What is Open Book Accounting?
- The process of procuring work where contractors are paid on the basis of transparent accounting records showing the build-up of cost, rate, profit etc. is called open-book accounting.
- This is typically used on incentivised alliances and cost-based contracts on construction projects. The parties collaborate, share gains, and savings, and collectively identify risks for profit/value creation
- Buy-in to this principle of transparency by the contractors, and subcontracts who may even be engaged on a fixed price basis, and further down the supply chain to all parties on the project is key.
Open book accounting is used for sharing risks, gains, and cost savings. It requires full transparency with cost, profits, and access to all cost systems. This means that records need auditing by an independent third party. In challenging times when risks increase, the likelihood of transparency will reduce, and the experience of data analytics, applying a risk-based audit approach and judgment is vital.
12 Global Economic Indicators
Below we have listed 12 global indicators to evidence that we are indeed in challenging times globally.
- Global PMI a 50.3 decrease – IHS Markit & JPMorgan’s snapshot of global manufacturing
- Euro-Area a 9.1% increase in inflation – a measure watched by the European Central Bank
- US employment a +315K decrease – a measure of labour in the world’s largest economy
- U.S. consumer spending a 0.4 % increase – mainly one of the pillars of the world economy.
- U.S. personal consumption expenditure +6.2% decrease Federal Reserve measure of inflation.
- Brazil’s GDP +3.20% increase – a proxy for commodity exporters throughout the world.
- Chile copper exports a $3.27M decrease – Andeans are the largest copper producers.
- German Ifo is unchanged at 88.6 – the leading indicator of the health of Euro lynchpin economies.
- China’s manufacturing PMI is 49.4 up an insight from the world’s largest global manufacturer
- China PPI +2.3% decrease – Cost charging at China’s factories indication of global inflation.
- Japan’s Inflation +2.8% increase – a measure of price pressures and fiscal monetary measures
- South Korea’s Exports – insight into the demand for Asia’s key exporters especially for technology.
(Source: Bloomberg.com)
How Open Book Principles Should be Correctly Applied?
- There are no standard industry guidelines on how and when costs should be audited, so communicating a cost assurance strategy to the supply chain early is key. This entails clear protocols at project inception for sharing and using sensitive commercial data and pre-agreeing a representative cost-effective sampling approach.
- This includes the level of expected scrutiny, required records, and GDPR protocols for controlling data from financial systems and payroll systems. Contractors and subcontractors must buy-in and agree to grant secure access to confidential costs, records, and accounting systems.
- Pre-agreeing how costs should be built-up, allocated, and reported is vital. Engineering construction contracts ICC, NEC, and JCT forms have standard formats stating defined costs, actual costs, or disallowed costs. They do not however specify the correct methods for cost build-up. Defense and energy contracts often require skills for additional scrutiny and regulation of costs.
“In several cases, despite being a contractual requirement, open book audit clauses are ignored until much later or until final accounts when it is too late to influence outturn costs or they are circumvented altogether. It is vital for the parties to agree on controls and protocols for administering open-book clauses early on before cost escalations begin.”
Guidelines for Open Book Principles
- Communicating the strategy to the supply chain
- Training staff/project teams on open-book principles
- Ensuring that the systems are set up for the contract
- Enforcing contractual open-book audit clauses
- Establishing standard open-book protocols early
- Signing GDPR /non-disclosure agreements early
- Ensuring that open book is not used punitively
- Reporting costs correctly as per the contract
- Safeguarding commercially sensitive data
- Training the supply chain on open book principles
What are the Challenges of Realising Open Book Benefits?
- Cost efficiencies can be realised through targeted gain-share incentives and shared risks.
- Value from investments can be increased by using open-book accounting to optimise costs.
- Evidence can be used to predict issues, corrective action, and commercial negotiations.
- Data can be used to monitor spending and to challenge cost increases ahead of final accounts.
- Evidence can be used for contract evaluations to validate pain-gain-share and incentivized payments.
- Collaborating to resolve issues will build long-term relationships that will boost future revenue.
- Lessons on the conclusion of each audit should inform future decisions e.g. people, time, and productivity.
“Open-book must be used for the right reasons and as a strategy for the right type of projects. It is particularly useful for large complex infrastructure projects with significant risks. Open book clauses must be correctly applied by the parties This entails using sensitive data as intended to achieve the common goals, share gains, cost savings and realised value as planned.”
Guidelines to Realise Open Book Benefits
- Using open book correctly for the right reasons
- Setting up processes for shared economic risks
- Communicating plans early to the supply chain
- The parties must not circumvent audit clauses
- Not waiting until final accounts before auditing
- Aligning strategic interests of parties involved
- Jointly managing pressure from unforeseen risks
- Not using access to sensitive data punitively
- Ensuring correct leadership/people behaviours
- Training of teams/parties involved in open book
- Managing the right behaviours to ensure buy-in
What access to records and cost systems are required?
