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Contract Costing and Billing for Professional Services Firms

Consultancies, law firms, engineering practices and agencies across Africa sell time and expertise, yet many struggle to cost engagements and bill profitably. This course gives finance and project staff practical tools to cost contracts, track work in progress and bill clients accurately. Participants learn to protect margins, reduce write offs and improve cash flow on client engagements.

What you will be able to do

  • Cost professional service engagements accurately.
  • Set charge out rates that recover cost and target margin.
  • Track time, work in progress and recoverability.
  • Manage fixed price, retainer and time based contracts.
  • Bill clients promptly and reduce write offs.
  • Analyse engagement profitability to guide pricing.

Course outline

  1. 01Economics of a Services Firm
  2. 02Costing an Engagement
  3. 03Setting Charge Out Rates
  4. 04Work in Progress and Recoverability
  5. 05Fixed Price, Retainer and Time Based Contracts
  6. 06Billing and Reducing Write Offs
  7. 07Engagement Profitability Analysis

Who should attend

Practice managers, project accountants, finance staff and engagement leaders in consultancies and professional services firms.

Dates, venues and fees

DatesVenueDaysFeeCalendar
17 to 19 Aug 2026Dar es Salaam3US$1,500
24 to 26 Aug 2026Pretoria3R13,000
31 Aug to 2 Sep 2026Cape Town3R13,000
14 to 16 Sep 2026Online3US$900
21 to 23 Sep 2026Mozambique3US$1,500
28 to 30 Sep 2026Cairo3US$1,500
5 to 7 Oct 2026Accra3US$1,500
12 to 14 Oct 2026Lusaka3US$1,500
19 to 21 Oct 2026Kigali3US$1,500
26 to 28 Oct 2026Nairobi3US$1,500
2 to 4 Nov 2026Durban3R13,000
9 to 11 Nov 2026Johannesburg3R13,000
23 to 25 Nov 2026Mauritius3US$1,500
30 Nov to 2 Dec 2026Dubai3US$1,500
7 to 9 Dec 2026Lagos3US$1,500
14 to 16 Dec 2026Harare3US$1,500
21 to 23 Dec 2026Kampala3US$1,500

Fees are per delegate. South African venues are priced in rand; other locations and online in US dollars. Fees exclude 15% VAT where applicable. Group bookings of three or more delegates from the same organisation qualify for a reduced rate; contact us for a quotation.

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