Project costs disappear in the company-wide totals
A single profit-and-loss report can hide fee leakage, external consultant costs and jobs where the remaining work will cost more than expected.
Project-based professional practices
Accounting for engineering consultancies that run on projects
Your engineering team manages the technical delivery. Didiserv helps organise the financial records, project-linked reporting, payroll and compliance work behind it, with clear responsibility for each monthly and annual obligation.
Your operational challenges
Where financial control breaks down
Milestone billing and payroll run on different clocks
Staff, specialist contractors and overheads are paid monthly even when client invoices depend on approvals, deliverables or delayed collections.
Compliance competes with project delivery
VAT, payroll reconciliations, company tax and financial statements still need reliable source records while the team concentrates on clients.
Agreed scope, reliable records
How Didiserv can support your finance function
Monthly books and management accounts
Maintain reconciled records and monthly reporting so owners can assess overheads, debtors, cash and operating performance without waiting for year-end.
Project-aware financial visibility
Assess the quality of project codes, costs, subcontractor invoices and billing data. Agree a practical project reporting method where the accounting system and available evidence support it.
VAT, payroll and company-tax coordination
Connect VAT201, employer declarations, provisional-tax planning, ITR14 and annual financial statement preparation to a visible obligation calendar and appropriate professional review.
Xero setup and controlled handover
Where suitable, use Xero-connected accounting and controlled migration from prior records. Reconcile the opening balances and confirm the available reporting structure before promising project-level outputs.
A practical starting point
Start with a finance and compliance review
We establish the accounting period, current records, outstanding statutory work and reporting needs. Then we agree the scope, responsibilities and fees before work begins.
Discuss your accounting requirementsUseful records for the initial assessment
- Recent management accounts or trial balance
- Current bank and accounting software access arrangements
- Sample project invoices and major cost categories
- Payroll summary and most recent SARS filing status
Do not submit tax returns, payroll data or sensitive records through an unsecured enquiry. We will arrange a suitable document handover where necessary.
Common questions
Can you report profitability by engineering project?
Project-level reporting may be scoped where invoices, costs and project identifiers are recorded consistently. We first assess the underlying source data and accounting setup rather than promising a dashboard that the records cannot support.
Can we keep our existing Xero organisation?
Yes, subject to a review of your existing setup, reconciliation state, access and reporting requirements. A system migration is not automatically necessary.
Do you cover both recurring accounting and SARS work?
Yes, under an agreed scope. Didiserv handles accounting and compliance coordination, with tax work requiring practitioner registration handled under a SARS-registered practitioner of record and the necessary client mandate.
Does this include an audit or independent review?
No. Annual financial statement preparation is distinct from an audit or independent review. Any legally required assurance engagement must be separately arranged with an appropriately authorised independent professional.
Financial reporting scope depends on the available source data. Didiserv does not certify engineering work or offer audit or assurance services through this page.
Independent regulatory references
Official sources for compliance information
SARS and CIPC guidance was checked on 2 November 2026. We distinguish the authority's stated update or enforcement dates from our check date. Requirements can change; client-specific tax and filing work is verified before submission.
- Tax practitioner registration requirements
SARS 路 SARS public registration guidance; no effective date stated on page
Source status: Official guidance checked 路 Checked 2 November 2026
Related services
Other industries we work with
Make financial control part of how your business operates.
Book a consultation to discuss your current setup and the most valuable work to prioritise.
Book a consultation