Quantity Surveyor

[Hgrove]

I gather a QS is a kind of accountant who specialises in working out what materials are needed in a contract for building services, and costs, so there are no surprises or risks to go overbudget later on.  Is this correct and/or is there anything else/more I should know please?

[El D]

Very generally yes - although they normally offer project managment services and negotiate fees, amend contracts, go and value the work completed for staged payments etc. The best ones will be aware of most issues that could arise eg legal/Local authority. A QS will work out the quantities, normally the contractor/builder will cost them and base their tender on this breakdown.

[luckystrike]

Yes, you are certainly on the right tracks, and El D's answer is excellent.

I'm a Chartered Quantity Surveyor, and I work for a main contractor, rather than a professional office or a Client.

My current position involves the complete financial and contractual control of several multi-million pound projects at any one time.  My main duties include client project management and contract administration; internal budgetary cost control and forecasting; handling contractual issues; quality assurance; health and safety matters; dispute resolution; preparation of valuations, variations and final accounts; and the procurement and management of sub-contractors and suppliers.

A natural progression for a Quantity Surveyor would be into the likes of Project Management, after they have gained a sound technical competence, and then developed their generic management skills.

Check out the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) website for more information.

[sam82]

just read through the postings im a quantity surveyor too all though not chartered im a member of the institute of civil engineering surveyors as i work for a civil engineering company, so it suits me better.

in my position i cover the same things as luckystrike.

[Octavius]

Well I am a PQS, the opposite number to luckystrike in a professional practice working for the client and with the design team.

Generally the roles are the same except we manage the clients budget and ensure that the design team can design to this budget.  Usually from the outset of design concept we will be involved with the designers providing detailed cost and procurement advice.  Then we select and tender to several contractors, make a recommendation to the client and provide the contractual mechanism for appointment and post contract financial management.  We advise the client and professional team in all cost & design, proactive risk management (looking at potential future cost increases/claims), monthly financial reports, contractual matters, carry out valuations, claims assessment and dispute resolution.  We work for a number of clients internationally on a wide range of small to multi-million pound projects, including offices, hotels, airports, railways, schools & hospitals amongst others.

Sometimes, we can also act as Project Managers, or Employers Agent for design & build projects - which is similar to a project manager/contract administrator and I have done this on a few projects.

[Octavius]

A tourist walked into a pet shop and was looking at the animals on display.  Whilst he was there, another customer walked in and said to the shopkeeper,
"Can I have a CAD Monkey please."
The shopkeeper nodded, went over to a cage at the side of the shop and took out a monkey.  He fitted a collar and lead, handed it to the customer. "That will be
�5,000." said the shopkeeper.  The customer paid and walked out with his monkey. Startled, the tourist went over to the shopkeeper and said, "That was a very expensive monkey. Most of them are only a few hundred pounds.
Why did that one cost so much?"
The shopkeeper answered, "Ah, that monkey can draw on CAD - very fast, clear layouts, no mistakes, well worth the money." The tourist looked at a monkey in another cage. "That one's even more expensive! �10,000! What does it do?"
"Oh, that ones a Design monkey; it can design systems, layout projects, mark-up drawings, write specifications, some even calculate. All the really
useful stuff", said the shopkeeper.
The tourist looked around for a little longer and saw a third monkey in a cage of its own. The price tag around its neck read �50,000. He gasped to the shopkeeper, "That one costs more than all the others put together! What on earth does it do?" The shopkeeper looked up and replied, "Well, I haven't actually seen it do anything, but it says it's a Quantity Surveyor."