Auditing

• Audits of financial costs of construction contracts with architects, engineers, construction managers, general contractors, and subcontractors.
• Pro-active project life cycle audits (bid process, pay applications, change orders, others) conducted as construction is being performed.
• Project close-out audits.
• Post-project / recovery audits.
• Specialist augmentation of internal audit staffs where breath and depth of construction expertise may be weak.

Consulting

• Owner’s expert knowledge resource. Protection of owner’s interests.
• Analysis and upgrading of Owner contracts; esp. AIA based contracts.
• Financial administration of Owner contracts and construction cost monitoring.
• Consultations on Best Practices for the financial administration of construction contracts.
• Dispute resolution services:
  • Arbitration support
  • Claims mitigation support
  • Expert witness testimony and support

Sarbanes-Oxley Compliant Audits

• DCA serves primarily as a company’s internal auditor of architectural, engineering, and construction contracts where the in-house audit staff does not have the required experience.
• DCA is qualified as required by the Institute of Internal Auditors’ Practice Advisory 1210.A.1-1: Obtaining the Services to Support or Complement the Internal Audit Activity.
  • “The internal audit activity should have employees or use outside service providers who are qualified in disciplines such as accounting, auditing . . . engineering . . . and such other areas as needed to meet the internal audit activity’s responsibilities.”
  • “An outside service provider is a person or firm, independent of the organization, who has special knowledge, skill, and experience in a particular discipline.”
  • When assessing the competency of an outside service provider, the owner should consider:
    • Professional certification
    • Membership in an appropriate professional organization
    • The provider’s reputation, experience, education and training