Katherine (Katie) Donnell serves as the Director of Unanet Practice Services at Redstone Government Consulting, Inc., where she leads the firm’s Unanet consulting practice in delivering expert implementation, optimization, and compliance support to government contractors. With extensive expertise in DCAA-compliant Unanet Time & Expense Tracking, Project Portfolio, and Financials, Katie plays a vital role in helping contractors build and maintain compliant, efficient financial and project management systems. As one of the first Unanet Certified Implementers, Katie was part of Unanet’s initial pilot certification program for non-Unanet consultants, investing over 300 hours in training, system development, and rigorous testing to obtain her certification. She holds Unanet Advanced Project Management training credentials and is also a QuickBooks ProAdvisor. Her technical expertise and real-world implementation experience make her a trusted advisor, frequently called upon by Unanet’s internal teams to support implementation projects as an external expert. Katie is also responsible for the continued growth and strategic oversight of Redstone GCI’s Unanet Practice, ensuring that quality of service, client support, and consultant development remain at the highest standard. She is committed to advancing the professional development and expertise of Redstone GCI’s Unanet consulting team, ensuring they stay at the forefront of industry best practices and evolving compliance requirements. At Redstone GCI, Katie serves as a primary point of contact for numerous small business clients, providing ongoing government cost accounting and compliance support. She regularly assists with monthly accounting close processes, ensuring accurate financial reporting for program management and executives. Her unique combination of software system expertise and compliance knowledge allows her to provide strategic, hands-on guidance to government contractors navigating complex regulatory and financial landscapes. With extensive experience in government contract accounting and compliance, Katie has assisted contractors with DCAA audit readiness, including SF1408 pre-award accounting system audits, provisional billing rate submissions, forward pricing rate development, and incurred cost submissions. She also helps clients design and implement compliant policies and procedures to support an adequate DCAA-approved accounting system. Prior to joining Redstone GCI, Katie worked in public accounting and government contracting, gaining operational experience with Unanet, QuickBooks, SpringAhead, Deltek T&E, ADP, Paychex, and QB Payroll. Her extensive background in accounting, compliance, and financial systems ensures that Redstone GCI’s Unanet clients receive the highest level of technical and regulatory expertise.
Is cheaper always better? When choosing a software system like Unanet for implementation, many organizations are tempted to go with the lowest-cost option. However, while cost might seem like the most immediate concern, focusing solely on price often leads to long-term challenges that can affect your business's financial health and operational efficiency.
Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Small Business Compliance, Unanet
What is your company using to track Opportunities? A robust Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution or spreadsheets and sticky notes? As companies grow, it’s imperative that your team adapts to stay competitive and win contracts. A lot of business development teams track opportunities in Excel. First, bravo for using Excel and not a sticky note. You are on the right track! What if I told you that using a CRM to track opportunities would allow you to gain efficiency, never miss a due date, and project future revenue?
The rush to close any accounting system for the previous year is everyone’s top priority at the beginning of the new year. Why? We have forms to file. We have performance numbers to report. The annual Incurred Cost Submission is a top priority for government contractors with cost-type contracts. The Incurred Cost Electronically (ICE), or Incurred Cost Submission (ICS), is a highly formatted spreadsheet model with many worksheets (17 required and 6 optional) that provides a standard electronic package to assist in preparing adequate incurred cost submissions. The ICE spreadsheet model also helps with audit support and is the final version of reported costs incurred and billed within a year.
Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, Incurred Cost Proposal Submission (ICP/ICE), DCAA Audit Support, Unanet
January 1st is a popular Go Live date for any software implementation, and we certainly see that with our Unanet clients. The benefits of starting a new accounting system at the beginning of the year include several things such as:
The year 2023 was a great one for the Unanet Community. I ended the year attending the 4th Quarter Huntsville Unanet Users Group (HUUG) Meeting, where there was an Ugly Christmas Sweater Competition that I didn’t win. HUUG is such a unique group of Unanet Users in the Huntsville Community. If you are a Unanet user in the Huntsville area and have not already joined, I recommend you do. Reach out to me, and I can provide you with the contact information to get added to the group. If you are outside of the Huntsville area, look for Unanet user groups near you to connect with a peer group for a sense of community, networking and support. I think you will find it beneficial.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Below, we’ve created a compact list of action items for your Unanet accounting system at year end. Please don’t hesitate to call us to walk through this year end checklist with one of our consultants to help guide you.
Topics: Compliant Accounting Infrastructure, DCAA Audit Support, Unanet
There are many circumstances where a Unanet customer might manage multiple legal entities in the same Unanet system. There are many benefits as well:
Unanet recently released multiple updates to the Contracts Module. Contract clauses were one of the updates that had everyone excited. This new functionality is great if you plan on using it to its full capability. There are multiple steps to this process, which can be time-consuming, so you’ll want to set aside time and plan ahead to complete this process.
The Unanet Champions conference was held this year in Denver, CO. Prior to the conference kick-off, Unanet now host a day of training for those want training in specific areas. Katie participated in Analytics and I was in the CRM: Administering the System. I will become a Certified Implementer for CRM this summer and I’m excited about the opportunity.
Topics: Unanet
As the year comes to an end, there are some additional considerations and setup items that need to be completed. Unanet is a comprehensive accounting system that offers clear procedures for closing on the Support Site. Every company is different, therefore, we at Redstone GCI wanted to provide a checklist and a few links to the Unanet Support Site to help guide you through the Year-End Process smoothly and efficiently:
Topics: Unanet