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How to Measure a Project’s Financial Health

Posted by Theresa Depew on June 22, 2023

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When it comes to assessing the financial well-being of our projects, we know that relying solely on project invoices is like gazing at the tip of an iceberg while missing the grandeur beneath the surface. At Full Sail Partners, we understand that true success lies in exploring a variety of analytics and statistics. Let's dive into the world of project metrics and discover the key to unlocking financial prosperity. 

The Essentials to Determining a Project’s Financial Health 

To begin with, there are a few essential components we must consider when determining a project's financial health. Every project should be documented with: 

  • Current and Accurate Fee: A clear understanding of the project's fee is vital. It serves as a baseline for evaluating profitability and making financial decisions throughout the project's lifecycle. 
  • Work Breakdown Structure (WBS): A well-defined WBS that aligns with the project's fee and scope helps us accurately allocate costs and resources. It provides a framework for tracking expenses and ensures that financial evaluations are aligned with the project's objectives. 
  • Proper Revenue Recognition Method: Selecting the appropriate revenue recognition method is crucial for accurate financial reporting. It ensures that revenue is recognized in a manner that reflects the project's progress and performance accurately. 

Understanding the Components of a Project's Financial Health 

To truly focus on the financial success of a project, we rely on job-to-date (JTD) as our measurement of time. Now, let's explore some key statistics that can be found or created using Deltek Vantagepoint’s Project Earnings Report: 

Profit or Variance  

This metric allows us to compare revenue/earnings with costs incurred. For projects billed on time and materials (T&M), a zero variance indicates profitability, as the project profit is built into the billing rates. However, a negative variance suggests the need to write off charged time. For fixed fee/lump sum projects, the goal is to minimize costs while still delivering on scope and quality. 

Projected Profit or Variance  

Calculating this metric involves updating and managing the estimate to complete (ETC). By combining the ETC with the JTD cost, we derive the estimate at completion (EAC). Comparing the EAC to the Fee allows us to gauge the project's health upon completion and identify potential scope creep. By analyzing actual and projected profit together, we can establish four scenarios and develop a matrix approach for reviewing a project's financial health: 

  • Scenario 1: JTD shows a profit, but there is a projected reduction in that profit moving forward. This indicates the need for careful cost management to maintain profitability. 
  • Scenario 2: JTD shows a profit, and continued or increased profit is forecasted. This demonstrates a healthy financial trajectory. 
  • Scenario 3: JTD shows a loss, but some or all of that loss can be mitigated moving forward. This calls for identifying and addressing the factors contributing to the loss and implementing corrective actions. 
  • Scenario 4: JTD shows a loss that will continue or grow. In this case, it is crucial to evaluate the project's viability and explore strategies for minimizing further losses. 

Direct Labor Multiplier 

This metric is crucial for managing a specific project and aligning with the firm's overall goals. It measures how much revenue is generated per labor dollar charged. The estimated multiplier is determined at the project's inception, and it's important to have a basis of comparison when evaluating this statistic. 

Work in Process (WIP)  

WIP is calculated as the difference between project revenue and the amount invoiced. Monitoring WIP helps mitigate any potential risks to project earnings. If revenue is accrued, it's vital to consider the time associated with billing and collection. Deferring revenue can minimize or mitigate risks effectively. 

Backlog  

This metric indicates the remaining revenue to be earned, representing the future available revenue stream. When combined with all projects, it forms a significant line on our Key Performance Indicator (KPI) graph. Additionally, it reflects the required full-time equivalent man-hours to complete and deliver contracted work. It's worth noting that backlog can be derived from the ETC, showcasing the interconnectedness of these metrics. 

It's crucial to note that all these metrics work in tandem, complementing and informing each other. For instance, backlog can be derived from the estimate to complete (ETC), demonstrating the interconnected nature of these indicators. By considering them collectively, we gain a comprehensive understanding of a project's financial health and can make informed decisions accordingly. 

Measuring a Project’s Financial Health is Multifaceted and Continuous  

At Full Sail Partners, we believe that measuring the financial health of a project requires a multifaceted approach. By relying on a variety of analytics and statistics, we gain a holistic understanding of the project's financial landscape. Project invoices, while important, are just one piece of the puzzle. 

