DOD Financial Management: The Defense Finance and Accounting Service Needs to Fully Implement Financial Improvements for Contract Pay

Abstract : The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013 mandated that DOD s FIAR Plan include the goal of validating that DOD s Statement of Budgetary Resources (SBR) is audit ready by no later than September 30, 2014. DOD identified contract pay as one of the key elements of its SBR. DFAS, the service provider responsible for the department s contract pay, asserted that its processes, systems, and controls over contract pay were suitably designed and operating effectively to undergo an audit. DOD s FIAR Guidance provides a methodology DOD components are required to follow to develop and implement FIPs to improve financial management and assert audit readiness. The FIP is a framework for planning, executing, and tracking the steps and supporting documentation necessary to achieve auditability. GAO is mandated to audit the U.S. government s consolidated financial statements, including activities of executive branch agencies such as DOD. This report discusses the extent to which DFAS implemented its contract pay FIP in accordance with the FIAR Guidance. GAO reviewed the FIP and related work products, such as process flowcharts, test plans, and test results, and interviewed DFAS and DOD officials. GAO is making nine recommendations for DFAS to fully implement the requirements in the FIAR Guidance in the areas of planning, testing, and corrective actions. DOD concurred with the recommendations and described its actions to address them.