Functionality Managers Need In A DCAA Timekeeping Application

By Ladonna Chambers


DCAA timekeeping applications provide government contractors the tools they need to account for their time and work. Workers must enter their time data correctly and promptly to be in accordance with government regulations. The process is very structured, but the application ought to be user friendly. While the data is used mostly for payroll processing, it also becomes an important source of valuable information that decision makers can use to manage their work.

The application must permit a consulting firm to customize their data to fit their data model. The company's pay periods, job descriptions, pay scales, and other data elements will have to be established and this requires a degree of customization. Managers must have access to the data via a web based user interface. Inputting of time data is but one piece of a whole application whose parts must work together in a coordinated manner.

The software package must make it easy for consulting firms to follow government requirements. A part of this is establishing a detailed audit trail, including approvals, a corrections process, and the allocation and charging of labor to the appropriate account codes. In order to meet these high standards, the application must be consistent with the vicissitudes of government contracting.

Time input data ought to seamlessly integrate with accounting applications. Charts of accounts are automatically updated with labor allocated to the appropriate accounting codes. Payroll data will be in a format that is compatible with the major payroll processing applications. The approval process is easy to use.

Tax forms like W-2s and 1099s can easily be produced during tax season to make it easy for workers to file income taxes. The fact that everything runs on the world wide web eliminates the need for expensive software and costly cumbersome upgrades and updates. Behind the scenes the system is complex, but this is hidden by the simplicity of a web browser interface.

Each worker has their unique ID and they can invent their own password. Security and confidentially is important. The worker should be able to enter comments. Business rules ensure that workers can only enter time on tasks that they are assigned. The collected time entry data is a useful collection of information that decision makers will use. This information is available on a comprehensive menu of reports.

The application monitors the entry of workers' time data. Emails are automatically sent to workers if they have not entered their information. Approvals of payroll input are also communicated via email. Decision makers are informed of potential problems and the status of the payroll process via automatic emails. The ability to automatically notify the appropriate parties of potential problems greatly increases the efficiency of the entire payroll process.

DCAA timekeeping is an important part of overseeing a government project. Software packages ought to possess the functions discussed here. The data ought to be collected via a web interface. The information derived from the system is am important management tool that helps complete projects on time and within the budget.




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