How to Use Sage Intacct for Construction Projects
Managing construction projects effectively requires robust financial tools. Sage Intacct construction software offers a powerful solution for contractors and construction firms.
At Devine Consulting, we’ve seen how this cloud-based platform can transform project management and financial oversight. In this post, we’ll explore how to harness Sage Intacct’s features for your construction projects, from setup to best practices.
How Sage Intacct Enhances Construction Project Management
Real-time Financial Insights
Sage Intacct‘s construction-specific features transform project management for contractors and construction firms. The software provides real-time financial reporting and analytics, giving project managers immediate access to critical data. This allows you to access historical WIP data by job and gain real-time insights into project progress and financial health, simplifying complex construction financials.
Precision in Project Cost Tracking
A standout feature is project-specific cost tracking. Sage Intacct breaks down costs by task, phase, or cost code. This detailed approach helps identify budget overruns early and pinpoints areas for improvement. For example, if labor costs exceed expectations in the foundation phase, you can address the issue immediately rather than discovering it at project completion.
Streamlined Multi-entity Management
For construction companies managing multiple projects or operating across different legal entities, Sage Intacct’s multi-entity and multi-currency management proves invaluable. You can consolidate financial data across all your entities in minutes (not days or weeks). This feature particularly benefits companies working on international projects, as it handles currency conversions automatically, saving time and reducing errors.
Efficiency Through Automation
Automated workflows and approvals significantly reduce manual data entry and the risk of human error. You can set up automated invoice approvals based on predefined rules, speeding up the payment process and improving cash flow. This automation extends to purchase orders, expense reports, and other financial processes, allowing your team to focus on more strategic tasks.

Sage Intacct can help improve efficiency by automating AP/AR processes, leading to gains of up to 40% in work efficiency. Additionally, it can streamline month-end close, reducing average month-end close time by up to 50%.
Many construction firms report significant improvements in their project financial management after implementing Sage Intacct. As we move forward, let’s explore how to set up Sage Intacct for your construction business to maximize these benefits.
Setting Up Sage Intacct for Construction Success
Tailoring Your Chart of Accounts
The chart of accounts forms the backbone of your financial management in Sage Intacct. Construction project costs are typically classified into three main categories: materials, labor, and overhead expenses. This detailed approach allows for more accurate job costing and profitability analysis.

Create main categories like ‘Residential Projects’ and ‘Commercial Projects’, with subcategories for different cost types (e.g., ‘Labor’, ‘Materials’, ‘Equipment’). This structure enables you to run reports that compare profitability across different project types or cost categories, providing valuable insights for future bidding and resource allocation.
Crafting Efficient Project Templates
Project templates can significantly reduce setup time for new projects and ensure consistency across your operations. When setting up templates, include standard cost codes, budget line items, and typical project phases.
A residential construction template might include phases like ‘Site Preparation’, ‘Foundation’, ‘Framing’, and ‘Finishing’, each with associated cost codes and budget items. This approach not only saves time but also improves accuracy in estimating and budgeting for future projects.
Implementing Robust Job Costing
Effective job costing is essential for profitable construction project management. Sage Intacct’s job costing features allow you to track costs at a granular level, but the setup is key.
Create a coding structure that aligns with your work breakdown structure (WBS). This might involve using a combination of project codes, cost codes, and cost types. Change requests may consist of one or more lines of changes that are captured using the construction work breakdown structure (Project + Task + Cost Type).
Set up your system to capture both committed costs (like purchase orders) and actual costs. This dual tracking provides a more accurate picture of your project’s financial health and helps prevent cost overruns.
Seamless Software Integration
To maximize Sage Intacct’s power, integration with other construction software is essential. Many construction firms use project management tools like Procore or estimating software like Sage Estimating. Sage Intacct’s open API makes these integrations possible, but careful planning is necessary.
When setting up integrations, focus on maintaining data integrity. Ensure that project codes, cost codes, and other key identifiers are consistent across all systems. Set up regular data syncs – daily syncs for most data, with real-time syncs for critical information like change orders or time entries.
The goal of integration is to create a single source of truth for your project financials. This not only improves accuracy but also saves countless hours that would otherwise be spent on manual data entry and reconciliation.
A thoughtful setup of Sage Intacct lays the groundwork for more efficient, profitable construction project management. Now that we’ve covered the setup process, let’s explore best practices for managing construction projects with Sage Intacct to fully leverage its capabilities.
Maximizing Sage Intacct for Construction Success
Master Change Order Management
Change orders can determine a project’s profitability. Sage Intacct’s change order tracking feature transforms project management when used effectively. Set up automated alerts for budget changes that exceed a specific threshold (e.g., 5% of the original estimate). This proactive approach allows you to address potential issues early.