To make our projects truly profitable, it is essential to continually measure and monitor their financial health. By utilizing a range of metrics and closely tracking project milestones, you can proactively identify potential shortcomings and take corrective actions before they escalate. This approach empowers project managers and the entire team to drive success, deliver value to clients, and optimize financial outcomes. 

Deltek Vantagepoint: Empowering Project-Based Consulting Businesses for Financial Success 

In conclusion, measuring a project's financial health goes beyond relying solely on project invoices. By leveraging various analytics and statistics, including key performance indicators, milestones, and specific metrics like profit or variance, projected profit or variance, direct labor multiplier, WIP, and backlog, you gain a comprehensive view of a project's financial status. This comprehensive approach allows you to make informed decisions, mitigate risks, and steer projects toward profitability.  

So, embrace these valuable insights, keep a close eye on your project's financial well-being, and unlock the path to sustainable success in your project-based consulting business. To see how Deltek Vantagepoint supports good project financial management, watch the webinar below!  

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4 Really Good Reasons Your Professional Services Firm Should Automate the AP Process

Posted by Theresa Depew on April 27, 2023

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Accounts Payable (AP) is one of the main tasks performed daily in a professional services firm’s accounting department. The process can be labor-intensive and very manual, especially when a firm has not embraced new technologies.  It’s hard to determine why so many professional services firms have not made the jump to a paperless accounts payable process. Maybe it’s the daunting fear of errors, or simply the fear of changing the process? Let’s review the benefits of automating the AP functions for your professional services firm and try to put any fears to rest!   

1. Going Paperless and Reducing Errors 

Generally, as with many professional services firms, accounts payable has been a paper-heavy process that has required printing, copying, filing, and retrieving paper. Additionally, the task itself has been a labor-intensive manual process that can already fall prey to human error. With errors already being something that may happen without automation, this proves that using automation is nothing to be feared by your professional services firm. By automating the AP process, invoices are stored digitally, reducing paper costs and reducing the time needed to process AP. So, automating AP at your professional services firm all the while saves money and actually increases accuracy. 

2. Improving Employee Productivity 

As mentioned before, Accounts Payable is a repetitive and time-consuming manual task. The process typically involves first receiving the paper invoice, then sending it for manual signature approval, and then data entry of all data into the accounting software. However, when automation is embraced by your professional services firm, invoices can be uploaded directly into the database, then electronically approved, and invoices posted. Thus, using automation and reducing AP task time, allows employees to focus efforts on more profitable pursuits instead of spending time on repetitive tasks. 

3. Gaining Control of the Procurement Process

Enforcing purchasing policies can be a struggle if there is no way to approve them before the purchase is made. Using an automated AP solution allows professional services firms to set up an approval process based on the firm’s policy for procurement. With automation, accounting team members can ensure the policy was followed and speed up the time it takes to have a purchase order approved. Gaining control of the procurement process allows for full transparency, with no more receiving vendor invoices without knowing the details being given about the purchase.  

4. Working Smarter with Vendors

A final plus of using AP automation at your professional services firm is that vendors can submit invoices to a designated email or webpage. This in and of itself greatly reduces the risk of lost invoices and allows for easy upload into the accounting system. Furthermore, receiving digital invoices for processing ensures on-time payments, which of course makes the vendor happy and reduces the number of communications back and forth. Fewer communications back and forth with vendors additionally saves your professional services firm further time and effort which is working smarter, not harder. 

Automate Your Professional Services Firm’s AP Process 

Hopefully, after now realizing the benefits of automating your professional services firm’s Accounts Payable process, you can fully understand that automation is not something to be feared. It’s clear to see that automating AP will reduce errors and save money, and what professional services firm doesn’t want that? So, knowing that automation can save money and reduce errors, is your professional services firm ready to embrace technology and start automating your Accounts Payable Process?  

