GovCon Wednesdays Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes The audit may be “over,” but the work often isn’t. After DCAA completes fieldwork, the post-audit phase typically shifts from document production to decision-making and resolution—including contracting officer actions, corrective measures (if needed), and final rate/closeout steps. DCAA’s audit process overview confirms audits conclude with reporting results to support Government contract decisions. This guide explains what happens after the audit, what you should do… Read More
Audit Readiness
Payroll Reimbursements for GovCons: Why QBO Users Should Move Toward Accounts Payable
GovCon Wednesdays – Estimated Read Time: 7 minutes In the world of government contracting, “payroll” and “reimbursements” are often lumped together because they both involve sending money to an employee. However, treating them the same way in your accounting system is a recipe for audit findings. For those using QuickBooks Online (QBO), handling reimbursements correctly is not just about convenience—it’s about protecting your indirect rates and maintaining an audit-ready labor distribution… Read More
DCAA Audit Outcomes: Pass, Deficiency, or Corrective Action — What Happens Next for GovCons
GovCon Wednesdays Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes When a DCAA audit wraps, most contractors ask the same questions: “Did we pass?” “Is this a deficiency?” “What do we have to fix—and how fast?” The reality is that DCAA issues audit results, and then contracting leadership (often the Administrative Contracting Officer / ACO) uses those results to make decisions about system adequacy, rates, billing, and next steps. FAR confirms that the Government evaluates and… Read More
Indirect Rates Under Audit Scrutiny: What DCAA Reviews (and How GovCons Can Stay Ready)
GovCon Wednesdays Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes If timekeeping is where audits start, indirect rates are where audits often expand. Why? Because indirect rates (Fringe, Overhead, G&A) touch nearly every dollar you bill on cost-type work—and they directly influence provisional billing, final indirect cost rate negotiations, and contract closeout. FAR makes it clear that final indirect cost rates are formally established through contracting officer or auditor procedures. This post breaks down what DCAA commonly evaluates… Read More
Timekeeping & Labor Compliance Red Flags: What DCAA Looks For (and How to Prevent Findings)
GovCon Wednesdays Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes If you’ve been around GovCon long enough, you’ve heard it: timekeeping is the fastest way to fail an audit. That’s not because auditors expect perfection—it’s because labor is often the largest cost on Government contracts, and weak timekeeping controls create risk of labor mischarging. DCAA’s own contractor guidance emphasizes that your labor charging system must properly identify labor by cost objective and maintain controls and… Read More
Common DCAA Findings (and How to Avoid Them): A Practical Guide for GovCons
GovCon Wednesdays Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes Most DCAA “findings” aren’t about bad intent they’re about weak controls, inconsistent documentation, or preventable process gaps. The good news: the most common issues repeat across contractors, which means you can address them before an auditor does. This post covers the most frequent DCAA audit findings Government contractors run into and a straightforward way to prevent each one. What DCAA means by a “finding”… Read More