--- title: When Communicating with an Auditor, be careful what you say description: To be a successful Government Contractor, you must understand that a DCAA auditor is a gatherer of information upon which they will develop a professional opinion. When you are communicating with an auditor, you need to communicate clearly and be careful what you say. --- [Contact: 800-437-8151](tel:18004378151) [Help Desk](https://aldebaron.assist.com/portal) [![DCAA Compliant Accounting System | SYMPAQ](https://sql.sympaq.com/hubfs/crop-trans-logo.png "Government Contract Cost Accounting")Project Cost Accounting Software for Government Contractors](https://www.sympaq.com/) - [PRODUCTS](https://www.sympaq.com/) - [SYMPAQ Accounting](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-sql/) - [SYMPAQ Time & Expense](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-etx/) - [SYMPAQ DEMOS](https://www.sympaq.com/demos/) - [PRICING](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-pricing/) - [SERVICES](https://www.sympaq.com/services/) - [AUDITS](https://www.sympaq.com/dcaa-audits/) - [DCAA Audits](https://www.sympaq.com/dcaa-audits/) - [Single Audits](https://www.sympaq.com/a-133-audits/) - [RESOURCES](https://www.sympaq.com/#) - [Events / Webinars](https://www.sympaq.com/events-schedule/) - [SYMPAQ Demos](https://www.sympaq.com/demos/) - [Useful Links](https://www.sympaq.com/useful-links/) - [BLOG](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog) [![REQUEST DEMO](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2695973/fa292e59-f01d-4acf-b907-53fc989efa07.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2695973/fa292e59-f01d-4acf-b907-53fc989efa07) [![DCAA Compliant Accounting System | SYMPAQ](https://sql.sympaq.com/hubfs/crop-trans-logo.png "Government Contract Cost Accounting")Project Cost Accounting Software for Government Contractors](https://www.sympaq.com/) - [PRODUCTS](https://www.sympaq.com/) - [SYMPAQ Accounting](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-sql/) - [SYMPAQ Time & Expense](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-etx/) - [SYMPAQ DEMOS](https://www.sympaq.com/demos/) - [PRICING](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-pricing/) - [SERVICES](https://www.sympaq.com/services/) - [AUDITS](https://www.sympaq.com/dcaa-audits/) - [DCAA Audits](https://www.sympaq.com/dcaa-audits/) - [Single Audits](https://www.sympaq.com/a-133-audits/) - [RESOURCES](https://www.sympaq.com/#) - [Events / Webinars](https://www.sympaq.com/events-schedule/) - [SYMPAQ Demos](https://www.sympaq.com/demos/) - [Useful Links](https://www.sympaq.com/useful-links/) - [BLOG](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog) [![REQUEST DEMO](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2695973/fa292e59-f01d-4acf-b907-53fc989efa07.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2695973/fa292e59-f01d-4acf-b907-53fc989efa07) [![DCAA Compliant Accounting System | SYMPAQ](https://sql.sympaq.com/hubfs/crop-trans-logo.png "Government Contract Cost Accounting")Project Cost Accounting Software for Government Contractors](https://www.sympaq.com/) menu close close - PRODUCTS - [SYMPAQ Accounting](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-sql/) - [SYMPAQ Time & Expense](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-etx/) - [SYMPAQ DEMOS](https://www.sympaq.com/demos/) - [PRICING](https://www.sympaq.com/sympaq-pricing/) - [SERVICES](https://www.sympaq.com/services/) - RESOURCES - [Events / Webinars](https://www.sympaq.com/events-schedule/) - [Useful Links](https://www.sympaq.com/useful-links/) - [BLOG](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog) ## Blog ### Subscribe to our Blog # When Communicating with an Auditor, be careful what you say [DCAA Audits](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/dcaa-audits), [Business Tips](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/business-tips) 12/07/2016 [G. Chris Brown](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/author/cbrown) Not long ago, we were told of a CEO of a company who opined with a bank auditor about a particular aspect of the company's financial statements. The CEO's opinion led to a line of questioning by the auditor that resulted in the bank to declining a major line of credit facility for his company.  You should understand that an auditor is a gatherer of information upon which they will develop a professional opinion.   That professional opinion is many times relied on by an affiliate. Therefore, the auditor has an inherent “power” that may materially affect your company.   That power is based on the authority of the interested parties who have employed the auditor to make an assessment based on the professional opinions that guide the auditor's actions. We naturally communicate differently based on the situation we are in at a particular time.   Whether attending a ball game with friends, attending a business networking event, or communicating within the business arena, competent communication is a fundamental to the achievement of good outcomes. In particular, understanding the role we play in an audit is extremely important. With a DCAA audit, we have seen cases where failure to communicate to the DCAA auditor properly, or to not make available the precise information requested by the DCAA auditor  impacted the contractor in a negative way. DCAA auditors provide an advisory role to a contracting officer who has a contract award decision to make. Although the DCAA auditor's role is fact based and guided by the Federal Acquisition Regulations, your communication and responses to their information requests must be guided by a “just the facts” response. The auditor's misunderstanding of your communications may lead to an auditor inadvertently introducing a biased slant in their report to the contracting officer. [![8 Steps to Take When Dealing with the DCAA](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2695973/329c6807-f651-4223-b24a-ae850237e87f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2695973/329c6807-f651-4223-b24a-ae850237e87f) That said, you must understand the confines of the auditor's role and purpose.   