---
title: Cost consultant
summary: What a cost consultant does in Superwise each day, the screens to use most, and the order to follow on the first day.
order: 4
who: People whose role lets them view and add budgets and BOQs. Each screen needs its own permission.
---

A cost consultant works out what the project should cost and checks that the cost stays on track. In Superwise you set the budget, write the bill of quantities (BOQ), estimate the cost, and follow changes.

## What you do each day

- Write or update the BOQ of the project.
- Work out the cost estimate.
- Check the budget against the cost that is committed.
- Check the bill of materials (BOM) that goes with the BOQ.
- Follow requests for changes.

## The screens you use most

![The left menu with Project Cost open. Mark 1 is Project BOQ, mark 2 is Project BOM and mark 3 is Service Requests.](../media/role-cost-consultant-menu.png)

| Screen | Menu path | What you do there | Book |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Budget | **Planning > Budget** | Set the planned cost | [Budget](../budget/index.md) |
| BOQ Estimation | **Planning > BOQ Estimation** | Work out the cost estimate | [BOQ estimation](../boq-estimation/index.md) |
| Project BOQ | **Project Cost > Project BOQ** | See the bill of quantities | [Project BOQ](../project-boq/index.md) |
| Project BOM | **Project Cost > Project BOM** | See the materials the work needs | [Project BOM](../project-bom/index.md) |
| Service Requests | **Project Cost > Service Requests** | Follow the requests on this screen | [Service request](../service-request/index.md) |
| Reports | **Reports** | Open the cost reports | [Reports](../reports/index.md) |

## What to do on the first day

1. Choose your project in the project picker.
2. Open the [dashboard](../get-started/the-dashboard.md) and read **Committed vs budget**. If it shows a dash, add the card **Project Cost** in **Customize**.
3. Open **Planning > Budget** and read the planned cost.
4. Open **Project Cost > Project BOQ** and read the work items.
5. Open **Project Cost > Project BOM** and read the materials.
6. Open **Planning > BOQ Estimation** when you are ready to work on the estimate.
7. Open **Reports** and see which cost reports exist.

![The four figures of the dashboard. Committed vs budget is the first one.](../media/dashboard-figures.png)

## Related pages

- [Planner](planner.md)
- [Project manager](project-manager.md)
- [How a project flows](../get-started/how-a-project-flows.md)