Achieving a Qualified Audit Opinion for the Department of Defense

1. THE UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (COMPTROLLER)TASKED
THE ASSISTANT SECRETARIES OF THE MILITARY DEPARTMENTS (FINANCIAL
MANAGEMENT AND COMPTROLLER) (FM&C) BY THE REFERENCE WITH DEVELOPING
A PLAN TO OBTAIN A QUALIFIED AUDIT OPINION ON THEIR ANNUAL FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2004. ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ARE
SUBMITTED IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS (CFO) ACT
OF 1990 (AS AMENDED) AND ARE AUDITED BY THE NAVAL AUDIT SERVICE FOR
THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY. THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF NAVY (ASN)
(FM&C) HAS TASKED THE MARINE CORPS WITH SUBMISSION OF A PLAN FOR
ACHIEVING FINANCIAL STATEMENT COMPLIANCE FOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION
AND DATA INCLUDED IN THE DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
THE MARINE CORPS PLAN IS DUE ON 10 APRIL 2003. 2.THE MARINE CORPS
COMPLIANCY PLAN IS REQUIRED TO IDENTIFY CURRENT CFO REPORTING
DEFICIENCIES AND NECESSARY CORRECTIVE ACTIONS TO RESOLVE
DEFICIENCIES. MANY OF THESE DEFICIENCIES HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED IN
PREVIOUS GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE (GAO) OR NAVAL AUDIT SERVICE
(NAS) AUDITS AND REVIEWS OF OUR APPROPRIATIONS AND AUTOMATED
FINANCIAL AND FINANCIAL FEEDER SYSTEMS. A KEY PARTOF THE
MARINE CORPS PLAN TO ACHIEVE A QUALIFIED AUDIT OPINION MUST ADDRESS
MANUAL EFFORTS OR ESTIMATED COSTS OF SYSTEMS CHANGES TO ALLOW FOR
COLLECTION OF REQUIRED FINANCIAL DATA. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
THIS INFORMATION INCLUDES ACCOUNTING FOR MILITARY EQUIPMENT, PLANT,
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT (PP&E), AMMUNITION, AND OPERATING MATERIALS
AND SUPPLIES (OM&S), SO MAY REQUIRE EXTENSIVE MODIFICATION OF
INVENTORY AND LOGISTICS SYSTEMS OR MANUAL INVENTORIES AND DATA
CALLS. IN ADDITION TO ADDRESSING THE ONE-TIME COSTS IN TERMS OF
EFFORT, LABOR COSTS AND SYSTEM CHANGE REQUIREMENTS TO PROVIDE
NECESSARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION, THE COSTS OF SUSTAINING
THE REPORTING CAPABILITY BY CONTINUED MANUAL OR SYSTEM
MODIFICATION,ENHANCEMENT OR REPLACEMENT MUST BE IDENTIFIED. THE
DEPUTY COMMANDANT FOR PROGRAMS AND RESOURCES (P&R), FISCAL
DIVISION, LIAISON & TECHNICAL SERVICES BRANCH (RFL)HAS ESTABLISHED
THREE WORK GROUPS,TOGETHER WITH THE DEFENSE FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING
SERVICE-KANSAS CITY, WHO WILL ADDRESS THE FOLLOWING MAJOR
REPORTING AREAS ON THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. REPORTING
COMPLIANCE ISSUES FEEDER SYSTEM ISSUES FINANCIAL STATEMENT
ISSUES.
3. MARINE CORPS COMMAND INVOLVEMENT WILL BE NECESSARY IN IDENTIFYING
PROBLEMS AND ISSUES RELATED TO DATA PROVIDED FROM YOUR OPERATION
OR FEEDER SYSTEMS THAT MAY CONTAIN DATA REPORTABLE ON THE ANNUAL
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
4. THE POINT OF CONTACT CONCERNING THIS MATTER IS MR. JIM TUCKER,
WHO MAY BE REACHED AT 703-614-1045 OR DSN 224-1045 OR E-MAIL TO
(TUCKERJL@HQMC.USMC.MIL)OR LTCOL KEVIN D. KING AT DSN 224-4988
OR EMAIL TOKINGK@HQMC.USMC.MIL.