 

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Deltek Vantagepoint’s Approval Center Keeps Business Moving

Posted by Theresa Depew on June 15, 2022

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Although not one of the most glamorous parts of Deltek Vantagepoint, the Approval Center has been designed to keep project-based firms’ business moving. The Approval Center allows supervisors to quickly access, review, and approve important business approvals including timesheets, expense reports, and absence requests. Users can visibly see any approval alerts outstanding and go directly to the records to approve.  

Let’s break down each approval area and type in the Approval Center so that project managers and supervisors can make quick approvals and keep the firm’s vital business moving forward. 

 

Easily See When Approvals Are Needed  

In Vantagepoint, there are two areas where Approval Notifications can be found. The first and easiest place is in the Notifications Center in the top right corner of the application. This Notification Center is used to notify users of many things, but for supervisors and managers, it shows an action item for each item awaiting approval. The user can easily go to that approval item by clicking on the hyperlinked blue text such as “Expense Reports” or “Absence Request” as shown below. 

Another area where approvers can see what needs to be approved is by selecting the Approval Center option in the My Stuff on the left-hand navigation. This takes them to the Approval Center where they can toggle between the different approval types, as dictated by the workflow set-up and role security. 

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Quickly Review Each Approval Type 

Inside the Approval Center, when the drop-down is selected, each approval type will be displayed. Again, only timesheets, expense reports and absence requests are found in the Approval Center. Also, what is displayed will depend upon the users’ workflow setup and security role for the firm’s Deltek Vantagepoint instance. 

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Approve Specific Lines or Entire Reports 

One option in Deltek Vantagepoint is to be able to approve specific line items and/or entire submissions for both timesheets and expense reports. The columns that are displayed in each approval area can also be customized to the approver’s preferences using the Grid Settings (the gear icon in the top right corner). All approval rows can be filtered to see certain items such as Employee Name or Project Name (if in the Line-Item Approvals). The approval lists can also be downloaded into .csv or Excel. 

When ready to approve, the approver can select each row individually, or all rows by clicking the checkbox in the top left. Once the check box is clicked, the reviewer can Approve, Reject or Reassign the selected rows using the buttons at the top or the reviewer can Approve, Reject or Reassign all records under the Approval Options button.  

The Approvals look and act the same for both timesheets and expense reports as for the individual line approvals. However, when in Timesheet or Expense Report view, not as many of the details will be available. To see the details, the user must click on the Period Ending Date. From there, the user can review all the timesheet and expense report details along with the same Approve, Reject or Reassign options.  

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Review Expense Lines Without Opening the Reports 

With the Expense Report Lines approvals, all of the information needed to approve the expenses is shown without having to go into the actual expense report. The needed information is displayed in the columns including the Employee Name, Project Name, Report Name, Date, Category, Description, Amount if the expense line is billable and if a receipt is attached. If the reviewer clicks on the Detail icon for expense items like mileage, the actual mileage and the locations traveled will be displayed. If a receipt is attached, a paperclip icon will appear. The reviewer can click on that to access the receipt detail and view a photo of the receipt if provided. This makes it easy to approve expenses directly from this screen without having to go anywhere else. 

Similar to other approval functions, Expense Lines include the ability to select the columns to be displayed, filter the rows to show and download to a .csv or Excel file. In addition, there is the Print Lines Approval Report. This report shows us all expense lines grouped by expense reports and all lines not approved yet. 

The process of approving, rejecting or reassigning Expense Line is the same as above. 

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View Employee Absence Requests 

Deltek Vantagepoint’s Approval Center has absence requests submitted by employees. An added benefit is that the approver can not only see each absence request but quickly review the time off remaining for each employee by clicking on his or her name. When clicking on the employee’s name, his or her Employee Card is displayed. From here, the supervisor can verify that the employee has enough hours to cover the time requested by clicking on the absence hours tab. This shows the current available balance by benefit type. 

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Absence requests can be approved individually by checking the box in the row and clicking Approve or all requests can be approved at once by checking the box at the top to select all and clicking Approve. Another way to approve all is to click the Approval Options button and select either Approve All, Reject All or Reassign All without checking any boxes. 

