The position of a Quantity Surveyor is fundamental to most building projects and plays an integral part in managing building costs, estimating and calculating construction cost figures and ensuring value is prioritised at every step. A Quantity Surveyor must also abide to all the necessary regulatory standards.
For budding professionals wondering what it takes to be a Quantity Surveyor, we look at the qualifications and skills necessary.
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Tasks and duties of a Quantity Surveyor
A Quantity Surveyor will liaise with other construction professionals to deliver projects, examine structural drawings and specifications and review changes to construction plans and assess costs. They may be required to produce financial forecasts for clients and perform feasibility assessments to help guide project decisions.
Quantity Surveyors can work in either the private or public sector. Private sector roles can be found at consulting firms, whilst public sector roles are found mainly in State Government Departments and authorities or in the Australian Construction Service with Building Contractors, Financiers, Property Developers, Project Managers and universities.
Some Quantity Surveyors specialise in calculating construction costs of residential and commercial buildings for property depreciation purposes. This includes measuring and calculating historical construction costs for claiming building write-off based on the cost of the structural element of buildings. Of the Quantity Surveying and tax depreciation firms in Australia, BMT Tax Depreciation is considered the market leader.
Quantity Surveyors must be appropriately licenced and are recognised as such
Their skills are so valued that Quantity Surveyors are recognised under Tax Ruling 97/25 as one of the few professions with the ability to calculate costs for the purposes of depreciation. Quantity Surveyors are also required to be registered tax agents.
It’s important to check whether there are any licensing requirements to work as Quantity Surveyor in your state. For example, in Victoria, Quantity Surveyors are required to be registered with the Victorian Building Authority.
What qualifications do I need?
To work as a Quantity Surveyor in Australia, you are required to gain graduate qualifications in quantity surveying or construction management, by competing a tertiary qualification such as the Bachelor of Construction Management or Bachelor of Construction Project Management.
The Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (AIQS) offers higher education course accreditation and a substantial scholarship program for Year twelve students who qualify for entry into a Quantity Surveying, Construction Economics, Construction Management (Economics) or other appropriate course at an AIQS accredited university in Australia.
It’ s also a good idea to explore cadetship opportunities. Some organisations offer cadetships for students completing relevant industry degrees.
What skills are employers looking for?
Employers look for graduates with knowledge in construction, estimating, contracts administration and for those who possess strong written and verbal skills.
According research conducted by the employment website SEEK, employers are also wishing to secure candidates with proficiency in MS Office, who are team orientated and who possess persuasion and influence over others.
Quantity Surveyors that specialise in depreciation
A specialist Quantity Surveyor:
- documents every qualifying asset in a property
- calculates their depreciable value to ensure that the investor maximises their deductions and
- ensure full compliance with Australian Taxation Office (ATO) regulations, meaning all deductions are accurately evidenced in the event of an audit.
BMT Tax Depreciation CEO, Bradley Beer says, “The most rewarding aspect of the job is showing property investors the difference claiming depreciation will make to their cash flow”.
Bradley and the team of specialist Quantity Surveyors at BMT have completed site inspections on all property types ranging from residential houses and apartments to commercial properties such as hotels, industrial complexes, agricultural farms, amusement parks and other iconic Australian tourist attractions.
To learn more about what it takes to be a Quantity Surveyor, read our BMT Insider blog, where Bradley explains the role of a specialist Quantity Surveyor at BMT.
You can also visit our website to discover why you should choose a Quantity Surveyor.
For more information, contact the expert team at BMT on 1300 728 726 or check out the BMT Careers page.