The end of the financial year isn’t just about finalising accounts or ticking boxes. For architecture and engineering firms, it’s a critical moment to step back and assess how your practice is really performing, and how well it’s positioned for the year ahead.
Moving into FY26, we’ve seen the goals and priorities of A&E firms be consistent: clearer visibility into project performance, more accurate workload forecasting, and the ability for leadership to act quickly when conditions change. EOFY is the natural point to review what’s working, identify blind spots, and put stronger foundations in place before budget season begins.
By laying the right groundwork, firms can start FY26 with clearer visibility and stronger margins, reducing wasted resources and clearing the path for a more efficient and profitable practice.
Use the below checklist to help you wrap up FY25 and start the new financial year with a clean slate.
Software & Subscriptions
EOFY is the ideal time to review the tools your firm relies on every day. A review of software subscriptions, renewal dates, price increases and usage can not only cut costs, but also ensure your tools are supporting visibility, efficiency, and informed decision-making.
- Review all software subscriptions and licenses
- Remove licenses for inactive or former staff
- Review renewal dates, contracts and price increases
- Take stock of software usage
Project & Financial Review
Come EOFY, an in-depth review of projects and finances over the past 12 months is vital, even for high-performing firms and teams. Analysing performance helps uncover whether pricing, scope control, and invoicing aligned with reality throughout the year and what (if anything) needs to change moving forward.
- Review project profitability across the year
- Clean up WIP and unbilled work
- Confirm fee structure reflects actual effort
- Generate a summary of financial transactions to analyse revenue
Clients, Contracts & Risk
To enter FY26 with clearer expectations and fewer surprises, firms need to start by addressing issues early. This means taking note of both active and dormant clients, contract terms which could be simplified, and potential risk areas.
- Review contract clauses that caused disputes or delays
- Review payment terms and client behaviour
- Evaluate scope definitions and change-control processes
- Assess client concentration and exposure
Team & Capacity Planning
Entering a new financial year also offers a valuable checkpoint for firms to access utilisation, resourcing, and upcoming workload, ensuring the right people are in place as project demands shift in FY26. This includes everything from hiring needs to talent retention and if done right, can make all the difference for the year ahead.
- Review hiring needs and future capacity gaps
- Identify skills shortage or single point dependencies
- Confirm onboarding and training processes
- Review development goals and retention risks
Planning for the Year Ahead
With the proper preparation, EOFY can be the foundation for more accurate budgets, realistic forecasts, and faster leadership decisions in FY26.
Leaders can make confident decisions about what comes next based on data from FY25, turning hindsight into foresight. Alignment around targets, key metrics and reporting early on in FY26 also creates a shared vision of success and improves accountability across the firm.
- Define the key metrics to track next year
- Identify manual or time-consuming tasks
- Standardise project setup and close-out processes
- Budget for all relevant software needs
Now is the time to reevaluate what’s working and what’s not, and dig into how your firm can become more profitable and efficient in FY26.
Prepare for EOFY with Total Synergy
EOFY is a pivotal time; not only to close the books, but to gain clarity on performance and plan confidently for the next financial year. With over 25 years of experience simplifying how A&E practices manage projects and finances, Total Synergy is purpose-built to help firms use EOFY as a strategic reset, not an administrative burden.
Instead of relying on spreadsheets and disconnected systems, we let you review performance accurately, forecast with confidence, and act quickly when priorities shift. By giving leadership teams real-time visibility into project health, WIP, and future workload, Total Synergy can help you enter the new financial year with greater control, stronger profitability, and clearer direction.
We’re supporting firms with practical tools, checklists, and templates to ease the EOFY stress, plus 50% off onboarding if you sign up before April 30 2026. Book a demo today to see how Total Synergy can support your firm in FY26.
