Commercial Risk Management Services

Commercial Risk Management

At Oakwood Consulting, we provide end-to-end risk management across the entire lifecycle of construction projects, from initial contract review, contract management, through to project close-out and final account. Our expertise ensures risks are identified early, managed proactively, and resolved efficiently, protecting the client’s interests at every stage.

What We Cover

Turning Complexity Into Clarity

Contract Review and Strategy

Having a full understanding of a contract’s terms and, importantly, the allocation of risk between the parties is essential. Entering into a contract without this appreciation can lead to significant difficulties with payment, variations, claims, extensions of time, and other contractual rights and remedies.

Undertaking a review of the contract terms and conditions provides a clear understanding of its requirements. When both parties fully understand the contract and the allocation of risk, the likelihood of disputes or unexpected issues arising during execution is significantly reduced.

By providing clear and pragmatic advice, our contract review service helps clients understand the risks they are assuming. This allows proactive steps to be taken to remove or mitigate those risks, protecting commercial interests and ensuring business continuity.

Contract Management During Delivery

Understanding a contract and its administrative procedures is essential to ensuring obligations are fulfilled and rights are protected. Having a full grasp of the contract before the execution phase allows compliance to begin from day one.

Many contracts contain strict provisions that, if not followed, can expose parties to unnecessary risk. Our role is to equip clients with the knowledge, tools, and systems needed to remain in full compliance, maintaining their contractual rights and remedies throughout the project.

Oakwood Consulting has extensive experience in establishing, managing, and administering a wide range of contract types, from cost-reimbursable to lump sum, milestone-based, and design and construct arrangements. We can provide advisory support to strengthen your contract administration processes or assume the role directly on your behalf.

Commercial Decision Making

We provide independent advice on commercial strategies, dispute resolution options, and risk management decisions.

Risk Management

Identifying risk with respect to the contract and the broader aspects of the project is critical to safeguarding commercial interests. We can undertake a risk review, prepare a costed risk register and develop a risk management strategy.

Procurement

In a complex construction environment, the selection of an appropriate procurement strategy goes hand in hand with the contract strategy. The chosen procurement approach should align with key project objectives such as time, cost, quality, and sustainability. A clear understanding of these objectives forms the basis for selecting a procurement method that best supports successful project delivery.

Equally important is ensuring that the procurement strategy is implemented in a disciplined and structured manner so that the intended commercial outcomes are achieved. Oakwood Consulting can undertake an independent probity and assurance role, providing clients with confidence that the procurement process is conducted in accordance with the agreed strategy.

Oakwood Consulting works with clients to identify and clarify their project objectives and develop procurement and market engagement strategies aligned with those objectives. We can then support the implementation of the agreed strategy, including the preparation and issuing of tender documentation, management of the tender process, bid evaluation, and support with contractor selection.

Audit and Compliance

Audits provide organisations with assurance that processes, procedures, and services are performing as intended. They give senior management confidence that the business is operating effectively and in compliance with both internal and contractual requirements.

A well-structured audit identifies non-compliant practices, improves transparency, and delivers comprehensive feedback on business operations. By revealing inefficiencies and areas of risk, audits also highlight opportunities for improvement and help capture best practices.

Oakwood Consulting works closely with clients to define clear terms of reference and ensure that each audit delivers its intended outcomes. Our experience spans contract compliance, payment processes, issuance of notifications, and adherence to internal governance and control frameworks.

Contract Compliance Audit

Assesses how well a contract is being administered against its terms and conditions, identifying areas of non-compliance and opportunities for corrective action or improvement on future projects.

Financial Audit

Verifies that only allowable costs are paid under cost-reimbursable or open-book arrangements. It can also be performed at a tender stage to confirm that bidders have accurately represented costs in line with the request for tender.

Payment Audit

Ensures that payments to suppliers, subcontractors, and partners under cost-reimbursable contracts are accurate and compliant with contractual provisions.

Tender Audit

Reviews live or completed tenders to confirm that evaluations follow established procedures and best practices, providing assurance of integrity and consistency in the process.

Planning and Scheduling

Our planning and scheduling team supports projects at every stage of the lifecycle, from bid and delivery through to retrospective forensic analysis for dispute resolution. We provide practical, contract-compliant advice on program preparation, progress reporting against as-built records, critical path and float management, and the records required to protect entitlement should claims arise.