Industries · Services
Finance advisory for professional services firms in the UAE
Service firms sell time and expertise. Profit depends on how much of that time is billed, whether projects stay on budget and when revenue is recognised. We help consulting, engineering, IT and legal firms see utilisation, project margins and client profitability clearly, and recognise revenue correctly under IFRS 15.
Where do service firms usually lose margin?
- Utilisation not measuredNo clear split between billable and non-billable hours.
- Projects without a P&LCosts not tracked against budget, so loss-making work continues.
- Revenue timingMilestone and fixed-price revenue recognised at the wrong time under IFRS 15.
- Slow collectionsWork delivered but invoices late or disputed.
How does Valorin help service firms?
- Utilisation dashboardBillable hours, non-billable time and realisation rate, by team and person.
- Project accountingBudget versus actual cost for every project, with revenue recognised to date and margin.
- IFRS 15 revenueRecognition schedules for fixed-price, time-and-materials and milestone contracts.
- Client profitabilityMargin by client over time, so you know which relationships to grow.
Hypothetical example
- An IT consulting project is budgeted at a 22% margin.
- Half-way through, actual hours show the margin falling to 16%.
- Because it is caught early, scope is reset with the client before the project turns loss-making.
An illustration, not a client result.
Frequently asked questions
How should a service firm measure profit by client?
Record time against each client or project, cost it at a loaded hourly rate that includes salaries and overheads, and compare it with what you billed. Clients and projects that look busy are not always the ones that pay.
When does a service firm need a fractional CFO?
Usually when the owner still prices work from memory, cash is tight despite growth, or a bank or investor asks for numbers the team cannot produce. A few days a month is often enough to set up reporting and pricing.
Does UAE e-invoicing apply to professional services firms?
It applies to in-scope B2B and B2G transactions in any sector; business-to-consumer transactions are outside the system until a further Ministerial decision.
Muhammad Imran, ACMA
Founder and Managing Director · 20+ years in finance
You work directly with the founder, from the first meeting to delivery. Valorin Finance & Advisory LLC, licence no. 2644595.01. About us
See which work actually pays
Tell us how you track time and projects today. We'll suggest the first report to build.
General information only, not legal or tax advice.
Valorin is an independent advisory firm, not affiliated with the FTA or MoF.