When a claim package needs a review, not a full cost audit

Not every commercial dispute needs a full ledger audit. When a contractor submits one heavy claim package, a variation and claim review often answers the steering group faster.

Signals that a focused review is enough

• The rest of the cost report is stable and recently reconciled
• The question is about one package’s arithmetic and support, not the whole budget
• A settlement meeting is already scheduled within three weeks

Signals you still need a full audit

• Multiple contracts feed one forecast and nobody trusts the allocations
• Prior internal reviews already missed duplicate charges
• A lender or board requires broader assurance language

What the review memo should contain

Separate calculation errors from entitlement arguments. Quantity surveyors and lawyers own the latter; cost auditors should not blur the line just to sound comprehensive.