Service Day - Navy.

Mr. Charles P. Nemfakos, Deputy Undersecretary of the Navy and Senior Civilian Official in the OASN (FM&C)

Mrs. Gladys J. Commons, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (FM&C)

Wednesday, May 30, 2001, was Service Day. This event included a morning General Session and afternoon workshops for Navy and Marine Corps personnel. In the General Session, RADM Albert T. Church III welcomed the group as the Director of Budget in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptroller) (OASN (FM&C)) and ASMC Navy Vice President. Admiral Church's welcome was followed by comments from Mr. Charles P. Nemfakos, Deputy Under Secretary of the Navy and Senior Civilian Official in the OASN (FM&C).

Mr. Nemfakos spoke to the group about budget issues, present financial management initiatives, and the future of the financial community. He answered questions and addressed concerns from the audience.

Mrs. Gladys J. Commons, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy (FM&C), ended the session with the presentation of the 2000-2001 Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management and Comptrollers) Awards Program winners.

Synopses of the Service Day workshop presentations and a summary of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (FM&C) Awards presented during the conference appear in the following paragraphs. The synopses contain current information on the initiatives and issues that are evolving in the Naval financial management community. (For more presentation details, visit our Web site at Internet address http://www.nfmc.navy.milIASMCPDI ServiceDayInfo.html. The awards will describe individual and team achievements in the financial management career field for fiscal year 2000-2001.

ASMC PDI Service Day Workshops Topics, Presenters, and Synopses

CFO/FFMIA System Compliance & USD (C)'s "Y2K-Like" System, Mr. Bill Aldrich (FMO). The Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) (USD(C)) has implemented a formal "Y2K-like" process to monitor our financial and feeder system compliance efforts. This process includes the following steps for each system: awareness, evaluation, renovation, validation, and compliance. This presentation discussed the requirements and how the Navy is implementing those requirements.

ASN (FM&C)'s Role in the DON ERP Initiatives, Mr. Rick Miskovich and Ms. Beverly Veit (FMB-3R). The Department of the Navy (DON) has initiated a series of pilot programs to assess the potential application of commercially available software packages to enterprise resources planning (ERP). The presentation discussed the initiatives and the role of the OASN (FM&C) in those initiatives.

Program Budget Information System, CDR Michelle McAtee (N802). Brief on the progress made on implementation of single-database management in conformance with FYDP reform.

Money Talks, Ms. Valerie Wenderoth (FMC-3) and Ms. Linda Meadows (FMB-5). Discussion of requirements associated with Upward Obligation Adjustments and other relevant Navy financial issues.

Update of the DON Financial Management Policy Manual, Ms. Donna White (FMB-52). Discussion of recently updated portions of the FMPM.

* SABRS Implementation and Conversion Update - The success achieved to date was directly attributed to the Marine Corps/DFAS partnership. An updated version of the Standard Accounting Budget and Reporting System (SABRS) has been implemented at the final site. Now the Marine Corps has a single accounting system for all Marine Corps general funds.

Marine Corps Topics--SABRS, Mr. Mike Reiche (DFAS). This presentation provided updates on several U.S. Marine Corps initiatives:

* Single Domain Concept Update - A major part of the SABRS implementation was the elimination of processing domains. Five of the six domains required in the older version of SABRS have been eliminated. This resulted in a cost savings to both the Marine Corps and DFAS.

* SABRS Management Analysis Retrieval Tool System (SMARTS) Update - SMARTS is a management reporting tool that gives users access to SABRS financial, accounting, and budgeting information in a cost-effective and timely manner. This is accomplished by periodic updates from the SABRS mainframe to a client server. The users then query the server, thus minimizing the costly queries to the mainframe.

* Marine Corps Financial Schools (Marine Cops Base, Camp Lejuene) SABRS Database Update - This database allows the school to provide hands-on instruction using a database that replicates the database that the students will use after graduation.

* USMC Updates - This DFAS Kansas City organizational structure was furnished with specific emphasis given to the Systems Division. The Configuration Control Board and SMARTS Users conference is scheduled for early August 2001.

DRID #47 and DRID #53 Effects on DON Financial Management, Ms. Vicky Beck (FMO). Department of Defense Reform Initiative Directive (DRID) #47, End-To-End Procurement Process, and DRID #53, Reconciliation of Contracts and the Mechanization of Contract Administrative Service (MOCAS) System, are part of the effort within the Department of Defense (DoD) to improve our business practices and create the preeminent procurement system in the federal government. This presentation reviewed both DRIDs and explained the current effect each has on DON financial management practices.

Business Risk Assessment: A New Approach to the Management Control Program, Mr. Gil Gardner (FMO). The DON has initiated an exciting business risk assessment pilot effort at the Naval Facilities and Engineering Command. The effort is designed to assess risks from a business perspective and develop solutions based on the input of operational managers. This presentation will describe the business risk pilot program as well as other approaches for dealing with business risk.

Anti-Deficiency Act Violations, Mr. Lynn Jewett (FMB-510). Discussion of Anti-Deficiency Act issues within the Department of the Navy.

Budget Execution Document, Mr. Steve Corbin (FMB-55) and Mr. Steve Patrick (FMB-54). Synopsis of the findings of the Project Order Review Team and the appropriate use of Project Orders and Economy Act Orders.

DON Financial Management: Where We've Been...Where We're Going, Mr. Ron Haas (FMO). FMO organization and direction were presented during this session. The discussion included several financial management issues facing the Department as it moves toward the vision and strategy for financial management in the DON.

