This unit of competency supports the needs of builders, senior managers in building and construction firms, and other construction industry personnel responsible for monitoring building or construction costing systems for medium rise building and construction projects.

Nil

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Supervise the identification and classification of project costs.

1.1. Staff members are supervised in their identification of building or construction costs and accurate estimates are made from project schedules.

1.2. Definitive cost estimates are accurately translated into the correct cost centres appropriate to contract requirements.

1.3. Cost centres are correctly identified and incorporated into a planned project cost network.

1.4. Risk assessment is undertaken and estimated cost is compared with estimated risk.

1.5. Planning ensures compliance with relevant codes of practice, standards and legislative requirements.

2. Manage the preparation of a schedule of project expenditure.

2.1. Draft schedules of project expenditure are prepared with critical points identified.

2.2. Expenditure schedules are prepared using organisational processes, and hard copies are produced.

2.3. Critical financial phases of the project are identified and cash flows are matched to expenditure.

3. Prepare curves showing projected cash flow and payments.

3.1. Interim payment claims and rise and fall calculations are prepared for the contractor and subcontractors.

3.2. Projected S curve is prepared to show cash flow and resource control.

3.3. Projected cash flow and payments using time risk and cost risk are prepared and compared.

3.4. Cash flows using early start and late finish for pessimistic or optimistic outcomes are compared.

3.5. Pessimistic overdraft requirements are calculated.

4. Maintain continuous checks on expenditure and evaluate outcomes.

4.1. Cash flow and creditor payments are monitored daily.

4.2. Budget cost of the network is compared to actual costs in the tender calculations.

4.3. Rise and fall clause calculations are undertaken and financial controller is advised of variations.

4.4. Reasons for any cost variations are analysed and identified.

4.5. Remedial action is taken and recorded as necessary to retain contract financial compliance.

5. Prepare final cost report.

5.1. Actual costs are compared with estimates at the completion of the job and a report is compiled detailing future actions.

5.2. Organisational rates are adjusted as required, based on the final cost report and current movements in prices and rates.

Required skills

Required skills for this unit are:

account keeping skills to identify cost centres and monitor cash flows

analysis and interpretation skills to undertake financial risk assessments

communication skills to:

enable clear and direct communication, using questioning to identify and confirm requirements, share information, listen and understand

read and interpret documentation from a variety of sources

supervise staff members

use and interpret non-verbal communication

use language and concepts appropriate to cultural differences

written skills to prepare draft schedules of project expenditure and final cost reports

management skills, including the ability to supervise staff

numeracy skills to perform complex financial calculations

preparation of schedules of expenditure and expenditure projections.

Required knowledge

Required knowledge for this unit is:

advanced estimating and costing systems used in the building and construction industry

expenditure evaluation methods

financial principles and cash flows

project financial processes and timelines

relevant licensing arrangements

relevant standards, codes of practice and legislation for medium rise construction projects

variations in rates occurring through rise and fall clauses and their effects.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

This unit of competency could be assessed by the effective monitoring of a building or construction costing system.

This unit of competency can be assessed in the workplace or a close simulation of the workplace environment, provided that simulated or project-based assessment techniques fully replicate construction workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the ability to:

monitor and supervise staff who develop and consolidate costing data for Class 2 to 9 Type A building and construction projects

compare the extent and effectiveness of actual versus estimated costs and the production of schedules of expenditure

produce efficient and punctual financial data in the form required by the organisation

plan and continuously revise the schedules of payments and cash flows to match contract performance and efficiency.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This competency is to be assessed using standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints.

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge will usually be conducted in an off-site context.

Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards' requirements.

Resource implications for assessment include:

documentation that would support building or construction costing systems for a building or construction office

relevant codes, standards and regulations

office equipment, including calculators, photocopiers and telephone systems

computers with appropriate software to view 2-D CAD drawings, run costing programs and print copies

a technical reference library with current publications on measurement, design, building construction and manufacturers' product literature

a suitable work area appropriate to the monitoring process

copies of appropriate awards and workplace agreements.

Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must:

satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package

include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application

reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles

confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:

competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace

where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice, with a decision on competency only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's demonstrated ability and applied knowledge

all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence.

Assessment processes and techniques should as far as is practical take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.

Supplementary evidence of competency may be obtained from relevant authenticated documentation from third parties, such as existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Identification of building or construction costs includes:

human resource costs, including direct employees' and subcontractors' rates

materials, such as sand, aggregate, bitumen, concrete, bricks, roofing and reinforcing

overhead costs, including administration support, power, lighting, accommodation and rent

plant and equipment purchase or lease and operating costs

relevant codes, standards and legislation

site services, such as temporary power, lighting and water

specialist services, such as surveying, architectural, testing and legal

temporary accommodation and shelter, including sheds, site offices and toilets.

Schedules of project expenditure include:

consumables, such as fuel and lubricants, electric power and water

costs of pre-cast and on-site production of concrete components

labour costs against estimated costs

labour hours consumed against estimates

materials

supplies, such as timber and building materials.

Projected cash flow and payments include:

progress payments in for work completed

progress payments out for work undertaken

progress payments for supplies and materials

penalties

wages and salaries

insurances, including workers' compensation premiums.

Final cost report includes:

cost-benefit analyses of overtime payments

detailed summaries of actual costs against estimates

details of cost over-runs and savings on labour and contracting out

details of savings or under-expenditure on materials or supplies

equipment performance information and efficiencies.

Unit sector

Construction

Nil

This unit contains employability skills.