Roles & Responsibilities of a QS (Quantity Surveyor) & Billing Engineer
Estimation & Costing Preparing preliminary cost estimates from drawings and specifications
BOQ Preparation – Drafting the Bill of Quantities for tendering
Tender Analysis – Comparing vendor/subcontractor quotations, negotiating rates
Rate Analysis – Working out unit rates for materials, labor, and equipment
During Construction
Measurement of Work Done – Taking site measurements as per drawings and actual execution (this is the core of "billing")
Running Account (RA) Bills – Preparing interim/progress bills for contractors or clients based on work completed
Final Bill Preparation – Compiling the final bill upon project completion
MB (Measurement Book) Maintenance – Recording measurements systematically for audit/reference
Rate Reconciliation – Ensuring billed rates match contract/agreed rates
Variation & Extra Item Billing – Identifying and billing for work outside the original scope (extra items, deviations)
Cross-checking Quantities – Verifying quantities against drawings, site execution, and material consumption
Certifying Subcontractor Bills – Reviewing and approving subcontractor/vendor bills before payment
Cost Control & Reporting
Budget Monitoring – Tracking actual costs vs. estimated/budgeted costs
Cost Variance Reports – Reporting overruns or savings to project management
Material Reconciliation – Comparing material issued vs. material consumed vs. wastage
Cash Flow Forecasting – Projecting upcoming billing and payment cycles
Contractual & Documentation
Contract Administration – Ensuring billing complies with contract terms and conditions
Claims & Disputes – Handling contractor claims for extra work, delays, or rate disputes
Compliance – Ensuring statutory deductions (GST/TDS, labor cess, etc., depending on country) are correctly applied in bills
Documentation – Maintaining records of approved drawings, work orders, correspondence for audit trail
Coordination
Liaising between site engineers, project managers, clients, and accounts/finance department
Coordinating with planning/design teams for BOQ updates due to design changes
Working with procurement for material rate updates