At-a-Glance Absence Requests for Entire Firm 

The supervisor can view the absence requests for the entire firm using the Absence Request Schedule. This shows all the absence requests that have been submitted, approved or rejected. The statuses are color-coded so the reviewer can quickly identify each type. Yellow is for submitted. Approved is in green and red is rejected. The non-working days are displayed in gray and the holidays are in blue. Users can scroll back in time or into the future using the left and right arrows accordingly. See the screenshot below. 

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Keep the Professional Services Firm Approvals Moving 

Using Deltek Vantagepoint’s Approval Center streamlines reviewing and approving vital business processes including timesheets, expense reports and absence requests. This fully integrated system reduces processing times and provides visibility into the status and conditions of these key areas. To see this in action, click below to watch the Powering Project Success with Deltek Vantagepoint – Approvals Center. 

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5 Ways Deltek Vantagepoint Simplifies Billing, Time, Expense, and Transaction Entries

Posted by Theresa Depew on July 21, 2021

Why do project-based firms struggle with billing, time, expense, and transaction entries? Simply stated, firms lack the systems to support the unique challenges of professional services firms. Accounting professionals at project-based firms depend on the timely billing of their projects for the success of their firms’ bottom line. By streamlining accounting processes with Deltek Vantagepoint, project-based firms can increase cash flow and profitability.

Deltek Vantagepoint logo

1. Efficient Entering of Timesheets and Expense Reports

Using Deltek Vantagepoint, project-based firms can reduce the time it takes for employees to enter timesheets and expense reports using the Time & Expense Mobile App. Using the Vantagepoint Time & Expense App, employees can submit timesheets and expense reports while travelling. As a result, there is no more waiting until employees are back in the office to scan receipts; just snap a picture on a mobile device and the app will use intelligent character recognition (ICR) to start the expense line. Now, submitting and approving time and expenses on the go is simple which reduces the burden for employees as they enter time and expenses. Ultimately, this improves the process of client invoicing.

2. Improved Firm Cash Flow with Document Management

Project-based firms can improve their cash flow with Deltek Vantagepoint by speeding up the invoice process with document management. Within Vantagepoint, users can utilize the database to store receipts and AP Invoices by attaching them to each transaction. Additionally, they can utilize billing terms to include back-up documentation with the client invoice which greatly reduces the time it takes for billers to search and copy all supporting documentation that needs to be sent to the client.

Another added bonus of a virtual document management solution within Deltek Vantagepoint is that there are no more piles of papers needing to be recycled. If receiving AP invoices electronically or journal entry requests via email, there is no need to print; simply save and attach in Vantagepoint. Documents can be attached in AP vouchers, expense reports, units and journal entries. Vantagepoint is bringing firms a lot closer to a paperless and remote-working world!

3. Digitized Client Invoices Speed Up Billing Process

The interactive and batch billing tools in Deltek Vantagepoint digitize the client invoice process which speeds up the billing process and shortens average collection time. Vantagepoint allows billers to submit draft invoices electronically and use saved searches in batch billing to group invoice by project manager, principal, or by invoice approver. The billing tools notify invoice approvers electronically that a draft is ready for review, and approvers can use the draft invoice approval feature to mark-up and enter comments using the new PDF editor function.

Approvals also happen electronically with no more paper approval or emails to keep track of any longer. The system will keep an approval audit trail, and billers can see all comments and mark-ups made to drafts in Interactive Billing. Billers make the changes and produce the final invoice in either Batch or Interactive Billing. Ensuring all firms have a billing contact, invoices can be emailed, with back-up attached, directly to the billing contact out of the database.

4. Reduced Manual Data Entry with Workflows and Approvals

With Deltek Vantagepoint, leveraging workflows and approvals streamline transaction processing, and reduce manual data entry. Vantagepoint users can utilize electronic approvals for timesheets and expense reports. Furthermore, approval workflows are flexible and can accommodate many steps if needed, and approvers can approve timesheets and expense reports anywhere by using the mobile app. The accounts payable workflow provides an electronic approval audit trail and document management within the database leaving no stacks of papers. Even more, the absence request workflow allows managers to keep track of each employee’s schedule which helps with ensuring coverage on projects when needed.

