Modern WIP: Bridging Finance & Operations — Session Recap
By Bruce Orr, CEO & Chief Data Scientist, ProNovos
Business
On May 21, I had the privilege of presenting alongside Avi Reddy, CEO of Envision Construction, to a room of construction financial leaders at the Construction Financial Management Association’s (CFMA) Annual Conference. Our session, Modern WIP: Bridging Finance & Operations, focused on transforming the Work-in-Progress (WIP) report from a monthly task into a leadership tool that empowers collaboration, accountability, and proactive decision-making.
We opened with a simple premise: your WIP report shouldn’t just explain what happened last month. It should help you make informed decisions for current and future months.
Avi shared how his company’s rapid growth revealed financial blind spots, especially around job borrowing. That term alone sparked some great conversation, so let me pause and explain it.
What is Job Borrow?
Job borrowing refers to the practice of using cash from one project to fund expenses on another. It’s often an early sign that financial imbalances are hiding in plain sight. Without clear visibility, it becomes easy to misjudge the true health of a project. Avi saw it firsthand and used it as a signal to rethink how his teams were working and whether they were working cohesively together.
Moving Beyond Traditional WIP
We explored the problems with traditional WIP processes: Excel sheets passed between siloed teams, outdated information, and time-consuming reviews. These delays create a lag in decision-making that can be costly for contractors. That is where automation comes in. I shared how automating the WIP process—using integrated systems that pull directly from your ERP—helps eliminate manual data entry, improve accuracy, and build trust between the field and finance. Avi described how Envision’s team adapted once they had accurate, real-time data in their hands. The shift wasn’t just operational. It was cultural. PMs became more engaged in forecasting, and the friction between departments started to disappear.
Why Real-Time Data Matters
One of my favorite moments was when we talked about moving from hindsight to insight. Real-time WIP allows teams to catch early warning signs, like margin fade or resource bottlenecks, while there’s still time to course correct. Avi gave a real-world example of how his team used early WIP insights to proactively adjust staffing on a project, protecting both timeline and profitability.
Collaboration is the End Goal
The session wrapped with a conversation on accountability. When PMs, finance, and leadership all understand and contribute to WIP reviews, the data becomes more than numbers; it becomes a conversation. Avi talked about how Envision built a cadence of cross-functional reviews, where PMs are not just reporting numbers but owning them. That kind of collaboration doesn’t happen by accident. It starts with clarity and a shared system everyone can rely on.
What We Couldn’t Get To
There was one important piece of Avi’s story we didn’t have time to unpack fully: how capital fueled Envision Construction’s growth.
As Avi scaled Envision across multiple states, he didn’t just rely on operational discipline and data. He also tapped into QuickPay capital to bridge the cash flow gaps that come with rapid expansion. It gave him the flexibility to take on more work without waiting on delayed payments or risking overextension. That access to capital, paired with financial clarity, allowed him to make bold moves with confidence.
The lesson here? Financial visibility is powerful. But when you combine it with access to flexible capital, you move faster, grow stronger, and make better decisions under pressure. That’s what Avi did, and it serves as a blueprint that many contractors can follow.
Questions From the Audience
We had great engagement during the session, and I wanted to take a moment to answer a few of the questions that came up about ProNovos. I’ll give you my take here, and if you want to go deeper, feel free to book a time with me.
Which ERPs does ProNovos integrate with? ProNovos integrates with leading ERPs, including Sage 100 Contractor, Sage 300 CRE, Sage Intacct, Viewpoint Vista, Viewpoint Spectrum, Foundation, Acumatica, CMiC, QuickBooks, and more. If your ERP isn’t listed, reach out—we’re always expanding our integrations.
How can you have real-time WIP if you don’t receive or post subcontractor requisitions until month-end? That’s a common scenario. The key is that ProNovos pulls data as it becomes available, allowing teams to monitor cost accruals, labor hours, committed costs, and other indicators between formal postings. It’s not about perfection. It’s about better visibility sooner, so you’re not flying blind until the end of the month.
Does ProNovos use predictive modeling like S-curves? Can you override data points like percent complete? Yes, ProNovos supports predictive analytics and modeling, including S-curves. And yes, users can override data points, such as percent complete, when there’s a need to reconcile differences between accounting and field perspectives. Transparency is built into the override process.
Is real-time sync available to all customers now? Real-time syncing depends on the ERP system and the configuration. For many integrations, including Foundation Software, real-time or near real-time sync is available. We’re continuing to expand that capability across platforms.
Why did Envision Construction choose ProNovos over building dashboards in Sage Intacct? Avi’s answer during the session was simple: “Have you seen the WIP in Sage?” The functionality just wasn’t there. ProNovos offered the level of detail, flexibility, and financial intelligence Envision needed to lead, not just report.
How do you override percent complete when PMs and accounting have different views? In ProNovos, you can input separate percent complete values for financial reporting versus operational forecasting. This allows you to reconcile and document both perspectives clearly, without compromising reporting accuracy.
How do you help PMs know what they should bill to stay ahead of costs? ProNovos highlights billing targets based on month-to-date costs and projected spend, helping PMs see if they’re underbilling, right on track, or at risk of falling behind. It turns billing into a strategic decision rather than a guess.
Can you talk more about cost-loaded scheduling? Cost-loaded scheduling allows you to align scheduled tasks with expected costs, giving you a better view of how project progress ties back to budget and forecast. ProNovos supports this through our project performance dashboards and forecasting tools, helping teams map cost and schedule data side by side.
Final Thoughts
The feedback from this session confirmed something we’ve believed for a long time: your WIP has the potential to be more than just a report. It can serve as a performance driver, a catalyst for cultural shift, and a leadership tool. Thanks again to Avi Reddy for sharing his experience, and to all of the CFMA attendees who showed up ready to ask questions and challenge the status quo.
If you’re ready to take a hard look at your WIP process and explore what modern WIP can do for your team, let’s talk.
