Full Sail Partners Blog | Theresa Bowe

As your firm gears up for 2026, now’s the time to make sure your data isn’t just collected — it’s connected.

This blog is part of Navigate November: Get Ready for 2026!, our five-part series designed to help project-based firms perform their own mini Navigational Analysis and ensure their Deltek Vantagepoint system is ready for the year ahead.

In this installment, Senior Consultant Theresa Bowe explores how Deltek Vantagepoint Dashboards give firm leaders the complete visibility they need to make confident, informed decisions. When pipeline, contract, and planning data come together in one place, you don’t just get numbers — you get clarity, accountability, and a clear path forward.

In the professional services industry, leaders cannot afford to make decisions based on outdated reports, siloed spreadsheets, or disconnected systems. Growth, profitability, and operational success depend on complete visibility across the entire project and business lifecycle—from identifying opportunities to winning contracts to planning work and delivering results.

Deltek Vantagepoint Dashboards provide that full picture, transforming raw data into actionable intelligence. When pipeline, contract performance, resource planning, and financial metrics are all visible in one place, firm leaders gain clarity, accountability, and confidence in every decision they make.

Breaking Down Silos with Connected Dashboards

Traditionally, business development, project management, and resource planning teams operate using separate tools or data sources. As a result, executives often struggle to answer critical questions such as:

• Do we have enough pipeline to sustain our revenue goals?
• Are our ongoing projects performing to budget and margin expectations?
• Do we have the right resources available to deliver upcoming work?

Vantagepoint Dashboards break these silos by consolidating data into intuitive visualizations that reflect real-time firm performance. Dashboards provide a single source of truth that enables leaders to proactively identify risks, spot opportunities, and assign accountability across departments.

Learn how to build role-based views with calculated fields and conditional formatting in our Dashboards & Calculated Fields Mini-Demo.

Connecting Pipeline Data to Future Growth

A firm’s pipeline is more than a list of opportunities—it is the lifeblood of future revenue. Deltek dashboards allow leaders to see how opportunities are progressing, how close they are to conversion, and what their revenue impact will be if won. Key widgets such as Opportunity Stage Funnels, Forecasted Revenue by Month, and Win Rate Trackers enable leaders to immediately gauge whether the firm’s pipeline supports upcoming workload demands. These dashboards help business development teams stay focused on high-value pursuits, prioritize key clients, and measure performance over time.

For example, if the dashboard indicates that opportunities are heavily concentrated in early stages with few nearing contract award, it signals a potential future revenue gap. Leaders can act early, working with teams to accelerate pursuits or identify new markets.

Gaining Real-Time Control Over Contracts and Project Financials

Once an opportunity becomes a contract, dashboards shift focus to project delivery and profitability. Deltek Vantagepoint offers real-time visibility into contract utilization, fee burn, earned value, and margin performance—empowering Deltek Vantagepoint Dashboards: Turn Pipeline, Contracts, and Planning Data into Strategic Action  to take action before issues escalate. Widgets such as Budget vs. Actuals, Remaining Fee Alerts, and Margin Trend Charts allow firms to track contract health from day one.

Instead of reacting to problems after financial reports are issued, project managers can see warning signs in real time. If labor is trending above plan, or if actual costs are outpacing earned revenue, dashboards flag those metrics immediately. This creates accountability and ensures the firm remains on track to deliver profitable work.

Aligning Planning and Resource Management with Business Priorities

Planning is where the future becomes operational reality. Firms need to know if they have the right people, with the right skills, available at the right time to deliver current and future work. Deltek Vantagepoint dashboards integrate resource planning data with pipeline and contract information to show staffing demand versus capacity. Leaders can see where workload will exceed resources, where individuals may be underutilized, and how project timelines will impact staffing needs.

For example, a Resource Utilization Gauge may reveal that a specific department is projected to exceed capacity in the next quarter due to several upcoming project starts. With this insight, leadership can make proactive staffing decisions—whether reallocating work, hiring, or engaging subcontractors—before utilization issues impact project delivery or employee morale.

Driving Accountability Across Every Level of the Firm

Deltek Vantagepoint Dashboards are role-based, ensuring each stakeholder sees the metrics that matter most to their responsibilities:

• Executives review firmwide performance indicators such as revenue forecasts, profit margins, utilization rates, and backlog health.
• Project Managers track budgets, schedules, contract performance, and profitability on a project-by-project basis.
• Business Development Teams monitor pursuits, client engagement activities, win rates, and expected revenue contributions.
• Resource Managers view future staffing demands, availability, and allocation trends across the organization.

By aligning each role to measurable outcomes, dashboards foster a culture of accountability. Everyone knows what success looks like—and how their performance contributes to the firm’s overall goals.

From Data to Decisions: A Strategic Advantage

What sets Deltek Vantagepoint apart is not just the ability to display data, but the power to turn data into decisions. With connected dashboards, leaders are no longer guessing or reacting. They are anticipating, planning, and executing with precision. Pipeline insights inform staffing plans. Contract performance informs margin protection strategies. Resource data informs business development focus.

This level of visibility not only supports better decision-making—it gives firms a competitive edge. Those that can see the complete picture can act faster, stay ahead of risks, and capitalize on opportunities long before their competitors.

The Bottom Line

Deltek Vantagepoint Dashboards empower firm leaders with integrated visibility across pipeline, contracts, and planning functions. By providing real-time performance insights and aligning accountability across departments, these dashboards enable firms to operate with clarity and control. In an industry where margins are tight and competition is fierce, connected intelligence is not optional—it is essential for sustainable growth and profitability.