5. Streamlined Repetitive Tasks Using Recurring Transactions

Recurring transaction entries can be done to streamline repetitive tasks for Deltek Vantagepoint users. Utilizing recurring transactions in Deltek Vantagepoint will reduce the time it takes each month to enter the same transaction. Additionally, using transactional imports for multi-line transactions will ensure accuracy and allow more time for other tasks.

Save Time, Save Paper, Save Money with Deltek Vantagepoint  

Interactive billing, automation, and leveraging workflows means less wasted time and more time to focus on the bottom line. These features are all available with Deltek Vantagepoint, and with this intuitive solution, managing billing, time, expense, and transaction entries becomes that much easier saving firms lots of money. Not to mention so many trees! Don’t forget to check out the other features offered to users by Deltek Vantagepoint.

Link to webinar about Vantagepoint 4.0

Is My Firm Getting the Most Out of Deltek Vantagepoint?

Posted by Theresa Depew on May 26, 2021

Congratulations for upgrading to Deltek Vantagepoint, the reimagined and greater version of Vision! For starters, you’ve probably already noticed that Vantagepoint is different from Vision in its appearance. This new and greatly improved user interface just scratches the surface though. Did you know that there are several process enhancements designed to streamline your firm’s day-to-day operations?

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While Deltek Vision was the gold standard for project-based ERP systems, its successor, Vantagepoint, is raising the benchmark. Check out what you may not know Vantagepoint can do to improve your firm’s processes.

Did you know Deltek Vantagepoint can…?

Did you know you can customize the timesheet approval process?

Do you need one or more approval steps? No problem!  Do you need line-item approval? No problem!  

Using a Vantagepoint timesheet approval workflow is simple and flexible. Additionally, using an approval workflow tends to shorten the time it takes to get timesheets approved and posted, everything is done electronically either from a desktop or on a mobile device. Timesheet approvals have never been easier!

Did you know that Vantagepoint now allows for draft invoice markup?

Say goodbye to emailing and/or printing draft invoices for approval! With the new “Markup on Draft Invoices” feature, approvers can review, markup and approve directly in Vantagepoint. The draft invoice will show all the information needed for an approver to verify billing. The approver can also use the PDF editor that is built into Vantagepoint so they can make notes right on the draft and resubmit. Waiting days or weeks for invoice approval a thing of the past!

Did you know that you no longer need to post batch transactions?

Have you ever wanted to post one Voucher or one Cash Receipt without creating a whole batch? With Vantagepoint’s new “Single Transaction Posting” option, this is now possible. If this option is enabled, control totals will no longer be needed. As a result, there is no need to leave the transaction entry screen to post, just enter your data and click post. With Vantagepoint, entering and posting transactions has never been this quick and easy!

Did you know that you can have multiple dashboards in Vantagepoint?

Since Project Managers often wear multiple hats in a firm, they can now have different dashboards to represent those different hats. For example, there can be a dashboard for business development activities and pipeline management in addition to a separate dashboard for project financials. Thus, allowing Project Managers or other firm employees that wear multiple hats to have critical decision-making information at their fingertips.

Did you know that information from the project budget and project planning tool are in one view?

In the Project Hub in Vantagepoint, the Project Review option allows project managers to view the Contract Fee, EAC Budgeted Cost, ETC Planned Cost and the Planned Profit in one single view. Additionally, Key Performance Indicators can be tracked on the same view and are continuously tracked and updated as information is changed in the budget and project tool.

Did you know that the professional licenses that your employees hold can be tracked in Deltek Vantagepoint?

For professional services firms, there are often credentials that must be held for some types of work. Examples include professional engineer, professional land surveyor, registered architect, and more. It’s imperative that licenses such as these and other certifications are kept active. Some firms rely on the employees to maintain their licensures while other firms may ask their human resources or marketing teams to capture this information.

Deltek Vantagepoint allows users to capture and track this information in the Credentials grid in the Employee Hub. Available fields cover the credential description, type of credential, license number, state and country, date earned, expiration date, last renewed date, and a check box for proposal use. With the use of workflows, employees can be notified 60 days, 30 days, or another chosen number of days prior to an expiration date.

Did you know that Vantagepoint has a seamless transition process from project pursuit to award?

