Master Project Budget / ACR
A. Project Budget Creation
Let's create a budget to start tracking financials for your project. Click here to learn more about budget creation.
Using the Project Navigation Menu or the Project Dashboard navigate to the Master Project Budget / ACR. ACR stands for "Anticipated Cost Report".
Make sure you are in the Owner Budget (not My Budget) tab in the top right-hand corner.
Select Create Single Master Budget. At this stage you also have the option to create a Feasibility Study. Feasibility Studies can be used to compare budget options before a budget has been created. Click here to find out more about feasibility studies.
Click Load cost codes from template. Budgets can be created by building out categories and cost codes manually or by loading a company template.
Select the Life Cycle Format - Standard Tenant Improvements template by searching for it in the search bar or finding it in the list. This will import the cost code structure for your project budget based on a standard tenant improvement type project. Click Load Selected.
You will be prompted to confirm your project base currency as USD. Click Proceed.
NOTE: The full library of Templates and the master lists from which they are made can be found in the Lists and Templates tab in the Left-Hand Navigator. Project Managers have view-only access to the lists and templates. Once using the system for real projects, if there is a template you would like to create or an item you feel should be added to the master list please contact your system administrator. Only system administrators will be able to edit the Lists and Templates.
B. Build the Master Project Budget
Click Expand All to view all cost codes displayed on this Master Budget/ ACR.
Find the Cost Code: 02.0210 Architect under Professional Design Services, and enter $206,250 in Column ‘A’ Original Budget.
Find the Cost Code: 03.0490 Project Management Services under Professional Consulting Services, and enter $110,000.
Find the Cost Code: 08.1090 Project Contingency under Miscellaneous Cost, and enter $476,625.
Find the Cost Code: 04.0605 Construction - Interiors under Construction Cost.
Click the calculator icon
Budget Line Items can be added manually or loaded from templates and can be used to break down budget values. Click Load from Template.
Select the Construction (Base Bldg & Interiors) - Ten Rep Interiors Conceptual template by searching for it in the search bar or finding it in the list. Click Load.
Delete the Construction - Restroom Upgrades and/or Modifications line item using the trash can icon.
Input the following values:
Click Save
The total budget at this point should be $5,242,875.00. If your budget total is different than this make sure to double check the numbers that you input into the cost codes referenced above.
C. Approve the Budget
Approving the budget as "final" locks in the Original Budget Values in Column A of the Master Project Budget. This allows a solid baseline to compare changing costs against. There is also the option for phased approvals. Click here to learn more about phased approvals.
Click Approve at the top right of the Master Budget / ACR
Fill out the approval details:
Enter “Your Name_Training” as the Approval Name
Select Final Approval
Type 'YES'
Add Note: Budget approved on today's date
Click Approve budget
The budget is now approved. Notice that Column A of the budget is no longer editable. Changes to the budget will now be processed as an official budget change tracked in Columns B or D.
Funding Sources
D. Allocate Funding to the Budget
Funding sources represent the money available on a project for payment of committed costs. As funds are allocated to a project and invoiced, the funding sources will be automatically updated to reflect the total fund amount against the total amount billed, providing you with the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Create a funding source to represent the money coming from the tenant to fund the project.
Fill out the Tenant Funding Source Details:
Fund Name: 'Tenant Funding'
Provider, + Select John Smith at ABC and click the Bookmark icon on the right of the name. Click Save
Allocate the entire budget to the Tenant (until we know what the allocation to the landlord will be).
Create a funding source to represent the money coming from the landlord to fund the project.
Click the button for Add Fund.
Funding Type: Project Specific Fund. Click Next Step
Funding Source Name: Landlord Funding
Provider, + Select William Starr at WRS Ownership Partner and click the Bookmark icon on the right of the name. Click Save.
Allocate a portion of the budget to the Landlord.
Click Save
Click Add New Fund to save the information entered.
Adjust Tenant Funding Amount. Now that the portion of the budget that will be funded by the landlord is determined, we need to adjust the Tenant Funding amount so that the project is not overfunded.
Click on the Tenant Funding source and select Edit.
Reduce the Tenant Funding amount
Click Save in Edit Fund (Total funding should now be $5,242,875.00)
E. Export Master Budget Summary and Details
The Master Project Budget / ACR has multiple export options and can be exported at any time. Export a pdf of the current budget.
Navigate back to the Master Budget / ACR using the navigation menu on the lefthand side of the screen
Download a PDF of the Budget.
View export options by clicking the Export icon in the top right corner.
Click Export to PDF
Select Project Budget PDF and click Next
Select Gross as the Area Type and click Next
Select Budget Summary & Detail and click Export
Look at the PDF you have exported. Notice the summary is on the first page and the detail breakdown on the second page with a project funding summary.
Proceed to Module 3