Pugh Wright McAnally Accelerates Growth with Deltek Ajera

Pugh Wright McAnally is an engineering and land surveying firm based in Alabama. Under the leadership of Blake McAnally, who has been president and owner since 2004, the firm has grown steadily to its current size of 27 employees. With aspirations to expand further, the firm has implemented strategic initiatives to scale effectively while maintaining its high standards of service. One of the most impactful decisions in this growth journey has been the adoption of Deltek Ajera, a comprehensive project management and accounting software solution.

For many years, Pugh Wright McAnally utilized QuickBooks Enterprise Professional to manage its financial operations. “While effective for basic accounting, the software fell short in providing the robust project management reporting needed for our growing firm,” said Blake.

As the firm began implementing strategic growth plans, including one-year, three-year and ten-year goals, it became evident that QuickBooks would no longer suffice. The firm aims to grow its workforce by 20% over the next few years. This level of anticipated growth necessitated a software solution that could provide enhanced visibility into projects and financials, enabling better decision-making at every level.

Ajera Provides Enhanced Features to Help the Firm Grow

The introduction to Deltek Ajera came through a consultant from AEC Business Solutions. The consultant recommended the scalability and comprehensive features of Ajera.

With the support of Deltek Professional Services and AEC Business Solutions, the firm began the transition to Ajera in 2024. This included extensive training for staff on accounting principles and the effective use of the new software. Blake noted, “I was the only engineer in the firm with financial acumen. Bringing in the consultant and leveraging Deltek’s training resources were crucial steps in empowering our team.”

Increased Visibility for Financial and Project Management Initiatives

The shift to Ajera delivered immediate and measurable results. Previously, project managers lacked visibility into the profitability of their projects. Tasks such as budgeting and tracking time and project charges were cumbersome and inefficient. “With QuickBooks, projects would sit completed for months without being invoiced because we simply didn’t have the tools to manage the process,” Blake remarked.

With Ajera, these challenges became a thing of the past. The software provided significant benefits to the firm. It improved work-in-progress (WIP) management by bringing visibility to aging projects that previously went unnoticed, sometimes exceeding 200 days without invoicing. With Ajera, these issues were addressed, enabling timely billing. Invoicing processes also became faster and more efficient, which enhanced cash flow and boosted client satisfaction. Additionally, improved time management practices, including weekly timesheet reviews, ensure accurate allocation of hours to projects, reducing errors and saving considerable time.

Dashboards and KPIs for More Informed Decision-Making

One of the most transformative aspects of Ajera has been its robust dashboard and reporting capabilities. As the firm grew, manual tracking of key performance indicators (KPIs) became increasingly unmanageable. Ajera’s dashboards now provide real-time insights into contract values, WIP, invoice aging and project completion percentages.

“Before Ajera, we had uncertainty for what percentage of a project to bill a client. Now, we can generate a report and get all the necessary data from Ajera’s project command center,” Blake shared. This has not only improved profitability but has also ensured that accounting and invoicing occur in a much shorter timeframe.

Advice for Firms Considering a Switch from QuickBooks to Ajera

For other firms contemplating a transition from QuickBooks to Ajera, Blake advises firms to invest in the right tools to support growth. “Our eight-to-ten-year plan is to grow to 100 people across five offices. We couldn’t think of expanding like that without a solution like Ajera,” he stated.

The firm’s success with Ajera has proven that having the right software can be a game-changer. Whether it’s enabling better project management, improving cash flow or preparing for future growth, the benefits of Ajera have been far-reaching.

Looking to the Future with Ajera

Looking ahead, Pugh Wright McAnally plans to leverage Ajera for resource management. “We believe there’s an additional 5-8% of productivity we can unlock with better resource management,” Blake explained. The firm plans to enhance its operations by leveraging Ajera's resource management features to optimize project workflows. Key initiatives include tracking project backlogs to allocate resources more effectively and training project managers to use Ajera for precise budgeting and resource assignments.

By improving the accuracy of project completion predictions, the firm aims to confidently take on more work while ensuring delivery within client timelines. This approach will enhance staff planning and utilization, foster confidence in meeting deadlines and support strategic growth by enabling workforce expansion and operational scaling.

The implementation of Deltek Ajera at Pugh Wright McAnally has marked a turning point in the firm’s journey. By addressing the limitations of QuickBooks and embracing a solution designed for engineering firms, the company has set the stage for sustainable growth and long-term success. Blake asserted, “Having Ajera gives us the confidence to grow, take on more projects and better serve our clients. It’s an investment in our future.”