The Controller's Sketchbook

A Finance and Accounting Guide for A|E Firms

About The Book

The Controller’s Sketchbook is a resource for the Controller and CFO of an architectural and engineering firm covering Accounting, Taxes, Finances, Project, Business and Risk Management, and Firm Valuation.

This book rises above the information you Google—though there is plenty of that. The Controller’s Sketchbook conveys the nuanced expertise and understanding that only 100,000 hours of conducting business in the A/E industry can bring you.

In the Accounting for A/E firms section, a sample chart of accounts and a complete set of financial statements are included to help the reader better comprehend the general journal transactions and their effects. Best Practice Tips derived from real-life experiences add significant value to the materials being presented. Additionally, the government accounting section includes a Schedule of Direct Labor, Fringe Benefits, and General Overhead.

The Management sections outline a basic understanding of the Controller's role in project, marketing, risk, and business management. These sections also demonstrate the value the Controller can contribute to these areas of the firm, enhancing their position and career.

Firm transition sections discuss the value drivers necessary for a firm to position itself as an ongoing entity, whether that transition be internal or external.

Now in its 2nd edition, the Sketchbook serves as a comprehensive finance guide, featuring updates on benefit limits and addressing the latest laws and regulations on FLSA and the Secure Act.

Meet The Author

The Controller’s Sketchbook, A Finance and Accounting Guide for the A|E Firm 2nd Edition

Deborah is a CPA, management consultant, author, and lecturer with 40 years of experience in the architecture, engineering, construction, and land surveying industries. She has worked in both large and small firms, helping to grow them and improve their bottom line through solid practice management in technical organizations. As a consultant and owner of Profit by Design, LLC, Deborah has provided accounting for A|E firms and systems support for Deltek Vision products to over 100 clients. She has also established project management and financial systems to support the implementation of accounting software, and her expertise is encapsulated in her insightful finance guide. Deborah has spoken before organizations such as SDA, AIA, IFMA, NSPE, AIA Virginia, ACEC, and NSPS, and she developed SDA’s practice management course, BizTrak, which serves as a controller's sketchbook for many professionals. Currently, she provides accounting and business acumen to her favorite non-profit organizations and enhances business practices in small A|E firms. Deborah holds a B.A. from the University of Mary Washington and is a licensed CPA in Virginia.

Smiling woman with glasses and short blonde hair.

Author: Deborah A. Gill, CPA FSDA

Book Reviews & Endorsements

June Jewell, CPA, AEC industry expert and Author of “Find the Lost Dollars” and “RAISE your Value”

The author has captured the essence and nuances of accounting for A/E firms in her work. As she states in the Preface, there are several books written about the business and project management aspects of these firms aimed at increasing profitability; “this finance guide is written for the back-office business or Financial Manager to help the management accountant create the financial statements executive management uses and explain where the numbers come from.” With practical and industry-specific examples—along with a uniform case study of financial statements that ties many concepts together—the author covers the main topics critical for any A/E finance professional including: Principles of Accounting, Financial Statements, Key Performance Indicators, Cost Accounting, Internal Controls, Taxes, Audits, Budgeting, Payroll including Benefits, Project, Business, and Risk Management. The final section on firm transition brings all of the preceding processes and practices into focus by emphasizing the building of firm value and its transition potential, reminiscent of a controller's sketchbook.

Sarah Wallace, FSDA, LEED Green Associate Controller, Choate + Hertlein Architects

Finally, someone has taken the time to document all the many aspects that impact a Controller’s position in the A/E industry! In a world where A/E administrators are “doing more with less,” Deborah Gill has created a valuable resource known as the Controller's Sketchbook. This finance guide is filled with insightful knowledge tailored for accounting for A/E firms, designed to help every reader improve their financial acumen and proficiency, ultimately increasing their firm’s profitability.

Tony Casey, AIA, Senior Principal of Intergroup Architects

Sarah Wallace, FSDA, LEED Green Associate Controller, Choate + Hertlein Architects

I was highly impressed with "The Controller's Sketchbook" by Deborah Gill. In her finance guide, Deborah teaches valuable lessons in accounting for A|E firms, specifically tailored for Architects and Engineers. As an Architect and Senior Principal of a small design firm, I thoroughly enjoyed studying her insights. I wholeheartedly support her mission to train Architects and Engineers around the world! I confidently recommend "The Controller's Sketchbook," knowing it will inspire you to become a better Architect or Engineer.

Contact The Author

The CONTROLLER’S SKETCHBOOK A Finance and Accounting Guide for the A|E Firm 2nd Edition

By Deborah A Gill, CPA FSDA

www.controllersketchbook.net

www.profitbydesignllc.net

Deborah.Gill@profitbydesignllc.net

Printed in the United States of America

Edited by: Robert Weinstein

Cover and Book Design by Cheakina of Fiverr

This finance guide is designed to assist professionals in accounting for A|E firms, featuring insights from the controller's sketchbook.

Library of Congress Control Number:

ISBN 979-8-9869641-0-2

The CONTROLLER’S SKETCHBOOK
A Finance and Accounting Guide for the A|E Firm

The Controller's Sketchbook

The Controller's Sketchbook

A Finance and Accounting Guide for A|E Firms

A Finance and Accounting Guide for A|E Firms

About The Book

The Controller’s Sketchbook is a resource for the Controller and CFO of an architectural and engineering firm covering Accounting, Taxes, Finances, Project, Business and Risk Management, and Firm Valuation.

Meet The Author

The Controller’s Sketchbook, A Finance and Accounting Guide for the A|E Firm 2nd Edition

Chapter 5 Excerpt

Book Reviews & Endorsements

June Jewell, CPA, AEC industry expert and Author of “Find the Lost Dollars” and “RAISE your Value”

Sarah Wallace, FSDA, LEED Green Associate Controller, Choate + Hertlein Architects

Sarah Wallace, FSDA, LEED Green Associate Controller, Choate + Hertlein Architects

Sarah Wallace, FSDA, LEED Green Associate Controller, Choate + Hertlein Architects

Tony Casey, AIA, Senior Principal of Intergroup Architects

Sarah Wallace, FSDA, LEED Green Associate Controller, Choate + Hertlein Architects

Sarah Wallace, FSDA, LEED Green Associate Controller, Choate + Hertlein Architects

Terri Wilton, CDFA, BSBA, Business Manager, Carlisle Associates

Preview the Table of Contents

Contact The Author

The CONTROLLER’S SKETCHBOOK A Finance and Accounting Guide for the A|E Firm 2nd Edition

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