Your Next Step in Getting Ready for 2026

As part of our Get Ready for 2026! series, we’re helping firms like yours connect the dots between data and decision-making. Deltek Vantagepoint Dashboards bring pipeline, contracts, and planning together into a single source of truth — giving leaders the insight to act, not react.

If your firm is ready to turn disconnected reports into a clear roadmap for growth, our team can help you get there. Click the image below to get started.

As the third quarter unfolds, accounting teams should shift into preparation mode for year-end. Q3 offers a strategic window to review financial performance, clean up data, and fix lingering issues—before the rush of the fourth quarter.

By taking time now to perform a thorough accounting review, firms can improve forecasting accuracy, avoid costly surprises, and set the stage for a stress-free year-end close. Below is a checklist of Q3 accounting functions every firm should prioritize.

1. Reconcile Balance Sheet Accounts

Before year-end, your books need to be airtight. Use Q3 to verify and reconcile all major balance sheet accounts:

• Bank accounts: Ensure monthly reconciliations are current and properly documented.
• Accounts receivable and payable: Tie subledger reports to the general ledger.
  • Do this by running the General Ledger (GL) Reconciliation report, located in Utilities in Deltek Vantagepoint.
• Unbilled revenue and work in progress (WIP): Confirm that earned revenue is recognized accurately.
• Prepaids and accruals: Review for proper allocation and timing.

Don’t wait for year-end to uncover discrepancies—identify and resolve them now while there’s still time to investigate.

2. Review Project Data and Statuses

Project-level accounting has a direct impact on financial reporting and profitability. Q3 is the time to:

• Validate project statuses and close out completed projects. This includes marking them as active, dormant, or inactive in Deltek Vantagepoint.
• Review on-going projects with project staff to ensure budgets and timing is accurate.
• Ensure all job-to-date labor and expense is recorded.

A well-maintained project database reduces billing delays, improves reporting accuracy, and supports better decision-making heading into Q4.

3. Clean Up Vendor and Client Records

Outdated or duplicate vendor/client data can create payment delays, compliance issues, and audit red flags. During Q3 is a great time to:

• Merge duplicate vendors and clients in your accounting system.
• Ensure there is a W-9 on file for all vendors and verify the proper tax classification is selected.
• Review payment terms and outstanding balances

Getting your vendor and client data in order now will simplify 1099 prep and reduce friction during the January crunch.

4. Audit Timesheets and Labor Cost Allocations

Labor is often a professional services firm’s largest cost, and any misallocations or gaps can lead to revenue leakage or compliance risk. Tasks to begin in Q3 include the following.

• Confirm all timesheets are submitted and approved.
• Audit for correct project/task assignments.
• Check for missing or duplicate time entries.
• Ensure labor costs align with billable and overhead expectations.

Regular audits also help with resource planning and team utilization analysis as you forecast Q4 and beyond.

5. Analyze Budget vs. Actuals and Forecast Year-End Performance

Q3 provides a crucial opportunity to assess how your actual performance aligns with your budget—and to adjust expectations accordingly. Recommended tasks are:

• Run YTD financial reports and compare to the annual budget.
• Identify underperforming or overperforming areas. /li>
• Update year-end forecasts based on real data.
• Communicate adjustments to leadership and project managers.

This not only helps course-correct for Q4 but also strengthens next year’s budgeting process.

6. Examine Unbilled Services and Revenue Recognition

Leaving revenue on the table is a common risk, especially for project-based firms. To avoid before year-end do the following:

• Review all open projects for unbilled time and expenses.
• Check for projects where work is complete, but billing hasn’t occurred.
• Ensure revenue recognition aligns with accounting policies and GAAP.

Addressing billing gaps now improves cash flow and ensures revenue is appropriately captured in the current year.

7. Evaluate Internal Controls and Approval Workflows

As your firm evolves, your internal controls should too. This includes:

• Reviewing user roles and system permissions.
• Testing approval workflows for purchases, timesheets, and billing.
• Confirming separation of duties and audit trails are in place.
• Tightening controls around sensitive financial areas.

Proactive control reviews can prevent fraud, errors, and compliance issues before they become audit findings.

8. Begin Preliminary Year-End Planning

While it may feel early, beginning year-end planning in Q3 can prevent bottlenecks later. Consider:

• Scheduling year-end close tasks and assigning responsibilities.
• Communicating deadlines for final billing, AP entries, and expense reports.
• Reviewing your audit prep checklist.
• Updating documentation for policies and procedures.

Firms that start planning in Q3 consistently report smoother closes and fewer surprises in January.

Q3 is Your Prep Season

Think of Q3 as your accounting “halftime.” It’s the perfect time to assess performance, fix gaps, and get your financial house in order—so when Q4 hits, you’re ready to sprint to the finish.

A disciplined mid-year review sets the foundation for a clean close, reliable reporting, and confident decision-making. The work you do now pays dividends in accuracy, efficiency, and peace of mind later.

Need an extra set of eyes—or hands?

If your Q3 checklist feels more like a mountain than a molehill, you're not alone. Our finance consultants are here to help you get ahead of year-end chaos with expert guidance, personalized training, and support tailored to your firm’s needs.

Whether it’s reconciling the tricky stuff, setting up reports in Deltek Vantagepoint, or diving deep into Navigational Analysis—we’ve got you covered.

📩 Reach out today to connect with one of our finance pros and start your smoothest year-end close yet!