IMEG modernizes expense management with Baker Tilly and Deltek Vantagepoint
Learn how Baker Tilly helped IMEG by automating FAR‑compliant expenses in Deltek Vantagepoint, simplifying reporting and improving M&A integration.
Client background
IMEG is one of the top engineering and consulting firms in the U.S., with more than 100 offices and 3,000 employees. The company delivers full-service engineering, planning and consulting solutions backed by national experience and local collaboration. Driven by a mission to create positive outcomes for people, communities and the planet, IMEG continually invests in technologies and process improvements to enhance both client service and employee experience.
Business challenge
IMEG operates under contracts regulated by the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). These contracts require detailed classification of allowable and unallowable costs, particularly for overhead travel expenses tied to General Services Administration (GSA) per diem limits. IMEG initially relied on a third-party expense platform to handle these calculations. Over time, however, the cost, maintenance burden and complexity of the system made it increasingly unsustainable. The firm needed to:
- Accurately calculate and classify allowable vs. unallowable expenses
- Automate FAR compliance and remove manual processes
- Integrate expense management seamlessly into Deltek Vantagepoint
Strategy and solution
Baker Tilly worked with IMEG to bring expense management back into Deltek Vantagepoint and remove the reliance on the third‑party tool. The approach centered on automation within Vantagepoint so that FAR requirements could be applied without manual calculations. Baker Tilly developed application programming interface (API) integrations to pull GSA per diem rates and use them to reclassify expenses directly in Vantagepoint. This enabled the system to determine allowable and unallowable portions based on the zip code employees provide, aligning the process with FAR rules while keeping all activity in IMEG’s financial system of record.
“IMEG was using a third-party provider mainly to calculate the unallowable portion of travel expenses above GSA per diem rates. We automated this process within Vantagepoint by deploying digital workers to pull the latest GSA rates and automatically reclassify the expenses. This allowed IMEG to use Vantagepoint for expense management going forward.” - Evan Rainey, Director, Baker Tilly
Outcome
The transition back to Vantagepoint simplified expense reporting for employees, enabling quick submission of multiple reports and accelerating reimbursements.
As Kelly Swick noted, “Entering expenses in Deltek versus a third‑party provider is much simpler for our users. There’s less training required because the system is intuitive and the teams are already using it.”
FAR compliance no longer requires complex manual processes. The automation classifies expenses according to FAR guidelines, reducing administrative burden and the risk of errors. The project also delivered a rapid financial return in four months due to streamlined workflows and the retirement of the third‑party platform. Beyond expense management, consolidating acquired firms’ data in Vantagepoint supports IMEG’s active mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity (10–12 companies annually) by creating a unified application for project and financial management.
Looking ahead, IMEG is interested in additional Vantagepoint capabilities, including using Dela, the AI orchestrator, to ask questions about contracts and get summaries directly within the system.
Turn to Baker Tilly
Baker Tilly works with organizations to transform how they operate, improving visibility, compliance and performance across the project lifecycle. Connect with us to explore how our team can help you optimize your Deltek environment and achieve measurable operational impact.