In Vantagepoint, there are no more mapping exercises after a project is won. You can enter estimates, plans, budgets and contract amounts at any tine in the project lifecycle. As a result, project information is already captured and ready to use at the start of the project.

Get the Most out of Deltek Vantagepoint!

Simplifying and improving your firm’s operations is the intent and purpose of Deltek Vantagepoint. But with anything new, a lot of these enhancements may never be utilized if firms are unaware that they exist. If you’re interested in learning more about the features and tools that are part of Vantagepoint, check out our Vantagepoint video demonstration series. Additionally, make sure to read our monthly newsletter with a new “Did You Know” in each edition.

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The Value of Vantagepoint for Accounting

Posted by Theresa Depew on November 25, 2020

Accounting teams are typically some of the most engaged users of Deltek software having extensively worked with Vision and now Vantagepoint. With its cohesive environment, accounting teams can benefit so much from Deltek Vantagepoint, and if utilized properly, it can streamline accounting processes and promote transparency throughout the system. Let’s take a look at the value of Vantagepoint for accounting.

Value for Accounting

 

Creating Value for Your Team

Deltek Vantagepoint offers meaningful dashboards that give independence to executives and project managers alike. In doing so, this allows for accounting data to be viewed in real time, without the need to process reports and send to project staff. Some of the benefits that result from streamlined processes include:

  • Approval workflows keep business processes moving
    • Using approval workflows to automate daily tasks can reduce the time it takes to send final client invoices and process vendor payments. Vantagepoint allows for streamlined approvals on most functions in the system – timesheets, expense reports, accounts payable and client invoicing.
  • Intuitive search functionality allows for more timely record retrieval
    • Vantagepoint makes finding information quicker. Using Find on the menu allows you to quickly access a hub or area in the system.
    • When searching in hubs or reporting, simply type part of the field name and get a list of everything containing that name.
  • Financial statements and reports are available for timely and informed decisions
    • Dashboards are a great way to get a quick snapshot of your business regularly. Vantagepoint dashboards are intuitive and easy to create. Also, Vantagepoint is preloaded with the most common dashboards by role.
  • Firms in one location (clients and vendors are consolidated) allows accounting to view one record and understand the bigger picture.
    • The Firms hub in Vantagepoint allows you to view all clients and vendors in one hub. Clients and Vendors are linked in one record, allowing users to view client invoicing and vendor payments in one area. The records can be kept separate for reporting, if needed.

Bringing Teams Together

Tracking down employees to submit timesheets is typically an endless story that firms experience. With mobile time and expense, teams can get excited about more timely submissions because employees can use this to enter and submit timesheets and expense reports from anywhere. Receipts can even be uploaded from a mobile device, and an expense line can be created using Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR). With Vantagepoint, submitting timesheets and expense reports is not such a daunting task after all.

Another way that Vantagepoint brings teams together is streamlining and expediting the invoice review process. Accounting can quickly and easily issue draft invoices, and project managers can mark them up promptly. This clean process keeps the invoice cycle moving along. Other benefits include:

  • Automate bank reconciliation

    • Downloading transactions from the bank and importing into the Bank Reconciliation in Vantagepoint greatly reduces the time it takes to reconcile the bank. Setting up the import is quick and only needs to be done once.

  • Billing Made Easy
     
    • Use Batch Billing to run draft invoices and email directly to project staff for approval. In batch billing, once all options are selected, they can be saved to use for future batch runs. Example, if billing is run by project manager, Options can be saved by PM.
    • Streamlining of the invoice approval process, all approvals can be done within Vantagepoint. Project staff can view, make changes, view invoices after changes and approve all in Draft Invoice Approvals in Project Hub.
    • Flexible Billing Terms can be based on the project contract. Vantagepoint allows creation of the fee billing grid at the top level of the project but linked to each level. When you have a mixed project, Fee Based and Hourly, use sublevel terms to set up billing at different project levels.

  • Transaction Entry
     
    • In Vantagepoint, transactions are created and posted in the same area. Batch processing is no longer necessary. All transactions can be viewed in one screen, using the filter option to easily search.

