Information Technology Management: Report on Standard Finance System Controls Placed in Operation and Tests of Operating Effectiveness for the Period October 1, 2004 through March 31, 2005

摘要

This report is intended for the use of DFAS and DISA management, its user organizations, and the independent auditors of its user organizations. Department of Defense personnel who manage and use the Standard Finance System (STANFINS) will also find this report of interest as it contains information about STANFINS general and application controls. The IG DoD is implementing a long-range strategy to conduct audits of DoD financial statements. The Chief Financial Officer's Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-576), as amended, mandates that agencies prepare and conduct audits of financial statements. The reliability of information in STANFINS directly impacts DoD's ability to produce reliable, and ultimately auditable, financial statements; which is key to achieving the goals of the Chief Financial Officer's Act. STANFINS is a general fund accounting system developed to support day-to-day operations of U.S. Army and National Guard installations world-wide, as well as the Defense Commissary Agency. Other DoD agencies receive trial balance data from STANFINS for use in preparing their financial statements. STANFINS provides support for fund and obligation control, budget execution and expenditure accounting, reimbursable accounting, miscellaneous accounting (disbursements and collections), general ledger control, and financial reporting. In FY 2003, STANFINS processed more than $300 billion of general fund transactions. This audit assessed controls over the STANFINS processing of the $300 billion of transactions at DFAS and DISA. This report provides an opinion on the fairness of presentation, the adequacy of design, and the operating effectiveness of key controls that are relevant to audits of user organization financial statements. As a result, this audit precludes the need for multiple audits of STANFINS controls previously performed by user organizations to plan or conduct financial statement and performance audits.