- Due to the commercial and personal sensitivity of data and records that auditors have to access, contractors and subcontractors are required to sign a non-disclosure separate from the contract.
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules of 2018 also mean there are strict legal rules around ownership, access, and control of personal data and how these must be used fairly and kept secure.
- Using an independent third party is necessary as project teams frown at the employer team having access to payroll data. An independent team can report without influence on major issues identified.
“Open book accounting requires an independent team with expertise in data capture, data analytics, cost systems, and financial and commercial controls. Also, knowledge of construction contracts and audit experience are key. Due to sensitive data e.g. pay and employment records, an independent third (line of the defense) audit team is best placed to be objective.”
Indicative List of Records & Systems
- Access to cost capture/reporting systems
- Access to raw financial systems data
- Access to a chart of account & cost codes
- Staff, rates, payroll, expenses & payments
- Labor rate, payroll, expenses & payment
- People’s employment & insurance records
- Records of project and overhead time
- Plant time records, rates & operatives
- Material rate, storage & payments
- Cost reports of actual and forecast
- Contract, changes, and variations
- Cost reports and supporting records
- Cost application and supplier payments
- Purchase Order, Invoices & agreements
- Subcontract cost, agreement & payment
- Design cost, agreement, time & payment
- Risk, early warnings & change registers
- Contract appendices and rate build-up
- Asset register for plant and materials
- Overhead cost and time allocation
- Rebates, credits, and volume discounts
- Overhead fee, contract fee & calculations
- Applied for cost and supporting records
- Intercompany agreements and rates
This indicative list is not limited to the above.
How to Minimise Disallowed Costs in Challenging Times?
- Minimizing disallowed costs early involves ensuring that commercial, finance, and project teams are trained in advance on the protocols and contractual knowledge needed for open-book clauses.
- This includes the right behaviors and robust control systems to provide confidence to funders and clients on the effectiveness of contract controls, and providing timely access to records and systems.
- Ensuring also that the financial system’s hierarchy of accounts are set up to correctly administer the contract open book clause and that there is transparency on the build-up of rates, fees, and profit.
“Communicating the cost assurance strategy and audit programme early to the parties and the supply chain is key. This will ensure that from the start the right behaviours and tone are set. This includes ensuring that cost reviews or assurance engagements and audits are initiated for the right reasons with timely access to cost records provided.”
Discussions to Minimise Disallowed Costs
- Timely notification of early warning notices
- Jointly reviewed risk and change registers
- Joint clarity on allowed cost in rate build-up
- Joint clarify on overhead cost and time
- Timely approval of variations and change orders
- Pre-agreeing staff rate & resource changes
- Pre-agreeing labor rate & resource changes
- Pre-agreeing subcontract rate/resource changes
- Pre-agreeing plant rate & operatives changes
- Pre-agreeing design rate & resource changes
- Agreeing on ownership of unforeseen risks
- Working collaboratively to save costs
- Working collaboratively to drive value/efficiency
How to Manage Open Book in a Challenging Economy?
- In challenging times, the parties to a contract will probably review the contract and quickly conclude that, except in cases of a serious breach, termination is unlikely to be the best remedy. Nevertheless, contracts should include specific termination right. This is an extremely crucial clause in the contract.
- The most likely solutions are, initially, a degree of escalation through commercial governance arrangements on the contract to take it to the next level, the board or the Chief Executive level. This also needs to be supported by remedies via a payment performance regime.
- Typically these are key performance indicators and performance payment deductions; however, also frequently, we’ve seen the use of cash withholding, and profit holding back to affect the supplier’s financial situation.
“Leveraging existing or new technologies, giving secure access, and deploying a risk-based approach can be used to manage open book principles in a challenging economy. Early dialogue, and setting up control systems and records will make contract cost reviews, assurance, and audits more efficient and will ensure that correct records exist when things go wrong and there is dispute or litigation.”
Discussions on Macroeconomic Risks
- Interest rate/inflation increases and fluctuations
- Global inflation impact on raw material cost
- Inflation and export impact on plant cost
- Global manufacturing impact on project costs
- Discussing the effect of project labour shortages
- Increasing staff costs salary & expenses increase
- Renegotiating untenable fixed-cost contracts
- Effect of Global Inflation on goods & material Costs
- Increase in import costs e.g. copper for wiring
- Strength of Euro/GBP currencies and economies.
