Kevin Jacobs (CCIFP) on WIP Mastery, Cash Flow, and Scaling with the Right ERP

Construction finance is a different animal. In this episode, Kevin Jacobs, CCIFP—fractional CFO and longtime finance leader across construction, steel, and manufacturing—explains why the WIP schedule is the heartbeat of a contractor, how to stay liquid during growth and downturns, and what to prioritize when choosing and training on ERPs like Vista, SAP, NetSuite, and QuickBooks. We also dig into PM–finance communication, culture and M&A, and where AI helps AP teams move from data entry to decision-making.

What you’ll learn

• How to turn your WIP from “bonding requirement” into a daily management tool

• Cash flow playbook: reserves, lines of credit, bonding relationships, AR discipline

• The shift to fractional CFO support: when it makes sense and what changes

• Red flags Kevin sees repeatedly: no/poor job costing, underused ERP, weak forecasting, key-person risk

• ERP selection rule: fit over features—and why training often matters more than software

• Practical PM–finance communication (talk labor hours, utilization, mobilization—not EBITDA)

• AI in AP: freeing time for analysis and improving accuracy with human-in-the-loop controls

• The first advice Kevin gives a new construction CFO: be the best listener

About Kevin Jacobs, CCIFP
Kevin is a construction-focused fractional CFO who’s led finance for global manufacturers and contractors. He holds the CCIFP credential (via CFMA) and specializes in WIP reporting, cash flow, ERP adoption, and scaling finance teams.

Chapters

• Intro

• Kevin’s blue-collar roots & why construction finance

• Jobsite impact: from dirt moving to finished assets

• Lessons from global companies: discipline of scale & volatility

• Why fractional CFO; who should consider it

• Juggling clients = project management for finance

• Owner/operator lens from running a business

• Work–life balance for owners

• CCIFP: why it matters (via CFMA)

• WIP mistakes: treating it as a checkbox vs. management tool

• How to test WIP accuracy (tie to P&L, complete job list)

• Linking % complete to physical progress

• Speaking PM language (labor, utilization, mobilization)

• Cash flow in growth & downturns (reserves, LOC, bonding, AR)

• Recurring red flags: job costing, ERP underuse, forecasting, key-person risk

• M&A/restructuring: culture, backlog, under-billings, bonding capacity

• Aligning finance with ops: fixing estimating & margins

• ERP selection: fit over features; don’t skimp on training

• AI & real-time data: from entry to analysis

• AP automation in practice (human-in-the-loop)

• One tip for first-time construction CFOs

• Wrap

If you want to watch video of this podcast, here is the YouTube link:

https://youtu.be/xlPtT1Mkr-g?si=FoGuP8NCXxeczzWO

Resources mentioned

• CFMA (Construction Financial Management Association) and the CCIFP credential

• ERPs: Vista, SAP, NetSuite, QuickBooks

Connect

• Host: Rishi Srivastava — Finance at the Jobsite Podcast

• Guest: Kevin Jacobs, CCIFP — Fractional CFO

Like what you heard?
Subscribe for weekly conversations with construction CFOs, controllers, and operators tackling margins, cash, WIP, and systems. Drop your questions in the comments—we may cover them in a future episode.

#ConstructionFinance #CCIFP #CFMA #WIP #CashFlow #ConstructionERP #FractionalCFO #APAutomation #Vista #NetSuite #SAP #QuickBooks

To get the next episode delivered directly to your inbox signup here to our newsletter:

https://beiinghuman.com/newsletter-signup/