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Common Accounting Mistakes: Government Edition - Issue #12 R&D

SMBAccountant

These programs are offered by the government to encourage innovation with the potential for commercialization. These programs often result in technology or products that begin with government use and then become commercial items. More information regarding these programs can be found at sbir.gov/about.

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Common Accounting Mistakes: Government Edition - Issue #1: Am I Accrual or Cash Basis?

SMBAccountant

If you are submitting proposals for a government contract, the government prefers the accrual basis of accounting because it gives a more accurate picture of the company’s profit or loss. If a company is audited in the middle of the year, a panic ensues to get the books in order and reconciled to an accrual basis.

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Common Accounting Mistakes: Government Edition - Issue #11 What is GAAP?

SMBAccountant

Many small business government contractors are exempt from complying with cost accounting standards (CAS) and defined by the code of federal regulations (CFR). Privately held companies may choose a non-GAAP reporting method, but when working with the federal government and the Defense Contract Auditing Agency (DCAA) GAAP must be followed.

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If You’re Looking For Career Options, Give Government Auditing a Look

Going Concern

note: This post brought to you by the Big Government Auditing lobby. Just kidding, it’s a guest post from Parker Skaats, CPA, an experienced government worker who’s here to pitch the joys of government work to the unwashed overworked masses. Enter the world of government auditing.

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Common Accounting Mistakes: Government Edition - Issue #9 How Quality Management Effects Accounting

SMBAccountant

Quality management and accounting systems go hand in hand, especially when it comes to managing government contracts. DCAA auditors not only want to see that there is a policy in place, but there is continued effort to monitor the effectiveness through separation of duties and internal audits.

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Common Accounting Mistakes: Government Edition - Issue #2: Budgeting

SMBAccountant

Government contractors have an even harder and more dire concern when it comes to cost plus contracts. Large variances between the budget and actual expenses can result in money owed to the contractor, or worse, money owed back to the government. Budgets may be the most artful part of accounting. The other issue is timing.

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Common Accounting Mistakes: Government Edition - Issue #7 Accounting for Fixed Price vs Cost Contracts

SMBAccountant

Whether the SBIR/STTR that’s being worked is a grant through the National Science Foundation (NSF) or a federal contract, there is an oversight agency, such as the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) for Department of Defense (DOD) contracts, that will review the adequacy of a contractor’s accounting system prior to a phase II award.