DCAA had received permission to employ outside firms for audits but by the time any were engaged, the backlog had been reduced. Image: A9 STUDIO/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffThe Defense Contract Audit Agency should formally assess its needs for help from independent public accountants in auditing contractors’ costs to ensure they are permissible under government regulations, the GAO has said.
A report said that in the face of a backlog, the DCAA received permission to employ outside firms for such audits but by the time any were engaged, the backlog had been reduced. Reasons included the use of a risk-based sampling methodology that reduced the number of audits required and a revision of criteria for assigning audits to independent public accountants.
As a result, the actual use of independent auditors “has been less than intended,” GAO said
However, it said that conducting a formal assessment of potential future needs “would help DCAA ensure it maintains an appropriate mix of DCAA auditors and independent public accountants—as called for in statute—and avoid future backlogs. Communicating its plan would help facilitate Congress’s oversight role.”
DoD replied that it will conduct an evaluation and present a plan to Congress by next April 30.
GAO also noted that the inspector general’s office at DoD “recently raised concerns about the quality and completeness of the independent public accountants’ work products in its review. DCAA disagreed with the recommendations and said that the audits were based on sufficient evidence. GAO did not independently assess the Inspector General’s findings or independent public accountants’ audit work products.”
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