Simplify Processes with Deltek Vantagepoint

Deltek Vantagepoint offers the tools and functionality to streamline processes between groups in an organization. The improved accessibility and collaborative features break down process silos and allow for a continual flow of information. Since invoices must be sent to receive payment, the streamlined process can shorten the billing cycle and keep cash flow in check.

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Manage Your Employee Expenses Like A Pro

Posted by Theresa Depew on June 03, 2020

Expense management

When employees seek reimbursement for employee-paid expenses, chances are good that far too much time is spent looking for receipts. Often, there is also the question of limits, processes, and details around submitting an expense report. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a software that could manage employee expenses with a seamless process, helping you navigate expenses like a pro? Fear not, as such automation is possible with SAP Concur. Even more, SAP Concur integrates with Deltek Vision and Vantagepoint through the Blackbox Connector to simplify your expense reporting processes.

With SAP Concur, you can see all expense data in one place, offering the big financial picture while making the process easier for your employees. Yes, it can be a win-win for all. Let us look at some of the advantages an automated and integrated expense management tool can offer.  

Makes the Process Easier for Users

While submitting an expense report can be a very frustrating task, it is a necessary business process that cannot be overlooked or eliminated. Usually, it does take administrative or overhead time for some often-extensive searching. Fortunately, SAP Concur can give employees an easier method of submitting expenses on a routine basis with the following features: 

  • Mobile Tools – Users have full access to expense report functions via a mobile device, allowing employees to submit, review, and approve on the go. Having full expense functions on a mobile device makes submitting expenses quick and easy. There is no more waiting until you are back at your desk to complete expense tasks.
  • Receipt Capture – SAP Concur removes the need for a scanner, and never having to use a scanner to upload receipts one by one is priceless. Simply snap a picture of a receipt using your mobile phone camera and start a report from your mobile device, saving processing time.
  • E-Receipts – Transaction data from airlines, hotels, restaurants, and car companies can be automatically captured to create accurate, detailed expense reports. Receipts can be sent directly to your SAP Concur profile, allowing you to quickly add the expense details without having to organize receipts. As soon as the receipt is emailed, it appears on the home expense screen.
  • Credit Card Feeds – Your corporate or travel card transactions are directly fed into SAP Concur for expense processing. This functionality is marvelous; firms no longer need to manually import charges into an ERP or expense program for users to expense or for reconciliation. When a charge is made, the bank sends the transaction to SAP Concur. From there, users will see it on their home expense screen, and it is ready for expensing.

As you can see, the expense management process can be more efficient for employees, allowing them to focus their efforts on earning new business, serving the client, or working on current business. With an easier process, employees can submit their information timelier, and accounting can invoice clients sooner on billable expenses, helping to shorten the invoicing cycle.

Even Accounting Thinks This is Snazzy

Accounting teams are often the ones tracking down the missing details or having to reject submissions for details that were overlooked. By automating expense management and integrating it with your accounting system, SAP Concur can be implemented with workflows, ultimately helping everything flow more smoothly. Here are some of the features that accounting teams can look forward to:

  • Automated Travel Policy – Workflows can be set to warn or stop expenses from being submitted based on your company’s expense/travel policy. Using the audit rules takes the guess work out of policies. Workflows allow the expense audit/approval process to move quickly and efficiently. Auditors and approvers do not need to spend hours verifying every policy detail; most can be set up as a rule and not allowed.
  • Reporting – SAP Concur offers simple spend monitoring, schedule reports, and customizable reporting. The software offers out-of-the-box reporting, which is quick and easy to use. Reports can also be downloaded in different formats – Excel, Word, PDF. If the report needed is not available, it can typically be created and saved for future use.
  • Integration – A comprehensive financial picture and reliable reporting can be gained by connecting to your enterprise resource planning system (ERP), Deltek Vision/Vantagepoint. Integrating SAP Concur with Deltek Vision/Vantagepoint allows a constant and consistent flow of financial data. New or changed employees and projects can be pushed into SAP Concur through an automated feed. Also, expense reports that are approved/processed in SAP Concur will be fed into Deltek Vision/Vantagepoint nightly and be ready for posting. So, no more need for double entry at many levels.

