are never billed for miscellaneous items.
During our free consultation, we’ll discuss the services your company needs and your personal and professional goals. As an added benefit, all of our meetings are held virtually.
Looking for more detailed information on our virtual CFO charges and service packages?
20+ years working with construction companies
We understand the details and the specific financial challenges your industry faces, not just general small business accounting.
Certified Forensic Accountant oversight on every engagement
Every set of financials is examined through a forensic lens. For construction companies where cash moves quickly across multiple jobs, this level of oversight matters.
Fixed-rate pricing, no hourly billing
You know exactly what you pay each month. No surprise invoices when a project gets complicated.
Direct access to your CFO
You work with one dedicated senior CFO, not a rotating team. The relationship deepens over time because the same person reviewing your WIP in month one is still reviewing it in month twelve.
Month-to-month engagements
Scale up or down as your project volume changes without renegotiating a long-term contract.
A full-time CFO costs $200,000 or more in salary and benefits. Delegate CFO gives you the same strategic financial leadership, WIP oversight, job costing analysis, and bonding-ready financials, at a fixed monthly rate built for growing construction companies.
What you get with Delegate CFO: