How Government Contractors Gain a Strategic Edge with CPM Software

Corporate Performance Management (CPM) software has been a cornerstone of the Office of the CFO for decades. Traditionally used to manage financial plans, budgets, forecasts, what-if scenarios, reports, and performance dashboards, CPM platforms have evolved significantly—especially with the advent of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). Today, the market offers a range of SaaS-based CPM solutions tailored to SMBs, mid-market, and enterprise organizations.

However, not all CPM platforms are created equal—especially when it comes to meeting the complex needs of government contractors.

Why CPM is Different for Government Contractors

Government contractors operate in a highly regulated, project-centric environment. Unlike commercial enterprises where CPM is typically centered on corporate-level planning, government contractors require more advanced modeling, stringent business logic, and robust workflow capabilities to manage financial performance across a portfolio of contracts and programs.

Many mainstream CPM solutions fall short in this sector due to their inability to support nuanced requirements such as indirect rate structures, multi-level program budgeting, compliance reporting, and integration with purpose-built ERPs like Deltek Costpoint or Unanet.

How RVNA Technologies Helps Government Contractors Succeed with CPM

RVNA Technologies, headquartered in Tysons, VA near Washington, D.C., is a professional services firm with deep expertise in implementing CPM software for government contractors. We specialize in recommending, deploying, and optimizing best-in-class CPM solutions that meet the sector’s rigorous demands.

Moreover, our team has developed custom assets and integration frameworks to streamline connectivity between CPM platforms and industry-standard ERPs like Deltek and Unanet. These integrations are complex and often beyond the capabilities of generalist vendors—this is where RVNA truly shines.

Who Uses CPM in a Government Contracting Organization?

In most industries, CPM tools are confined to the Office of the CFO. But in government contracting, CPM becomes a company-wide performance management tool. Here’s how different teams across a typical government contracting organization engage with and benefit from CPM software:

1. Corporate Finance and FP&A Teams

These users are the primary owners of corporate-level and indirect planning. They use CPM to develop financial forecasts, budget scenarios, and indirect rate calculations. They also collaborate with program finance teams to align corporate financial goals with contract-specific performance metrics.

2. CFO and Finance Executives

Senior finance leaders rely on CPM dashboards and reports to gain real-time visibility into enterprise financial health. With government contracts driving revenue and compliance risks, CPM tools provide CFOs with critical insights into program profitability, indirect cost recovery, and rate management.

3. Controller and CAO Organizations

While CPM originated as a planning tool, modern platforms have expanded to support accounting functions as well. Controllers and Chief Accounting Officers (CAOs) now rely on CPM for:

  • Period close management

  • Financial consolidations

  • Account reconciliations

  • Transaction matching

  • Audit trail and compliance reporting

This makes the accounting team a key user group, particularly for organizations with complex entity structures or multiple contract types.

4. Pricing Teams

In many government contracting firms, pricing is a strategic function that resides within the CFO’s organization or in its own department. Pricing teams use CPM software to:

  • Access historical rate and labor mix data

  • Leverage scenario modeling for bids and proposals

  • Collaborate with program and finance teams in real time

CPM can centralize and automate pricing logic that’s traditionally managed in complex Excel spreadsheets, reducing errors and improving bid accuracy.

5. Revenue Operations and Business Development

While RevOps teams traditionally operate from the CRM, they also contribute to CPM by inputting revenue forecasts for pipeline opportunities. Integrating forecast data into the CPM environment enhances financial predictability and enables CFOs to align pipeline projections with operating budgets.

6. Program Managers

Perhaps the most unique aspect of CPM in the government contracting space is the involvement of program managers. Unlike in other industries where CPM remains a back-office tool, government contractors extend CPM to the front lines of project execution.

Program managers use CPM to:

  • Track and manage program budgets

  • Monitor burn rates and staffing costs

  • Adjust plans based on contract modifications or funding changes

  • Report on program financials at multiple levels (task, CLIN, WBS, etc.)

Without CPM, program managers often resort to spreadsheets—which are slow, error-prone, and disconnected from real-time data. A well-implemented CPM solution empowers program managers to own their financial performance and drive better outcomes across the lifecycle of each program.

CPM software is no longer a “nice-to-have” for government contractors—it’s a strategic necessity. Whether it’s streamlining indirect rate planning, improving bid pricing, or empowering program teams with real-time financial insight, the right CPM platform delivers tangible benefits across the organization.

At RVNA Technologies, we understand the nuances of the government contracting sector and are committed to helping our clients deploy CPM software that drives accuracy, accountability, and agility across the business. Contact us today to schedule a free assessment of your financial planning capabilities.