Financial management : sustained effort needed to resolve long-standing problems at U.S. Agency for International Development
Title
Financial management : sustained effort needed to resolve long-standing problems at U.S. Agency for International Development / statement of Gregory D. Kutz, Director, Financial Management and Assurance.
Published by
[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. General Accounting Office, [2003]
GAO has long reported that the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) faces a number of performance and accountability challenges that affect its ability to implement its foreign economic and humanitarian assistance programs. These major challenges include human capital, performance measurement, information technology, and financial management. Effective financial management as envisioned by the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 (CFO Act) and other financial management reform laws is an important factor to the achievement of USAID's mission. USAID is one of the federal agencies subject to the CFO Act. In light of these circumstances, the Subcommittee on Government Efficiency and Financial Management, House Committee Government Reform asked GAO to testify on the financial management challenges facing USAID, as well as the keys to reforming USAID's financial management and business practices and the status of ongoing improvement efforts. USAID has made some progress to improve financial management, primarily in achieving audit opinions on its financial statements. Through the rigors of the financial statement audit process and the requirements of the Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996 (FFMIA), USAID has gained a better understanding of its financial management weaknesses. However, pervasive internal control weaknesses continue to prevent USAID management from achieving the objective of the CFO Act, which is to have timely, accurate financial information for day-to-day decision making. USAID's inadequate accounting systems make it difficult for the agency to accurately account for activity costs and measure its program results. Compounding USAID's systems difficulties has been the lack of adequate financial management personnel. Since the early 1990s, we have reported that USAID has made limited progress in addressing its human capital management issues. While some improvements have been made over the past several years, significant challenges remain. Transforming USAID's financial and business environment into an efficient and effective operation that is capable of providing timely and accurate information will require a sustained effort. USAID has acknowledged the challenges it faces to reform its financial management problems and has initiatives underway to improve its systems, processes, and internal controls. USAID has also recognized the need for a specific human capital action plan that addresses financial management personnel shortfalls.
Series statement
Testimony ; GAO-03-1170 T
Uniform title
Testimony ; GAO-03-1170 T.
Alternative title
Sustained effort needed to resolve long-standing problems at U.S. Agency for International Development
Paper version available from: General Accounting Office, 441 G St., NW, Rm. LM, Washington, D.C. 20548.
Bibliography (note)
Includes bibliographical references.
System details (note)
Mode of access: Internet from GAO web site. Address as of 11/13/03: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d031170t.pdf; current access available via PURL.
Author
Kutz, Gregory D.
Title
Financial management : sustained effort needed to resolve long-standing problems at U.S. Agency for International Development / statement of Gregory D. Kutz, Director, Financial Management and Assurance.
Imprint
[Washington, D.C.] : U.S. General Accounting Office, [2003]
Type of content
text
Type of medium
computer
Type of carrier
online resource
Series
Testimony ; GAO-03-1170 T
Testimony ; GAO-03-1170 T.
System details
Mode of access: Internet from GAO web site. Address as of 11/13/03: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d031170t.pdf; current access available via PURL.