Bauabrechner/Bauabrechnerin

Media sources related to this profession include Allgemeine Bauzeitung ABZ, Ausbildungs- und Fachkräftereport der Bauwirtschaft, bauen aktuell, Baugewerbe, Baunetz Wissen, bauprofessor.de, Kompetenznetzwerk Bau und Energie e.V., and Offensive Gutes Bauen.

New European Bauhaus and Renovation Wave: The European Commission launched the 'new European Bauhaus' in September 2020. This initiative develops new, sustainable, and climate-neutral construction methods and design forms. Technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data increase resource efficiency. The goal is to improve quality of life and transition to a sustainable circular economy. The existing building stock is also to be made more climate-neutral and energy-efficient. The EU aims to at least double the renovation rate by 2030, which is expected to create up to 160,000 additional green jobs in the construction sector. Specialists and managers from relevant disciplines will address the resulting opportunities and fields of activity. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Accounting and Financial Management: High-performance scanners can scan a large volume of invoices and documents in a very short time.

Construction accountants usually work in offices and on construction sites. They may also work from a home office or remotely if needed.

Core competencies generally required in this profession include: billing, tendering, awarding, service description, and invoice verification. Other competencies that may be important for practicing this profession include: surveying, construction and architectural law, architectural drafting, controlling, cost calculation, cost analysis, cost control, cost and performance accounting, and post-calculation. Other relevant skills and knowledge include the competency groups 'Construction Processing Software (Tendering, Awarding)' and 'Business Administration, Finance, and Controlling Software'.

Construction accountants need construction-technical and commercial knowledge to bill for construction services and monitor compliance with the construction budget. Careful work is essential for correct and timely invoicing. Discretion is an important prerequisite, as construction accountants have insight into important data and confidential documents. They are usually subordinate to the management. They work closely with the respective construction managers, but mostly independently within their area of responsibility. Construction accountants primarily work in the office, where they prepare billing documents on the computer, for example. Occasionally, they also have to deal with construction sites, for example, when coordinating with specialists from different trades. In such cases, wearing protective clothing, such as safety helmets, may be necessary.

An exemplary gross basic tariff salary (monthly) ranges from 3,385 € to 4,739 €. Source: Tariff collection of the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labor and Social Affairs. This information is for orientation purposes only. No claims can be derived from it.

Construction accountants work in various sectors such as building construction, concrete and reinforced concrete construction, and furnace and chimney construction. They can also be employed in the construction of buildings (excluding prefabricated construction), the erection of prefabricated buildings, chimney, furnace, and industrial oven construction, and other specialized building construction activities, for example, in asbestos remediation companies. They also work in civil engineering areas such as road and railway construction, pipeline civil engineering, well construction, and sewage treatment plant construction. Other civil engineering areas, such as hydraulic engineering, interior finishing works, other building installations like cooling, heating, and sound insulation, and other interior finishing works such as carpentry, plastering, painting, and glazing, are also their fields of work. They can also be involved in demolition work, construction site preparation, and scaffolding. They are employed by developers for residential and other buildings and in engineering services, for example, in engineering offices for the overall structural planning of engineering structures and traffic systems, such as the billing of construction projects.

Employers often expect a technical Ausbildung (vocational training) or Weiterbildung (further training) in construction, or a corresponding Studium (university degree).

To enter this profession, one can study architecture (undergraduate and postgraduate), construction business administration, construction management (undergraduate and postgraduate), civil engineering (undergraduate and postgraduate), building services engineering, building energy technology (undergraduate and postgraduate), geotechnology (undergraduate and postgraduate), infrastructure management (undergraduate and postgraduate), landscape architecture, open space planning (undergraduate and postgraduate), landscape construction (undergraduate and postgraduate), water and soil management, water technology (undergraduate and postgraduate).

Construction accountants find employment in construction companies and with property developers, as well as in engineering offices for overall structural planning.

The common professional title is Bauabrechner/in. It is also commonly known as Baustellenabrechner/in.

Construction accountants may sometimes need to possess a Class B driving license, for example, to reach construction sites.

Construction accountants ensure the timely billing and accounting of construction projects.