- Inflation, export & manufacturing charges in Asia
- Cost of scope variations and extension of time
- Early collaboration to avoid contract termination
- Working collaboratively to manage economic risks
Global Trends of Open Book Accounting in Construction
“Open book accounting on infrastructure projects requires an independent team with expertise in data capture, analytics, knowledge of construction contracts, financial and cost systems, and audit experience. Including the ability to apply judgment and a risk-based approach to assurance on infrastructure projects.”
(Source: NAO Percentage of Contracts with Open Book Clauses)
In the UK, the Ministry of Defence has been using open-book accounting for a longer period of time than other government bodies. According to a survey by the National Audit Office, 31% of contracts have provisions permitting the government to obtain open-book data. Of high-value contracts </>£50m 65%/56% have open-book clauses.
In the US, open book principles are applied on cost-plus contracts where contractors are reimbursed for l allowed costs plus a profit. Cost-based contracts differ from fixed-price contracts where contractors are paid a fixed amount regardless of incurred costs. Risks largely sit with the contractor resulting in claims and disputes. From the data above, Asia / Middle East which mainly uses this form has the highest disputes.
In a challenging economy where risks are heightened, open book cost-based and alliancing contracts allow for risk and gains to be shared. In a July 2022 poll by the multi-disciplinary cost assurance steering group, 59% stated that guidance on protocols for open book alliance arrangements and carbon costs as top priority.
How can Open Book Help with Carbon & ESG Challenges?
- A rise in Greenwashing, a practice where businesses inaccurately portray the extent of their green credentials is not a sustainable practice.
- For many businesses, the challenge of ESG reporting is data and not the application of frameworks like the UN SDGs, ISSB, TCFD, or another relevant standard.
- The difficulty is in gathering sensitive comparable benchmarking data, the practicalities of capturing the data, and applying these to key business metrics.
“Concerns about if the transparency of data being reported by businesses can be relied on by investors and stakeholders are creating increased global compliance requirements (such as the ISSB, TCFD framework, and Z clauses in NEC contracts. Open book audits enable real-time audit, review, and independent reporting of non-financial sustainability and ESG metrics.”
Guidelines Using Open Book For ESG Metrics
- Using independent audit to deter greenwashing
- Collecting sustainability data/evidence in
- Highlighting potential threats and opportunities
- Flagging weaknesses and mitigating ESG risks
- Taking advantage of opportunities early on
- Coordinating internal, ESG, cost & external audit
- Identifying weaknesses in governance regimes
- Flagging environmental greenhouse gas risks
- Highlighting carbon cost and social impact risks
- Flagging risks to long-term business viability
- Controls for potential threats and opportunities
- Using the triple-bottom-line approach
- Incorporating ESG into CSR initiatives
- Including ESG in balanced scorecard reports
Frequently asked Open Book Questions (FAQs)
“Questions are often asked about open book limitations. For example open book will require upfront time and resource investment. With the right behaviours, the long-term strategic value, financial and commercial benefits are huge. Data from the audit will provide robust evidence to influence decisions in real-time and data to influence future project cost decisions.”
Why are cost assurance audits is needed?
It is vital for cost certainty and risk identification.
Why is cost assurance important?
It helps with achieving the commercial and financial strategy.
Why is an initial risk assessment fundamental?
It is a key to a risk-based approach for audits.
What competency is key for cost assurance?
Data analytics, audit judgment & contract risk
How does technology help?
Through storing records, data capture, analytics, and reporting.
Why are GDPR, privacy, and confidentiality key?
It involves sensitive personal & commercial data.
What key issues are often identified?
Incorrect profit, overhead assumption & unforeseen risk.
What best practice cost assurance is?
Contract, people, process, systems & sustainability controls
What are best practices for people’s behaviours?
Buy-in, transparency, data access & contract compliance.
What do typical cost assurance audit cycles entail?
The contract, people, process, systems, and controls
How can lessons learned and technology be used?
To inform future rates, people & data-led decisions.
What is the outlook for cost assurance & audits?
A draw on technology for issues like cost efficiency
What are the emerging issues for cost assurance?
ESG supply chain, carbon & people cost risks will increase.
How are cost/alliancing contracts being used?
They are being used for strategic delivery, sharing risks and gaining on projects
How CFBL consulting can help?
- Undertaking pre-audit diagnostic and current state risk assessment
- Perform Independent actual carbon cost audits to prevent greenwashing
- Engaging with key stakeholders, board, and leadership for buy-in
- Communicating with stakeholders and the supply chain early on
- Establishing protocols for your net zero strategy
- Implementing protocols through workshops and training
- Benchmarking your carbon footprint for carbon reduction and offset
- Developing the investment business cases, for decarbonization
- Establishing a sustainable, ESG, and Net Zero strategy
- Independently reporting actual impact against goals
- Account, tax, and compliance reporting for ESG and carbon cost
References
- https://www.nao.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Open-book-accounting.pdf
- https://www.publicfinance.co.uk/opinion/2015/07/time-make-open-book-accounting-standard-public-service-contracts
- https://www.upcounsel.com/open-book-contract
- https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/world-economic-indicators-dashboard/?leadSource=uverify%20wall
- https://www.statista.com/statistics/731808/global-construction-dispute-values-by-region/
- https://www.cfbusinesslinks.com/steering-group-csr
- https://afitac.com/2020/06/16/fidic-contracts-in-the-middle-east/
What does CFBL Consulting do?
