Episode 10 - How Builders Use Subbie Payment Schedules to Cook Their Books at EOFY

This week on The Subbies Toolbox Podcast, Michelle pulls back the curtain on the EOFY payment schedule tactics builders use to make their financial position look healthier than it really is.

After years working as a builder’s CA, Michelle shares the real-world strategies she saw used inside building companies to value down subcontractor claims, delay retentions, ignore variations and manufacture backcharges in the lead-up to 30 June.

This episode is a practical breakdown of the smoke signals subcontractors should be watching for in their payment schedules every single month.

Michelle explains:

• Why ignored variations are a massive red flag

• How builders strategically value down progress claims

• The difference between genuine backcharges and “money grab” deductions

• Why retentions suddenly become difficult to recover at EOFY

• How bank guarantees can become low-hanging fruit when builders are under pressure

• Why predictable accounts receivable systems protect subbies better than aggressive reactions

If you’ve ever had a builder suddenly start acting strange around payment claims in May or June, this episode will help you understand what may actually be happening behind the scenes.

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