# Federal Contractors Strengthen Timekeeping Controls

A Washington Technology article advises small federal contractors that DCAA evaluates whether their accounting processes are adequate, not whether they use a particular software product. It identifies daily timekeeping, documented corrections, and labor distribution as common weaknesses. Contractors may retain QuickBooks if they add appropriate controls and can trace labor from approved timesheets through payroll to the general ledger.

- Contractors should document daily time entry and corrections, and establish a clear labor-distribution trail across timesheets, payroll, and the general ledger.
- This is especially relevant to firms preparing for cost-type work or an incurred cost submission, where accounting-process weaknesses may complicate audit readiness.
- Firms in those situations can consider GovCon CPA support; the article does not indicate that adopting a specific accounting platform is necessary.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Information Technology
**Topics:** Regulatory Compliance
**Published:** November 12, 2026

### Government Entities
- Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA)

### Vendors
- WiseCost (Job-costing and timekeeping platform provider)
- Deltek Costpoint (GovCon ERP provider)
- Unanet (GovCon ERP provider)

### Sources
- [Your DCAA problem isn’t QuickBooks. It’s your timesheets. - Washington Technology](https://www.washingtontechnology.com/opinion/2026/11/your-dcaa-problem-isnt-quickbooks-its-your-timesheets/417185) - Washington Technology