Improving financial accountability and management

(a)

Definitions

In this section— (1)the term Department means the Department of Homeland Security; (2)the term financial management systems has the meaning given that term under section 806 of the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996 (31 U.S.C. 3512 note); (3)the term Secretary means the Secretary of Homeland Security; and (4)the term unqualified opinion mean an unqualified opinion within the meaning given that term under generally accepted auditing standards. (b)

Reaching an unqualified audit opinion

In order to ensure compliance with the Department of Homeland Security Financial Accountability Act (Public Law 108–330; 118 Stat. 1275) and the amendments made by that Act, the Secretary shall take the necessary steps to ensure that the full set of consolidated financial statements of the Department for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2013, and each fiscal year thereafter, are ready in a timely manner and in preparation for an audit as part of preparing the performance and accountability reports required under section 3516(f) of title 31, United States Code, (including submitting the reports not later than November 15, 2013, and each year thereafter) in order to obtain an unqualified opinion on the full set of financial statements for the fiscal year. (c)

Report to Congress on progress of meeting audit requirements

In order to ensure progress in implementing the Department of Homeland Security Financial Accountability Act (Public Law 108–330; 118 Stat. 1275), and the amendments made by that Act, during the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which an unqualified opinion described in subsection (b) is submitted, each report submitted by the Chief Financial Officer of the Department under section 902(a)(6) of title 31, United States Code, shall include a plan— (1)to obtain an unqualified opinion on the full set of financial statements, which shall discuss plans and resources needed to meet the deadlines under subsection (b); (2)that addresses how the Department will eliminate material weaknesses and significant deficiencies in internal controls over financial reporting and provides deadlines for the elimination of such weaknesses and deficiencies; and (3)to modernize the financial management systems of the Department, including timelines, goals, alternatives, and costs of the plan, which shall include consideration of alternative approaches, including modernizing the existing financial management systems and associated financial controls of the Department and establishing new financial management systems and associated financial controls.