Estimated read time: 6 minutes Key Takeaways Point 1: The Immediate Fix. Stop treating audit prep as an annual fire drill. True compliance means embedding an automated, contract-level cost ledger structure into your monthly close routine—ensuring every direct transaction satisfies FAR 31.201-2 standards before an invoice is generated. Point 2: The Compliance Risk. Operating an un-reconciled or reactive accounting system invites immediate administrative disasters. Under DFARS 252.242-7005, significant deficiencies in your cost accounting internal controls allow… Read More
Indirect Rates
GovCon Cost Pools: How to Configure Them | GovCon Wednesday
Estimated read time: 6 minutes Key Takeaways Point 1: The Immediate Fix. Never arbitrarily mimic another firm’s indirect rate architecture. Your cost pools must organically mirror your unique workforce footprints, project delivery environments, and cost behaviors under FAR 31.203 guidelines. Point 2: The Compliance Risk. Bundling mismatched indirect costs into a generic ledger bucket distorts allocation math and triggers structural compliance deficiencies. Under DFARS 252.242-7005, failing to maintain adequate accounting control over your cost pools allows… Read More
Direct vs. Indirect Costs: GovCon System Setup | GovCon Wednesday
Estimated read time: 6 minutes Key Takeaways Point 1: The Immediate Fix. Consistency is an absolute legal mandate under FAR Part 31. You cannot classify an expense as a direct cost on one contract and an indirect cost on another when the underlying circumstances are identical. Point 2: The Compliance Risk. Treating direct vs. indirect classifications as a casual data-entry task creates immediate exposure. Under DFARS 252.242-7005, system deficiencies in cost structural accounting can… Read More
How to Set Up a DCAA-Compliant Accounting System | GovCon Wednesday
Estimated Read Time: 6 mins Takeaways Point 1: The Immediate Fix. No software platform is “DCAA-approved” right out of the box. True compliance requires intentionally structuring your general ledger around distinct cost objectives and logical allocation bases under DFARS 252.242-7006. Point 2: The Compliance Risk. Failing to isolate unallowable costs or failing to reconcile your job-cost ledger with your general ledger creates structural audit risk. Under DFARS 252.242-7005, an unoptimized system with material weaknesses can trigger… Read More
How Accounting Systems Support Growth & Contract Awards
GovCon Wednesdays Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes For government contractors, accounting systems are often viewed as a back-office necessitysomething to maintain for compliance and audits. In reality, a well-designed accounting system is a growth enabler. Strong systems don’t just protect you during audits. They influence whether you can: Bid confidently on new opportunities Support cost-type and hybrid contracts Withstand pre-award scrutiny Scale without operational breakdown This final article in our… Read More
When to Upgrade Systems: Timing the Move Without Creating Compliance Risk
GovCon Wednesdays Estimated Read Time: 5 minutes For many government contractors, the decision to upgrade accounting systems is driven by frustration slow closes, audit pain, billing delays, or growing reliance on spreadsheets. By the time the decision feels obvious, risk has already increased. Upgrading too early can waste resources. Upgrading too late can jeopardize awards, compliance, and cash flow. This article explains when a system upgrade makes sense, what triggers the need, and… Read More