For a $10 million project with a 5% threshold, an alert would trigger for any change order over $500,000. This system prevents significant changes from slipping through, maintaining tight control over project costs.
Monitor Profitability in Real-time
Sage Intacct’s real-time reporting capabilities enable continuous project profitability assessment. Set up daily profit snapshots for each active project. Include key metrics like earned value, cost performance index (CPI), and schedule performance index (SPI) in these snapshots.
Create a “profitability dashboard” that updates in real-time. This dashboard should display current profit margins, compare them to projected margins, and highlight discrepancies. If your target profit margin is 15%, but the current margin drops to 12%, you’ll know immediately to take corrective action.
Streamline Subcontractor Management
Efficient subcontractor management is essential for project success. Use Sage Intacct’s vendor management features to their full potential. Create a subcontractor scorecard within the system to track metrics like on-time completion rate, budget adherence, and quality of work.
Implement a system where subcontractor invoices automatically match against purchase orders and job progress. This automation can reduce invoice processing time significantly. It also minimizes the risk of overpayment or duplicate payments.
Customize Dashboards for Enhanced Oversight
Use Sage Intacct’s customizable dashboards to create a 360-degree view of your projects. Design role-specific dashboards for project managers, financial controllers, and executives. These dashboards should provide at-a-glance insights into critical project metrics.
For project managers, include widgets showing budget vs. actual costs, upcoming milestones, and resource allocation. Financial controllers might benefit from cash flow forecasts, accounts receivable aging, and profit margin trends. Executive dashboards could focus on overall portfolio performance, risk indicators, and strategic KPIs.
Tailored dashboards ensure that each team member has the most relevant information at their fingertips, enabling faster and more informed decision-making.
Continuous Improvement and Refinement
The key to success with Sage Intacct lies in continuous refinement of these practices. Review and adjust your processes regularly to ensure you’re getting the most out of this powerful tool.
Try to implement these best practices with Sage Intacct (or a similar solution from a trusted provider like Devine Consulting) to significantly improve project management efficiency and financial performance. By streamlining construction accounting with effective processes, you can boost efficiency, accuracy, and profitability in your construction business.
Final Thoughts
Sage Intacct Construction revolutionizes construction project management with its real-time financial reporting, precise cost tracking, and automated workflows. These features enhance efficiency and accuracy in construction accounting, allowing firms to streamline operations and improve decision-making. The proper setup and adherence to best practices maximize the benefits of this powerful platform, forming the foundation for successful project management.

The construction industry evolves rapidly, and Sage Intacct Construction adapts to these changes through its cloud-based nature and regular updates. This ensures construction firms have access to cutting-edge financial management tools that keep pace with emerging technologies and methodologies. As the industry becomes more complex, leveraging advanced tools like Sage Intacct Construction positions firms for success in an increasingly competitive landscape.
Devine Consulting offers comprehensive accounting solutions that complement the power of Sage Intacct Construction. We help businesses implement and optimize their use of this platform (ensuring they can focus on core operations while achieving financial stability). Our expertise in construction financial management, combined with Sage Intacct’s capabilities, provides a solid foundation for construction firms to thrive in today’s dynamic environment.