[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 112 (Thursday, June 11, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 31995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-15557]



[[Page 31995]]

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GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE


System Requirements Checklists

AGENCY: General Accounting Office.

ACTION: Notice of document availability.

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SUMMARY: The General Accounting Office (GAO) is concurrently issuing 
three checklists to be used as tools to help agencies review their 
financial management systems and assist auditors with their 
responsibilities under the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act 
(FFMIA) of 1996. The first checklist, the Framework For Federal 
Financial Management System Checklist (GAO/AIMD-98-21.2.1), is based on 
the Joint Financial Management Improvement Program (JFMIP) framework 
document and is primarily a reference source rather than a standard-
setting document. The other two documents reflect the system 
requirements defined by JFMIP and are the: Core Financial System 
Checklist (GAO/AIMD-98-21.2.2), and Inventory System Checklist (GAO/
AIMD-98-21.2.4). Although these checklists are not required to be used 
by agencies, this notice indicates that the checklists are available 
from GAO for immediate use.

DATES: June 5, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the system requirement checklists are available by 
(1) pick-up at Document Distribution, U.S. General Accounting Office, 
Room 1100, 700 4th Street, NW. (corner of 4th and G Streets, NW.), 
Washington, DC; (2) mail from U.S. General Accounting Office, P.O. Box 
37050, Washington, DC 20013; (3) phone at 202-512-6000 or FAX 202-512-
6061 or TDD 202-512-2537; or (4) on GAO's home page (http://
www.gao.gov) on the Internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert W. Gramling, 202-512-9406.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FFMIA requires, among other things, that 
agencies implement and maintain financial management systems that 
substantially comply with federal financial management systems 
requirements. These system requirements are detailed in the Financial 
Management Systems Requirements series issued by JFMIP and Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-127, Financial Management 
Systems.
    The JFMIP requirements documents identify: (1) a framework for 
financial management systems, (2) core financial systems requirements, 
and (3) 16 other systems that support agency operations. To date, JFMIP 
has issued the framework and core documents, and 7 of the 16 systems 
(inventory, seized/forfeited asset, direct loan, guaranteed loan, 
travel, personnel-payroll, and managerial cost accounting). GAO plans 
to issue a checklist for each of the JFMIP systems requirements 
documents. The three checklists being issued in final were initially 
issued as exposure drafts. Comments received were analyzed and 
considered.
    OMB Circular A-127 and OMB's Implementation Guidance for the 
Federal Financial Management Improvement Act (FFMIA) of 1996, issued 
September 9, 1997, provide the basis for assessing compliance with the 
FFMIA requirement of agencies to implement and maintain financial 
management systems that comply substantially with federal requirements. 
OMB's guidance provides indicators for chief financial officers and 
inspectors general to assist them in determining whether the agency's 
financial management systems substantially comply with federal 
financial management systems requirements. The annual assurance 
statement required pursuant to section 4 of the Federal Managers' 
Financial Integrity Act is one of those indicators. Agencies can use 
GAO's checklists to help determine annual compliance with section 4 of 
the Integrity Act.
Jeffrey C. Steinhoff,
Director of Planning and Reporting, Accounting and Information 
Management Division.
[FR Doc. 98-15557 Filed 6-10-98; 8:45 am]
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