Expect More From Your GovCon Accounting Firm

One of the most consistent themes in the govcon accounting industry I've seen in my 15 years at ReliAscent® is the bait-and-switch; selling you on the experience of the people at the top, but then sticking you with poorly trained bookkeepers that do just the bare minimum. Sure, there may be a lot of errors and headaches, but as long as you pass the audit, everything's fine, right?  Not to mention the 50 pages of financials they give you each month that you don't understand and they won't explain...

Another common approach involves offering "quick and easy," do-it-yourself compliance packages or templates (costing thousands of dollars), or expensive training seminars or consulting sessions, leaving you hoping you're compliant (failed audits or rejected invoices incoming in 5, 4, 3...).

Why do we hear of these situations so often, and why do so many small business government contractors and grantees have the same experience? Well, it's a combination of two things:

• It's a great way to maximize profits and minimize work for the accounting firm, and
• Small businesses are always looking to save money. But as the old adage goes, "you get what you pay for."  Sure, some SBIR and "govcon bookkeeping" firms may advertise lower "starting at" prices, and can potentially save you a few hundred dollars a month. But large end-of-year fees and costly mistakes made by inexperienced bookkeepers can end up costing your business a lot more in the long run (many of you reading this now can probably relate). 

At ReliAscent®, we are not here to offer the "bare minimum" or a "quick fix." Because the reality is there is no easy fix, no package of templates, nor product you can buy to be instantly and indefinitely DCAA compliant.  And it takes more than the "bare minimum bookkeeping" (and simply passing an audit) to succeed and grow your business in the complex and highly competitive govcon world. 

This is why we provide each of our clients with a DCAA compliant accounting system and an entire accounting team of experts: from the Bookkeeper to the Senior Accountant, (optional) Controller, and the Account Executive (your very own fractional CFO and Contracts Manager who also manages the accounting team)...no matter the size of your business.

Have a compliance question or confused by the differences in requirements between your Department of Defense contract and your Department of Energy grant? No problem. The Sr. Accountant is your main point of contact on an as-needed/daily basis, and has years of experience with these agencies and the FAR/DFARS/CFR and DCAM.

Want to dig into your utilization and profitability, or need help negotiating or closing out a contract? The Account Executive meets with you monthly to go through your financials, tell you what things mean, how they impact your company, offers guidance, and provides nearly any financial or contract management support you may need.

Yes, it may cost a little more each month, but it is this approach that allows us to do something for your business that other firms cannot: position you for success by identifying and addressing opportunities & challenges you face head-on, with the tools and experience you need to be efficient, proactive, and decisive. 

If you're ready for a different kind of experience with your govcon accounting firm, or want to discuss how outsourcing compliant accounting can help your business, contact us today (and download our Services and Client FAQ handouts to learn more).

REMINDER: the best time to switch accounting firms or set up your new accounting system is always the beginning of the year (as it keeps migration or setup costs to a minimum and makes the transition process easier for your business). Give us a call today to get the quote process started.