How a construction CFO evaluates accounting systems

What should construction companies really look for in an accounting system?

From my experience as a controller and CFO in the construction industry, the conversation often starts with features. One level deeper, it’s really about how well a system supports visibility, control, and day-to-day decision-making.

Over the years, I’ve worked with both Sage 100 Contractor and Sage 300 CRE across different construction environments - subcontractors, developers, and general contractors. When companies move to a more modern system like Sage Intacct Construction, a few improvements consistently stand out.

Here are five that tend to have the biggest impact.

Watch the full walkthrough

Key improvements that matter

1. Real-time visibility supports better decisions

When financial and project data is live, teams can act while work is still in progress. Not weeks later. That changes how quickly issues are identified and addressed.

2. Drill-down reduces reliance on spreadsheets

Instead of exporting reports, teams can move from summary to transaction detail instantly. That saves time and makes it easier to explain changes during project reviews.

3. Multi-entity consolidation becomes more efficient

As companies grow, managing multiple entities becomes more complex. Being able to handle intercompany activity and consolidated reporting inside the system reduces manual effort significantly.

4. Custom fields align the system to your business

Every construction company tracks jobs differently. The ability to configure fields that flow through reports, workflows, and dashboards allows the system to reflect how your business actually operates.

5. Workflows improve consistency across teams

Approvals, compliance checks, and purchasing processes run more smoothly when the system supports how your teams already work. This helps reduce errors and improves overall consistency.

Frequently asked questions

1. How Sage Intacct Construction compare to Sage 300 CRE or Sage 100 Contractor

Many of the companies I work with are evaluating whether to stay on their current system or move to a cloud-based solution. If you’re in that position, this resource guide can help. It highlights the key differences and includes a demo showing how job costing works in Sage Intacct Construction.

2. Can you run project management directly in Sage Intacct Construction, or do you need Procore?

It depends on how your team operates.

Sage Intacct Construction can support core project financial management on its own, and I’ve seen customers manage their projects directly within the system without adding a separate project management tool.

That said, many companies choose to integrate with tools like Procore or Sage Construction Management, especially when they want stronger field collaboration, document control, or scheduling.

The key is flexibility. You can manage projects within the ERP or connect to a dedicated project management platform depending on your needs.

3. What payroll and HR systems work with Sage Intacct Construction?

Most construction companies continue to use specialized payroll systems, especially when dealing with union payroll, certified payroll, or multi-state requirements.

Common options include:

• ADP Workforce Now
• Paymate
• Miter
• Sage HCM
• Hammr

These systems integrate with Sage Intacct Construction so payroll can remain in a system designed for that complexity, while financial data flows into the ERP for reporting and job costing.

4. Do you still need Excel for reporting?

Much less than before.

If you’re coming from Sage 300 CRE and using tools like Office Connector, the equivalent in Sage Intacct Construction is Velixo, which connects live data to Excel.

The difference is how Excel is used. Instead of rebuilding reports, teams typically use it for:

• Budgeting
• Forecasting
• Ad hoc analysis

Day-to-day financial reporting and dashboards are handled directly in the system with real-time data.

5. What integrations are available?

Sage Intacct Construction is built with an open API, allowing it to integrate with a wide range of systems.

In most construction companies, different teams rely on specialized tools for their work, such as:

• Field and service management
• Project management  
• Payroll and human resources  
• Customer relationship management (CRM)  
• Accounts payable automation  

The choice is yours. You’re not locked into a single system to handle everything.

The goal is to build a connected system that fits how your business operates, with each tool doing what it does best.

6. How do user permissions and access control work?

One of the strengths of modern systems is the ability to control access by role.

For example:

• Project managers can be given access to project dashboards and cost data without seeing full financial statements
• Executives can view consolidated financials across entities
• Accounting teams retain full access to transactional and reporting functions

This allows each team to get the information they need without exposing unnecessary data or creating risk.

7. What does implementation and migration typically look like?

Implementation timelines vary depending on complexity, but most construction companies are typically looking at a range of a few months rather than a full year-long process.

There isn’t a specific “best” time of year to move. What matters more is aligning the transition with your team’s readiness and workload.

For data migration, the process is usually structured around a defined cutoff date. From there, companies go through a short transition period, often a one-to-two-day window.  

The key data brought into the new system typically includes:

• Opening balances  
• Open accounts payable and accounts receivable  
• General ledger history for comparative financials  
• Active project data  

That approach allows teams to move into the new system with the information they need to continue operating and reporting without interruption.

Depending on timing, some companies run systems in parallel during transition, but the goal is to move into a single system as quickly as practical.

In our experience, we guide clients through preparing their data, and our team handles the migration to ensure a clean starting point.

Your next steps

If you are evaluating accounting systems, it’s worth stepping back and reviewing how your current workflows, reporting, and data visibility support your business today.

Have a question we didn’t cover? Connect with our construction team.