Accenture Helps U.S. Air Force Launch First Phase of DEAMS Financial Management System at Scott Air Force Base.

BELLEVILLE, Ill. -- The U.S. Air Force and Accenture have successfully launched the first phase of Spiral 1 of the Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System (DEAMS) at Scott Air Force Base. The second phase, which will complete the Spiral 1 implementation, is expected to be implemented by the end of 2007.

Spiral 1 of DEAMS replaces the commitment accounting functions currently provided by the Automated Business Services System. Future releases will improve cost accounting, purchase requests, accounts payable and disbursement, financial obligations, collections and customer billing.

DEAMS represents the first step in replacing several antiquated financial systems and is designed to help the U.S. Air Force manage its operations more efficiently while reducing costs.

Keith Bentley, director of U.S. Transportation Command Program Analysis and Financial Management, sees the system's successful launch as a key achievement. "We are excited to reach this important milestone and look forward to completing Spiral 1 by the end of the year," Bentley said.

DEAMS Spiral 1 is being implemented with support from Accenture and is based on Oracle e-business commercial software. The DEAMS program development was led by the 554th Electronic Systems Group, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Scott Air Force Base was chosen for the implementation because of its role as headquarters of the Air Mobility Command, the U.S. Transportation Command and the Air Force Communications Agency.

"The successful implementation of DEAMS should help address many of the limitations associated with Air Force's legacy financial systems and enable more accurate and timely access to critical information," said Eric Stange, managing director of Accenture's Defense practice. "Ultimately this should allow for better financial management capabilities across the Air Force enterprise."

Department of Defense financial experts are pleased with progress to date and see the on-time, on-budget Spiral 1 delivery as a positive indicator for future phases of the implementation. Other USTRANSCOM components, including Military Sealift Command and Surface Deployment and Distribution Command, are scheduled to be included in a subsequent spiral of Increment 1.

DEAMS brings the lessons of private-sector business transformation to improving Department of Defense financial operations. The five-year, $79 million contract to design, build and operate the system was awarded in February 2006. DEAMS was created to support the warfighter with timely, accurate, and reliable financial information enabling efficient and effective decision making by Department of Defense managers in the execution of their duties as responsible stewards of the public trust.

About Accenture

Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. Committed to delivering innovation, Accenture collaborates with its clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. With deep industry and business process expertise, broad global resources and a proven track record, Accenture can mobilize the right people, skills and technologies to help clients improve their performance. With approximately 170,000 people in 49 countries, the company generated net revenues of US$19.70 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2007. Its home page is www.accenture.com.