Professional services
Professional Fee Scale Overruns
Compares consultant and built-environment fees against gazetted professional fee scales.
Why fee scales discipline consultant cost
Built-environment professionals are subject to gazetted fee scales set by their statutory councils, and paying consultants above the applicable scale without justification is an overpayment the AGSA's value-for-money work routinely challenges. Fee scales give the state an objective benchmark for what professional services should cost. AuditPro Core compares consultant and built-environment fees against the gazetted scales so overruns are identified and either justified or recovered.
The Numbers
AuditPro Core renders this view from your tenant's live, tamper-evident records. The figures below are illustrative sample data.
Engagements Tested
118
fee-scale based
Above Scale
31
26.3%
Overrun Value
R 14.8m
▲ R 3.7m
Avg Overrun
18%
above scale
Fee Overruns by Profession
Largest Fee-Scale Overruns
| Engagement | Scale Fee (R'000) | Billed (R'000) | Overrun % |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSP-441 | 2400 | 3120 | 30 |
| PSP-468 | 1800 | 2250 | 25 |
| PSP-490 | 1200 | 1380 | 15 |
Figures shown are illustrative sample data for demonstration. AuditPro Core renders these views from your own tenant's live, tamper-evident records.
Gazetted professional scales
Councils such as those for engineers, architects and quantity surveyors publish fee scales tied to project value and service stage. These provide a defensible reference for reasonable fees.
Fee basis matters
Fees may be a percentage of construction cost, time-based or lump sum, and each must be tested against the correct scale basis. Comparing a time-based fee to a percentage scale produces a meaningless result.
Scope creep and variations
Genuine scope increases can lawfully raise fees, but they must be documented and approved. Unexplained growth above scale is the exception to pursue.
Overrun consequences
Fees paid above scale without justification are overpayments that may be recoverable and reportable. Identifying them early preserves the option to recover before the contract closes.
How AuditPro Core Bridges the Gap
- Scale benchmarking: compares paid professional fees against the applicable gazetted scale for the project value and stage.
- Exception workflow: fees exceeding scale are flagged for justification or recovery.
- Reconciliation: ties each fee to its contract basis and approved scope so comparisons are valid.
- Audit-ready export: produces a fee-overrun schedule quantifying the excess by consultant.
Key Takeaways
- Gazetted scales are an objective benchmark for professional fees.
- Test fees against the correct basis: percentage, time or lump sum.
- Approved scope changes can justify higher fees; unexplained growth cannot.
- Identify overruns early to preserve the chance to recover.
See This on Your Own Data
AuditPro Core renders this dashboard from your tenant's live, tamper-evident records — every figure traceable to source.