Marine Corps Topics--ABC/M, COL David Clifton (HQMC). Amid reform initiatives and budget reductions, Marine Corps commanders met and agreed to implement ABC/M initiatives across the Corps in order to effectively manage installations. The purpose of the ABC/M initiative is to equip the installation workforce to absorb the changes effectively and to better manage all activities on the installations. This is done by investing in the management skills of the installation workforce and by providing better information about the work being performed on each installation and the resources consumed by that work.

Government Travel Card Program: Department of the Navy Perspective, Mr. David McDermott (FMO). This presentation covered the status of the Government Travel Card Program, highlighted specific initiatives occurring within the DON for the travel card, and provided an overview of the tools available to DON organizations for effective travel card program management.

Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection, LCDR Mike McLean (FMB-1). The presentation addressed what constitutes anti-terrorism/force protection requirements and how to estimate and report budget requirements.

Improving Financial Statements, Mr. Ed Johnson (FMO). A challenge in financial management for the DON is to attain "clean" financial statements.

This presentation discussed the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) and DON efforts to streamline the process used to compile and produce the annual Navy Working Capital Fund and General Fund financial statements. Also covered were many of the initiatives being addressed by the FMO and its contractor support staff to improve upon the financial data and processes affecting the financial statements.

Issues That Affect Civilian Personnel Budget and Execution, Ms. Janet Vernon (FMB-42) and Ms. Ann Donnelly (FMB-421). Discussion of civilian personnel issues (e.g., Major DoD Headquarters Activities and Strategic Sourcing).

Future Workforce--Career Development, Mr. Thomas Steinberg (NFMC). The briefing covered the current status and preparation of the DON FM civilian workfotce.

Marine Corps Topics--Budget Issues, COL Robert Weidert (HQMC). This presentation provided an update on current budget topics to include the FY-01 Supplemental and the FY-02 and FY-03 budget submissions. The presenter discussed the overall resource allocation strategy within the U.S. Marine Corps. This strategy will provide, within fiscal constraints, the best balance among the four readiness pillars: (1) Marines and their families, (2) legacy systems/current readiness, (3) infrastructure, and (4) modernization.

Assistant Secretary of the Navy (FM&C) Award Recipients

Donna White, OASN(FM&C) (FMB), Washington, D.C. - Individual Achievement in Budgeting

Ms. White, a Senior Budget Analyst in the Office of Budget, established the Department of the Navy Financial Procedures for the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) Program. She developed uniform procedures for DON customers to pass finds to a central command responsible for execution of the NMCI contract. Ms. White formulated a financial process that enabled Navywide users to determine their technology requirements via reimbursable orders to the command managing the contract. These procedures allowed for a smooth transition to the NMCI contract, enabling rapid aggregation of customer funds and an expedient contract award.

Individual Achievement in Accounting

Kenneth Luper, NAVCONBATCEN, Port Hueneme, CA

Mr. Luper is a Financial Systems Analyst in the Navy Construction Battalion Center (CBC). Mr. Luper created an innovative financial management reporting system using DON computer technologies and Web-based applications. This system extracts key information from a standard DoD accounting system and integrates that information into local accounts management applications. This process creates the best return on information technology investment by leveraging the use of DON technology. Mr. Luper's process has significantly improved local command financial management and enhanced overall CBC program accounting credibility.

Patricia Robrecht, NAVAIR, Patuxent River, MD

Ms. Robrecht is the Comptroller! Deputy Comptroller, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD). During fiscal year 2000, she balanced two positions, the Implementation Program Manager of the Defense Industrial Financial Management System (DIFMS) and the Deputy Comptroller NAWCAD. During the fiscal year, Ms. Robrecht implemented DIFMS in one-half the allotted time at NAWCAD. Because of her efforts, NAWCAD was the first activity to convert to a DIFMS environment with a balanced general ledger. This implementation resulted in a $3.5-million cost savings.

Individual Achievement in Comptrollership

Navy Manpower Analysis Center (NAVMAC), Millington, TN

LCDRJanet G. Goldstein -Team Award

The NAVMAC Comptroller/Information Technology team was tasked to identify and implement cost-saving measures that would help the command maintain its mission essential operations in the midst of budget reductions. The 10-member team identified and implemented three initiatives that resulted in a $114,000 cost savings. The three initiatives were (I) implemented FASTDATA and SLDCADA systems to convert command financial and payroll processes to electronic operations, (2) eliminated excess command telephone lines and duplicate financial record-keeping systems, and (3) reduced the number of job orders by half.

Naval Inventory Control Point (NAVICP) Centrally Billed Account Process, Philadelphia, PA

Ms. Donna Martin - Team Award

In September 1999, the DON owed Bank of America over $200 million for centrally billed accounts (CBAs). Over 13,000 transactions were suspended in STARS One Bill Pay. The CBA team was formed to study the CBA process and recommend solutions to resolve this issue. This 10-member team developed, coordinated, and implemented processes to improve the timeliness of Government Travel Card CBA invoice payments. The new process involved reorganizing the method of payment for airline tickets for 36 NAVSEA activities at 21 Navy Passenger Transportation Offices. The team coordinated the development of an invoice review program to manage NAVSEA Headquarters' two CBAs with over 1,100 monthly TDY transactions. The team's efforts reduced the monthly invoice error rate from 9 percent to 2 percent. This is an 80 percent error reduction and represents 11,000 transactions that cost over $4.2 million. Invoices now are processed with fewer errors, and payments are made in less than 30 days.