6/7/13

Features Managers Need In A DCAA Timekeeping Application

By Ladonna Chambers


DCAA timekeeping software allows government contractors to monitor and report their time. Contractors are required to record employee time accurately and promptly. Business managers base their decisions on the analyses of this data. Regulations mandate a highly structured method of time reporting. A software package ought to have an interface that is user friendly and intuitive. A necessary feature is the ability to enter data from the internet using a web browser.

The ability to customized the application to meet an organization needs is an important characteristic. An organization's pay ranges, job descriptions, pay periods and more need to be set up in the application. Decision makers must have instant access to the data so that decisions can be made quickly. Time entry is just one part of a larger application. The information derived from time entry is useful throughout the management of the project.

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 entry must be integrated, in a seamless fashion, with the full accounting application. The inputting of time data must include allocation to a specified task which is linked to the chart of accounts. In this way manager's can determine if projects are staying on budget and on schedule. The payroll data should be in a form that can be used by the major payroll processing software. A user friendly interface for supervisor approvals is necessary.

Tax forms should be printed and sent to employees in an automated process. These forms would include 1099 forms, W-2 forms, and other forms that workers need to file their income taxes. All this must be done via an easy-to-use web page that can run on any popular browser. The workers do not need to download any software. All that is needed is internet access.

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 data input. Automatic emails notifies workers that time reporting input is needed, that their time input has been approved or disapproved. Managers are also notified through automatic emails of situations that require their attention. Emails are an effective means of communication that ensure that data entry is done in a timely fashion.

DCAA timekeeping is an crucial part of managing government projects. Applications must includes this functionality. This process is automated as much as possible. Workers will not get sidetracked with an overly complex system of entering time. Instead, a user friendly application also becomes an important management tool.




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