CFBL consulting offers cost-assurance audits and sustainable strategy consulting services. This includes an initial ESG assessment, an X-ray view of actual costs to prevent or evidence greenwashing, impact reporting, a payroll audit to safeguard equal pay, and practical training on how to embed ESG KPIs into finance, commercial, and project investment decisions. We identify, resolve, and follow through. By establishing ourselves as strategic partners, we govern and help implement sustainable strategies. Our roadmaps ensure that project plans are successful, as a result, we measure our success by yours.
Who We Work With and What We Do
- Infrastructure project: cost assurance audits, systems payroll HR audits & Protocols
- SME Business Strategy: 5-Yr strategic business plans and financial statements
- Fintech/Transformation advisory: minimising risk and optimising business case ROI
- Sustainability & ESG: pay-gap carbon cost audits reporting ESG finance training
- Training: delivering case-based training for buy-in to technology & staff upskilling
- Fintech & Digital: strategy cost optimisation & digital transformation advisory
- Steering Group (CSR): cost assurance and audits on infrastructure projects/contracts
Sustainability & ESG Strategy Tips – How can CFBL Consulting help
- Developing and implementing a sustainable business strategy for growth/scaling
- Sustainability/ESG strategy: implementing, carbon measurement and benchmarking
- HR/Payroll audit: Independent HR, payroll cost, pay-gap gender balance auditing
- Sustainability & ESG: strategy implementation, carbon cost auditing/impact reporting
- ESG Finance training: upskilling staff/supply chain on ESG KPIs in decision making
- ESG protocols: training & designing controls, tools, and templates for ESG reporting
Infrastructure Projects – Tips & How can CFBL Consulting help
- Cost assurance: implementing capex people, processes, systems & controls
- Protocols: training & designing project/contracts process, tools, templates
- Independent cost audits: verifying actual/ defined cost on cost/open book contracts
- Systems auditor: examining financial records, controls, and cost systems for integrity
- Pre-audit diagnostic: identifying risks on cost-based/open book alliance contracts
- Independent contract auditor role: Undertaking internal project/contract auditor role
- Legal records: facilitating records for legal compliance on cost/open book contracts
- Payroll audit: Independent HR, payroll, carbon cost, gender pay-gap/balance audit
- Business case: Implementing Capex strategy/developing investment business cases
- ESG Finance training: upskilling staff/supply chain on ESG KPIs in decision-making
- ESG protocols: training & designing controls, tools, and templates for ESG reporting
SME Business Strategy -Tips & How can CFBL Consulting help
- Scale-up investor funding pitch diagnostic assessment and recommendations
- Developing a sustainable business plan for scaling up, funding, and advisory
- Developing/implementing strategy: sustainable business strategy for growth/scaling
- 5-Yr Strategic business planning: financial statements, analysis for funding & grants
- People training & upskilling: business and supply chain engagement and training
- Independent Fintech/Transformation Advisory: minimising risk and optimising ROI
- Capex Investments: optimising grants, funding R&D tax credits & capital allowances
- Financial management: tax, planning & implementing financial controls for resilience
- Finance business partnering providing strategic advice in financial decision making
Fintech & Digital Transformation Advisory – How can CFBL Consulting help
- Commercial systems: advisory on commercial, contract, cost, audits & projects
- Financial systems: advisory on financial, HR, management, and reporting systems
- ESG KPI reporting: Insight and benchmarking for reporting and competitive edge
- Independent advisory on payroll, project, contract, cost, audit and reporting software
- Independent advisory on technology that best aligns with strategic objectives
- Training: delivering case-based training, for buy-in to technology & staff upskilling
Steering Group (CSR) Outputs: Tips – How our Steering Group Experts help
- Key Output 11- Risk and Market Forces
- Key Output 10 – The Future of Construction
- Key Output 9 – The Future of Assurance
- Key Output 8 – Technology
- Key Output 7 – Cost Assurance & Audit in Practice
- Key Output 6 – Cost Reporting
- Key Output 5 – The People Perspective
- Key Output 4 – The Legal Perspective
- Key Output 3 – Contracts & Key Terms
- Key Output 2 – Standards & Frameworks
- Key Output 1 – Cost Assurance Key Issues
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