Financial Management: DOT's Accounting and Financial Information System Can Be Improved

Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Departmental Accounting and Financial Information System (DAFIS), focusing on the system's: (1) status and cost; and (2) effectiveness in achieving its goals.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Department of Transportation	The Secretary of Transportation should direct the DOT chief financial officer to include in DOT financial systems' improvement plans a strategy to: (1) correct shortcomings in tracking, reporting, and processing financial information; and (2) integrate DAFIS with other DOT systems that provide financial information. This detailed plan should lay out clear objectives, resource estimates, and timetables for implementing changes.	Closed – Implemented DOT's Chief Financial Officer and Information Resources Management Plans document the Department's strategy and objectives for addressing shortcomings with DAFIS.
Department of Transportation	The Secretary of Transportation should report to Congress on the progress made in carrying out DOT financial systems' improvement plans.	Closed – Implemented In June 1993, DOT completed departmentwide DAFIS implementation, eliminating all systems that duplicate DAFIS fund control features. Eliminating additional systems is still possible after DAFIS is enhanced.
Department of Transportation	The Secretary of Transportation should advise Congress during the next budget submission when funds for systems that duplicate DAFIS fund control features can be eliminated.	Closed – Implemented DOT completed its 5-year Chief Financial Officer and Information Resources Management Plan, documenting the Department's strategy for integrating DAFIS with other systems. Better integration of systems should eliminate redundant systems.

Full Report

Full Report (26 pages)

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Topics

Auditing and Financial Management

Accounting proceduresCongressional oversightFederal agency accounting systemsFinancial managementFinancial recordsInternal controlsManagement information systemsSystems designAccounting systemsFinancial information