Summary

Deecon partnered with Avove to recover significant outstanding Work in Progress (WIP) across multiple contracts and paused orders. Through a structured four-step approach—data gathering, WIP tracking, validation, and prioritisation—Deecon identified and substantiated over £2.57 million in WIP across 445 projects, with the majority prioritised as quick wins. This process enabled Avove to reclaim funds efficiently, validate over 400 final accounts, and replicate the success across additional workstreams.

The Requirement

The scope of work that Deecon completed was comprised of both active and legacy projects—some already final accounted, others still pending. These were across multiple workstreams (lots) with one workstream (Aqueducts) presenting the largest challenge, with approximately 445 projects. While most had been final accounted, significant WIP remained outstanding and needed to be reclaimed.

The Solution

To tackle this, Deecon implemented a structured four-step approach:

Data Gathering: Deecon began by requesting all relevant documentation and supporting information to understand the current position. This included Applications for Payment (AfPs), remit data, and accounting data from Avove’s finance team
Building a WIP Tracker: The team consolidated multiple data sources into a comprehensive WIP tracker for all 445 projects. Inputs included total applied amounts, revised Total Cost Estimate values (from AfPs), paid-to-date figures (from Finance), and calculated outstanding amounts. Each project was then assessed and assigned a rating to indicate claim-back risk:
- Green: Low Risk – Final account agreed with outstanding WIP
- Amber: Medium Risk – Final account submitted, on hold, or in progress
- Red: High Risk – Final account cancelled or rejected
Validation and Substantiation: Working closely with Avove stakeholders, Deecon validated final account values and updated project statuses. Using CEMAR data and confirmed final accounts, Deecon recalculated revised outstanding values, ensuring accuracy and transparency
Prioritisation and Action: Once validated, Deecon summarised findings into quick wins and more complex claim-backs. Projects marked as low risk were prioritised for immediate recovery, and discrepancies were escalated for resolution

The Results

Through a systematic and collaborative approach, Deecon delivered clarity, accelerated recovery, and maximised financial outcomes for Avove, including:

Identified over £2.57 million in outstanding WIP across 445 Aqueducts projects
£2.52 million classified as quick wins, with all final accounts agreed
Recovered an additional £26.6k of WIP in other workstreams
Substantiated and validated over 400 final accounts, enabling Avove to submit accurate Applications for Payment and secure certification from the client