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Flagship sample — a process audit built entirely on public data. Most sample audits use invented companies. This one audits the Queensland residential building industry itself, using the QBCC Annual Report 2024–25, the QBCC open licence register and current Seek-sourced salary data. It demonstrates the exact five-area frame I run when auditing a builder's processes — here, the "client" is the industry.
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$31.4M non-completion insurance claims approved under the QLD Home Warranty Scheme
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864 unlicensed contracting investigations — the #1 offence (46%)
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5,771 defective / incomplete work complaints lodged with the QBCC
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801 + 274 early-dispute-resolution cases and QCAT review applications
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1,223 Directions to Rectify issued, plus 3,682 licensing audits completed
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Status key: GAP = urgent fix · WATCH = monitor and systemise
| Audit area | Status | What the public record shows | What I put in place | Days saved / risk reduced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Project pipeline visibility | WATCH | $31.4M in non-completion insurance claims approved in 2024–25 — non-completion is what an invisible pipeline looks like at the end state. | One-page pipeline dashboard per project (schedule + RFI + variation + stat dec status); 10-minute weekly schedule update habit. | 3–5 builder hrs/wk recovered (≈ $18,000/yr of builder time) |
| 2. Paperwork pipeline health | GAP | 5,771 defective/incomplete work complaints lodged in 2024–25; common contract breaches identified by the QBCC include deposit amounts, variations and progress payments. | RFI log with 7/14-day aging flags; payment claim calendar locked to each contract's BIF Act billing dates. | Each 14-day-aged RFI risks 2–3 idle crew-days (≈ $5,000–$7,000 per occurrence) |
| 3. Permit & inspection coordination | WATCH | 1,223 Directions to Rectify issued and 3,682 licensing audits completed in 2024–25 — regulators are actively checking, so trackers can't live in someone's head. | Permit/inspection tracker with 48-hour reminders before every booked inspection. | Avoids failed-inspection rebooks ($400–$600 each) |
| 4. Sub coordination | GAP | Unlicensed contracting was the #1 offence investigated in 2024–25 (864 cases, 46%); insurance-related non-compliance was #3 (339 cases, 18%). Expired Certificates of Currency on site are a state-wide pattern, not a one-off. | Sub register with COC expiry alerts at 30/14/7 days; rule enforced: no current certificate = no site access. | One uninsured incident = uncapped liability exposure; no-show pattern ≈ 1–2 lost days/mo |
| 5. Reporting frame | WATCH | 801 early-dispute-resolution cases and 274 QCAT review applications in 2024–25 — most builder–owner disputes begin as information gaps, not bad work. | Friday owner update (status, milestones, pending variations, photos) + Friday internal weekly report to the builder. | 1.5 hrs/wk of interruptions back (≈ $7,000/yr) + contemporaneous dispute protection |
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Top 3 highest-leverage fixes — ranked by impact, not effort
QLD builders hiring coordination help onshore are paying Contracts Administrator salaries. The current market:
| Option | Basis | Annual cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Onshore Contracts Administrator (full-time) | QLD market average, Seek-sourced salary data | $135,000 • super | Most common advertised range $105K–$165K; disclosed ads currently run from $90K (junior, Brisbane/SEQ) to $140K |
| Onshore Project Coordinator (full-time) | QLD market average, Seek-sourced salary data | $87,500 • super | Coordinator-titled roles: most common advertised range $60K–$120K |
| Onshore, conservative junior hire | Low end of live SEQ ads + 12% super | ≈ $100,800 | $90K base — the floor, not the median |
| Onshore, part-time casual | $60/hr × 20 hrs/wk × 48 wks | ≈ $57,600 | Hourly casual, no leave loading counted |
| Working with me — Standard Retainer | $2,400 AUD/month, fixed | $28,800 | Procore-certified coordination, chasing and weekly reporting |
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Saving on labour alone: ≈ $28,800–$72,000+ per year, depending on which comparison you use. You're not paying less for less — you're paying a Philippine cost base for the same certified coordination work. That's geography, not quality.
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Conservative worked-example figures — swap in your own crew rates and the conclusion holds:
| Source | Assumption | Est. value / year |
|---|---|---|
| Idle crew time prevented | One 2-day hold per project × 3 projects × $2,400/crew-day | $14,400 |
| Builder's phone time back | 1.5 hrs/wk × 48 wks × $120/hr | $8,600 |
| No-show days prevented | Conservatively 4 crew-days/yr × $2,400 | $10,000 |
| Failed-inspection rebooks avoided | 3 per year × $500 | $1,500 |
| Total recovered | ≈ $34,500 |
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The bottom line: year one, roughly $63,000–$106,000 saved and recovered against a $28,800 retainer — the retainer pays for itself at least twice over, before counting dispute protection. Honest note: a full-time Contracts Administrator also handles procurement and contract negotiation, which sit outside this retainer. What I take off your plate is the coordination, chasing and reporting slice — the part currently falling through the cracks while your PM runs site.
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Want this run on your business? The same five-area frame is available as a paid audit, and the top 3 fixes are built in the Setup Project ($1,800 AUD fixed, 10 business days). Ongoing chasing and reporting sits in the Standard Retainer ($2,400 AUD/month) — full details on the Services & Pricing page, or get in touch via Work With Me.
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