Page 39 - Urban Construction Project Management

14 Chapter One
management software (see Chapter 15) to develop, monitor, and control the schedule.
The project management software has the capability of cost loading and resource load-
ing the schedule to further monitor and control the progress and cost of the work
simultaneously. The scheduler, like the estimator, will work out of the home office
during the preconstruction phase, and at the on-site project office for the balance of the
phases.

Accountant

The project accountant is the keeper of the books and all costs, and is responsible for
developing the periodic billing (requisition) for the project, tracking all payments,
disbursing all payments once payments are received from the owner, requesting
advances for deposits on order and contracts where appropriate, obtaining partial and
final waivers of lien, tracking all allowances, tracking all monies charged to the general
conditions for the project, tracking all monies charged against the project contingen-
cies, and developing all cost control and reports that may be required by the owner
for the project. These reports are usually developed on a monthly basis and submitted
with the requisition for the project. Project management software, as previously
described in the description of the scheduler’s responsibilities, is also available to the
accountants to assist in the performing of their duties and responsibilities. The account-
ant, like the scheduler and estimator, will work out of the home office during the pre-
construction phase, and at the on-site project office for the balance of the phases.

General Superintendent (GS)
The general superintendent (GS) for a large construction project is responsible for all
field construction activities. All superintendents, assistant superintendents, plan clerks,
timekeepers, labor foremen, etc. report to the GS. The GS is responsible for the on-site
field administration, supervision, and technical management of all construction opera-
tions, including direct supervision of all field construction personnel. The GS will be
involved with the planning of the work, scheduling, logistics, coordination and execu-
tion of the work, safety, quality control, punch list, security of the site, and inspections
approvals. The GS is often a person who has been involved in the construction indus-
try for a while, and is an experienced superintendent in many disciplines. The GS is
usually involved with the preconstruction services of a project, working from the home
office, and with the construction and project close-out phases working from the con-
struction site. Some CM/GCs utilize the GS on a more extensive basis to cover all
superintendent assignments across all projects within the organization.

Superintendent
There are usually a number of superintendents assigned to a project. They all work under
the direction of the GS in an assigned area of the project, which may be by areas to be
constructed, or by particular areas of specialization. The superintendent is usually a
person with a fair amount of experience in the construction industry, and who has worked
as an assistant superintendent for some time. The superintendents may be involved in the
preconstruction services of a project, working under a GS in the home office, and during
the construction and project close-out phases from the construction site.