Just as you should know your Miranda Rights when questioned by a law enforcement officer; you should know the DCAA Auditor's scope is largely guided by the Federal Acquisition Regulations.   Thus knowing the Federal Acquisition Regulations and the DCAA Audit Guidelines (Contract Audit Manual) should be a prerequisite before you have direct communications with a DCAA auditor. As a takeaway, remember to follow these **4** guidelines when communicating with an auditor or other government official: **a**. **Ask for Clarification:** If you don't have a full understanding of what the auditor is asking, don't answer the question. It is in your right to request further clarification on anything that may be ambiguous. **b.** **Stick to Your Expertise**: Answer only questions that you're sure of the answers. It will not be to your benefit to rush through or guess on questions outside of your expertise. Everything you say will be noted and you may not get a second chance to re-answer. Instead ask that they submit a question or inquiry in writing that you can discuss with a more knowledgeable staff member. The smartest people in life are those who know what they don't know. **c**. **Be Concise: Always stick to the facts**. As the aforementioned CEO should have learned from the experience with the bank auditor, speak when spoken to and answer questions within the context of fact-based communication. Never get into a situation where you need to defend or justify what you have stated. **d.** **Employ Expertise** based on the type and scope of audit being performed.  Do not assume you are the smartest person in the room when communicating with an auditor.  Understanding that the inherent authority of the auditor is dictated by the interested party they are advising.  Their ability to influence a decision (that may have significant impact on your company) is the foundation of a desired outcome for you. Understanding the inherent “power”  in the communication of results of their audit work to a Contracting Officer, you must know the best way of preparing for the arrival of an auditor and the subsequent interaction that will occur. ***Are you concerned about DCAA audits?* *Sympaq Accounting Software has all the reports you need to stay compliant.*** ***[![Request a Demo ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/2695973/2018b20f-66b2-48e7-9478-71f89e88496f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/2695973/2018b20f-66b2-48e7-9478-71f89e88496f)*** ### Recent Blogs February, 07 2025 ## [Strong Headwinds Ahead for Federal Government Contractors in 2025](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/5-challenges-federal-government-contracting-0) [Government Contractor](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/government-contractor) [Accounting Software](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/accounting-software) [SYMPAQ Benefits](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/sympaq-benefits) [Business Tips](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/business-tips) [Headwinds](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/headwinds) Poised to bid on contracts with the Federal Government? you will likely encounter challenges with procurement regulations and bureaucracy.[ Read the Blog](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/5-challenges-federal-government-contracting-0) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/5-challenges-federal-government-contracting-0#comments-listing) January, 10 2025 ## [End of Year Tax Form Filing Has Never Been Easier!](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/end-of-year-tax-form-filing-has-never-been-easier) [tax](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/tax) [2024](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/2024) As we learned last year when the paper filing threshold dropped from 250 for each tax form to 10 tax forms in aggregate (i.e., 1099-NEC plus 1099-Misc plus W2), one should no longer be contemplating t\[...\][ Read the Blog](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/end-of-year-tax-form-filing-has-never-been-easier) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/end-of-year-tax-form-filing-has-never-been-easier#comments-listing) December, 04 2024 ## [Another Year, Another End-of-Year Update](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/2024-year-end-of-year-update) [2024](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/topic/2024) One thing we've learned over the years as a software publisher is that unless you are planning on sunsetting a legacy application, you are never "done" with development.[ Read the Blog](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/2024-year-end-of-year-update) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://sql.sympaq.com/blog/2024-year-end-of-year-update#comments-listing) ![](https://sql.sympaq.com/hs-fs/hubfs/crop-trans-logo.png?width=200&name=crop-trans-logo.png) We are focused on delivering reliable cost accounting, timekeeping and expense reporting solutions to labor-intensive federal government contractors and not-for-profit organizations in search of fully compliant, standards-based, project accounting software. ### Get In Touch [contact@sympaq.com](mailto:contact@sympaq.com) Local phone:[(301) 670-0858](tel:3016700858) Fax: (301) 840-1591 15839 Crabbs Branch Way, Rockville, MD 20855. [Privacy Policy](https://www.sympaq.com/privacy-policy/) [Cookie Policy](https://www.sympaq.com/cookie-policy/) [Terms & Conditions](https://www.sympaq.com/terms-and-conditions/) ### Subscribe to Our Blog Get the latest business resources on the market delivered to your inbox. Copyright © 2023 Aldebaron, Inc. All rights reserved. Website by [IMGdigitalAgency.com](https://www.imgdigitalagency.com/) [![](https://sql.sympaq.com/hubfs/blue-seal-bbb.png)](https://www.bbb.org/us/md/rockville/profile/computer-software-developers/sympaq-0241-236013238#sealclick) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=1997524&fmt=gif) × ### Speak to a Specialist Find out how SYMPAQ makes DCAA compliance a breeze. Fill out the form below to speak with a SYMPAQ team member. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "G. 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