Job and applicant platforms for construction accountants: Bau.de, bauen aktuell, bauingenieur24.de, Baujobs.ch, BauNetz, bau-stellen.de, Die Möglichmacher - Facility Management (GEFMA German Facility Management Association), Fish4Jobs | Construction, Le Moniteur Emploi.

Associations and organizations related to construction accountants: BG BAU - Berufsgenossenschaft der Bauwirtschaft (Professional Association of the Construction Industry), Bundesamt für Bauwesen und Raumordnung (BBR) (Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning), Hauptverband der Deutschen Bauindustrie e.V. (Central Association of the German Construction Industry), Industriegewerkschaft Bauen-Agrar-Umwelt (IG BAU) (Construction-Agriculture-Environment Industrial Union).

Construction accountants typically work at a computer, using billing and calculation programs. They work in office environments, preparing invoices and checking invoiced services from suppliers and subcontractors.

Construction accountants work with documents such as construction and execution plans, measurements, billing documents, execution plans, performance reports, interim and final invoices, supplier and company invoices, and post-calculations. They also use office equipment and software like PCs, internet access, telephones, and billing software.

Construction accountants prepare billing documents for construction projects based on execution plans, mass calculations, or on-site measurements of rendered construction services. They check invoices from suppliers and subcontractors and prepare interim or overall invoices. Furthermore, they plan, manage, and monitor order processing and ensure contractually compliant and timely implementation.

There are various pathways to enter this profession. These include Ausbaumanager (dual-qualified vocational training), Bachelor Professional for Energy Efficiency and Digital Construction Project Management, Certified Specialist for Building Information Modeling (BIM) in Crafts, State-certified Business Manager specializing in Construction and Wood Technology, Well Construction Master/Bachelor Professional in Well Construction Crafts, CAD Specialist in Construction, Roofer Master/Bachelor Professional in Roofing Crafts, Screed Layer Master/Bachelor Professional in Screed Laying Crafts, Specialist for Road and Traffic Technology, Specialist for Water Management, State-recognized Specialist Leader for Roof, Wall, and Sealing Technology, Specialist Planner for Energy and Building Technology, Construction Business Administrator, Tile, Slab, and Mosaic Layer Master.

Adaptation training helps to keep professional knowledge current and adapt it to new developments (e.g., in accounting, costing, controlling, or construction law). Furthermore, the trend towards sustainable and climate-neutral construction methods, combined with new design forms and digital technologies, can become an important further training topic for construction accountants. The use of Artificial Intelligence in the billing of construction projects also offers further training potential.

Further professional and career opportunities open up – depending on professional background – through advanced training (e.g., to become a Construction Business Administrator), a basic or advanced university degree (Studium) (e.g., in Construction Business Administration, Construction Management). Under certain conditions, a Studium is also possible without a school-based university entrance qualification. For more information: Access to higher education in the individual Bundesländer (federal states) of Germany.

Tasks include taking on responsibilities in the planning of construction projects, creating performance descriptions, obtaining and comparing cost estimates and offers, calculating construction costs for individual trades, tendering services, managing, monitoring, and documenting order processing, commissioning construction companies, planning deadlines, answering customer inquiries about construction costs, billing construction projects, calculating costs for building materials and construction services and preparing billing documents, checking invoices from suppliers and subcontractors, preparing interim and final accounts, conducting actual-target comparisons, monitoring payment receipts, handling dunning processes, and preparing commercial project status reports, post- and final calculations, as well as final reports.

The following lists professions or activities that show similarities to the original profession. These professions represent a possible alternative for applicants. Furthermore, employers can consider personnel from these professions as alternatives for filling a position in the original profession. Some alternative professions only encompass partial activities of the original profession, while others require an induction period, which can vary in length in individual cases. The following immediate employment and staffing alternatives are available for the profession of Construction Accountant: For the overall activity (usually short induction): Business Administrator (University) for Construction Industry, Construction Business Administrator. For professional specializations (usually short induction): Construction Cost Estimator. In related professions: Construction and Project Commercial Clerk. A list of all possible degrees of relatedness can be found here: Explanations.