Sources at the firm said a number of project managers and quantity surveyors had quit recently following disagreements with the commercial team.

One source said: “Progress reports on some major projects have caused a lot of differences of opinion between the project teams and commercial teams.”

The source highlighted tension between the teams on two Cambridge contracts.

The £46m Abcam laboratory and offices scheme has been handed over while the £79m Project Capella biomedical research laboratory at the University of Cambridge is nearing completion.

A Kier spokesperson said: “Finances regarding individual projects are commercially sensitive”

Kier revealed a £25m provision on its problem Broadmoor Hospital job in March and the whole company is currently undergoing a review by new chief executive Andrew Davies.

It was announced last week that finance director Bev Dew will step-down after the next set of results.

The spokesperson said: “Andrew Davies is leading a full strategic review of the Group, the conclusions of which will be announced in July.”