Daniel Small

Daniel Small, Managing Director of Elemental QS, takes Andy through one of the more colourful career paths on the podcast: builder's labourer to foundation specialist to carpentry apprentice, before a slipped disk forced a career change into quantity surveying at his wife's suggestion. After graduating, he moved to Australia (couldn't find a NZ job), found PQS work immediately, then returned to NZ to found Elemental QS. The conversation provides a detailed breakdown of the PQS vs QS distinction, the "art form" of financial reporting (serving the financier while the developer pays the bills), and the professional integrity line when developers pressure QSs to underreport risk and delays. Andy shares his own story of being told to say a project would finish in 2023, not 2025, the project is finishing in 2025.

Key Topics Discussed

• PQS vs QS distinction. PQS works for client/developer (feasibility estimates, cost plans at 20%/50%/pretender stages, BOQ, tender analysis, financial reporting, progress claim assessment, variations, final account); QS works for main contractor (procuring subcontractors, building BOQ, pricing prelims/margin, tender submissions)
• Financial reporting as "art form". dual duty: reporting to financier while developer pays the bills
• Developer pressure. pressure to underreport risk/delays; "we're the ones who pay your bills, report this"
• Professional integrity. NZIQS code of conduct: can't tarnish reputation, must report accurately; PI insurance won't cover false reporting or negligence
• Career path. builder's labourer (2006) → foundation specialist → carpentry apprenticeship → slipped disk → wife suggested QS → Australia → NZ → founded Elemental QS
• Christchurch market. still going well; land cheap, development profit available, construction costs lower; "a lot of people are moving down"
• Auckland market. "dead" in comparison
• Program and interest costs. time is directly linked to financier interest costs; "time is the most important resource"
• Fletcher's billion-dollar loss. "has anybody asked how to prevent it from happening again?"
• Embodied carbon calculations. emerging QS service line
• Andy's story. told project director in ~2020 it would finish 2025, not 2023; was told "you will say 2023"; project is finishing in 2025

Notable Quotes

Financial reporting is an "art form", you serve the financier's interests while the developer pays your invoice.

"We're the ones who pay your bills, report this."

"Time is the most important resource."

Fletcher's lost a billion dollars, "has anybody asked how to prevent it from happening again?"

Guest Background

Daniel Small is the Managing Director of Elemental QS. He started in construction in 2006 as a builder's labourer, moved into foundation work and carpentry before a slipped disk forced a career change. His wife suggested quantity surveying, and after graduating he moved to Australia where he found a PQS role immediately. He returned to NZ and founded Elemental QS, working across residential, commercial, and industrial projects.