Wins All Around

As you can see from the highlighted features, SAP Concur can eliminate many pain points that come with expense reporting. The right expense management software creates a smoother process for firms, which benefits the employees, supervisors, and accounting team alike. We can all agree that any process that can be automated and ultimately improve a business should be given consideration. Everyone will be pleased with timely expense reimbursement so start managing your expenses like a pro with SAP Concur.

Concur Spend Management

Get Your Firm and Deltek Vision Ready for Year-End 2018

Posted by Theresa Depew on December 06, 2018

 

Year End 2018 v2

As year-end rolls around, it is vital to prepare for year-end close well in advance. Some may be wary of the task ahead, but do not get overwhelmed. Here are some things to consider to make this daunting task easier.  

Use A Year-End Checklist

Using a checklist will help you track activities that are complete and those that still need your attention. Some items you may want to add to your checklist are:

  • Reconcile all cash accounts - Verify all transactions have been posted into Vision/Vantagepoint to ensure your general ledger balances matches your bank statements. Make adjustments as required.
  • Final Invoicing – Process all client invoices for the fiscal year.
  • Review outstanding accounts receivables - Follow up with clients who have outstanding accounts receivable beyond 30 days. Send past due statements and/or simply give them a call. Enter the results of your collection efforts in the comments section of Vision Invoice Review. Year-end is an excellent time to collect your outstanding receivables. If you determine there is uncollectable AR, be sure to write those invoices off.
  • Review Unbilled detail - Time and expense transactions that cannot be invoiced to clients should be written off at this time.
  • Fixed Assets – Fixed Assets are larger purchases that are made throughout the year (i.e. equipment, automobiles, furniture, computers, etc.). Are all fixed assets reported on the balance sheet still owned? If not, record the sale or disposal of these fixed assets. Verify the depreciation on your fixed assets as well. Make any necessary adjustments.
  • Employee Expenses and AP - Verify that all accounts payable vouchers have been recorded in Vision/Vantagepoint. Make your 401(k), SEP IRA, and Simple IRA contributions, if you have not done so. Try and pay all your vendors and employee expense reports by year-end.
  • Notes Payable - Verify notes payable (i.e. loans) amounts on your balance sheet match the statements from your lenders. Make adjustments if necessary.
  • W-9’s – Order 1099 forms. Make sure all W-9’s from your vendors and/or contractors that are paid $600 or more throughout the year are on file. Don’t forget 1099’s should be mailed on January 31st. 1099 forms can be purchased from most office supply stores or you can order them for free from the IRS (gov).
  • W-2’s – Order W-2 forms if you run payroll in Vision/Vantagepoint. W-2’s should be mailed by January 31st.
  • Budget for next year - Create your GL budget for 2018.

Bonus Year-End Tips

Here are just a few tips to make your year-end close just a little easier:

  • Communication – It is vital to communicate to the rest of the firm that year-end is approaching and the important dates that they should be aware of: final timesheet due date, final expense report due date, etc.
  • Create a calendar – Your calendar should contain all of your year-end deadlines: final AP check run, final timesheet due, final bank rec are all dates you may want to add to your year-end calendar.
  • Create a year-end manual – Given that year-end procedures change very little from year to year, create a manual. With a manual to refer to, you no longer have to rely on your memory or cryptic notes you may have taken in years past.
  • Reconcile on a monthly basis. Stay on top of your monthly reconciliations. Nothing adds to the stress of year end more than performing several months of reconciliations that could be done monthly.
  • Recurring transaction files – If there are yearly JE’s or other transactions that you only post once a year, consider creating a recurring transaction file. Each year those files will already be in place so you don’t have to re-create them from year to year.
  • Order year end forms well in advance. Why wait until the last minute to order your 1099 and W-2 forms? By ordering your forms in advance you know they are on hand when you are ready to process.

Get Ready for 2019

Deltek publishes the Year-End Bulletin each year. This is an excellent resource for preparing for year-end. Make sure to visit the Deltek Customer Care site to ensure you close out 2018 properly and your firm is ready for 2019.

Deltek Customer Care  

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