Internal Controls
Travel / Purchase
iFAMS
IT / Non-IT
Financial Management
100
This is the process of reviewing business operations to see where the most critical risks lie.
What is a risk assessment? A risk assessment must be conducted at least annually, taking into account any new risks introduced by changes in the business.
100
This is the separating of a requirement into two or more purchases as a means to circumvent the micro-purchase threshold.
What is a split-purchase? One example of a split purchase is when a cardholder purchases the same or similar item(s) from multiple merchants on the same day and the total purchase amount exceeds the single purchase limit, and the total requirement was known at the time of the first purchase.
100
In September 2016, VA selected this agency as its Federal Shared Services provider for the Financial Management Business Transformation

What is the Department of Agriculture (USDA)?

In 2016, VA chose USDA over Treasury, The USDA contracted ended on April 6th. in late 2017 UDSA made a decision to severance the VA contract. VA is working with the Vendor CGI for Momentum.  They are part of the FIT-GAP Work group working with VA Stakeholders. 

100

This 2006 congressional action resulted in the creation of the OI&T organization.

What is the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act, 2006 (Public Law 109-114)? The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act of 2006 created a separate VA –IT appropriation to fund the development, acquisition and maintenance of IT products and services for the VA. Congress authorized the VA-IT Appropriation, resulting in the forming of the OI&T organization within the VA. The intent of the authorization was to improve congressional oversight and transparency over VA IT spending and reporting. The appropriation was funded for $1.2B in 2006 and currently has an appropriation of $4.2B for 2018.
100
This group maintains and updates the library of financial policy.

What is the Financial Policy Steering Committee (FPSC)? The Assistant Secretary for Management /Chief Financial Officer (CFO) oversees all financial management activities relating to the Department’s programs and operations, as required by the Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990 In order to maintain an updated library of financial policy, the Financial Policy Steering Committee (FPSC) is established to assist the VA CFO and all VA financial organizations in implementing and adhering to uniform financial policies and procedures. These policies and procedures will ensure common business practices across all VA operations and that these processes are being accounted for and reported in a similar fashion. In addition, the library of financial policy and procedures is used to ensure that the additional functions required by the CFO Act are maintained in the accounting and financial systems.

200
This is a component of internal control and the attitude of management and their employees regarding the need for internal controls. If the controls are taken seriously, this greatly enhances the robustness of the system of internal control.
What is control environment? The other components of internal control are risk assessment, control activities, information & communication, and monitoring.
200

This is the dollar threshold where individuals can file for reimbursement without an accompanied receipt.

What is $75. Travelers may request reimbursement for miscellaneous travel expenses under $75 without a receipt, except for items required by policy such as airline baggage fees and gas receipts associated with a rental car.

200

Board to establish iFAMS

What is Financial Management Business Transformation Program Advisory Board. (FMBT). ?

Financial Management Transformation Service (FMTS) is leading the Department’s Financial Management Business Transformation (FMBT) program. This initiative aligns with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) M13-08, Improving Financial Systems through Shared Services and supports the VA’s strategic objective to “Enhance Productivity and Improve the Efficiency of the Provision of Veteran Benefits and Services.” The FMBT program intends to provide a comprehensive financial management system that enables VA to meet financial management goals and objectives and compliance with financial management legislation and directives.

200

The VA Policy Directive that revised the original IT-Non-IT policy.

What is Directive 6008? Directive 6008, “Acquisition and Management of VA Information Technology Resources”, was finalized and signed by the Executive in Charge for OI&T in November, 2017. It revised the existing IT-Non-IT policy to address the rapid advancement and complexity of Information Technology requirements throughout the VA and to interpret policy questions on the proper use of VA resources for IT related projects. The policy ensures that all VA IT related assets are acquired within the constraints and intent of the VA's IT Systems appropriation account, providing specific guidance as to when IT-related assets must be funded from the IT Systems appropriation account and when it is allowable to use non-IT VA appropriations to fund IT related products and services. An Overview training of Directive 6008 is available in TMS (On Demand) (VA 4407221
200
This replaced FACTS I/II

What is GTAS -

Government wide Treasury Account Symbol Adjusted Trail Balance? GTAS is used by agencies to report budget execution and proprietary financial reporting to Treasury and OMB quarter. GTAS uses the CGAC structures. FACTS I/II was replaced by the Government wide Treasury Account Symbol Adjusted Trial Balance System (GTAS) 2012. It was slated to go into production December 2013. GTAS was also developed under the CGAC structure and streamlines agency reporting.

300
This Statement of Assurance assessment outcome means that there is one or more material weaknesses or significant deficiencies.
What is modified assurance? The other types of assurance are unmodified assurance and no assurance.
300
This internal control for purchase cards requires individuals requesting purchases, making purchases, and receiving purchased items be different.
What is segregation of duties? Segregation of duties serves two key purposes: It ensures that there is oversight and review to catch errors. It helps to prevent fraud or theft because it requires two people to collude in order to hide a transaction.
300
This is a result for the Financial Management Business Transformation's Program Mission.

What is to improve Fiscal Accountability?          What is to improve Financial Reporting?            What is to Update old/outdated/Legacy Financial System?

This is how much it is costing

•$122 million for Financial Management Business Transformation (FMBT).

•$381 million for new IT development to replace certain mission critical legacy systems.

300
This governance body reviews and interprets policy questions or issues as they relate to the IT-Non-IT policy.
What is the IT-Non-IT Workgroup? The IT-Non-IT Workgroup (ITW) was convened in FY14 and serves as the deliberative body for IT-Non-IT analyses and recommendations for the legal use of funding for IT related investments. It is comprised of representatives from all VA administrations and staff offices. Outputs include recommendations on the proper VA appropriation to use for specific IT related projects, and policy interpretations. To review prior minutes, policy interpretations and other background documentation related to the ITW , see the ITW SharePoint Site: https://vaww.vaco.portal.va.gov/sites/ITRM/ITPPBE/it%20non-it%20wg/SitePages/Home.aspx
300
This group is responsible for developing accounting standards for the U.S. Government.
Who is the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB ASAB is responsible for developing accounting standards for the U.S. Government. These standards are recognized as generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for the Federal government and are applied by Federal agencies in preparing financial statements.
400
This guidance, developed by the Office of Management and Budget defines Management's Responsibility for Enterprise Risk Management and Internal Control.
What is OMB Circular A-123? This Circular is comprised of 4 main appendices; A-Financial Reporting and soon to be Operations; B-Government Charge Cards; C-Improper Payments; D-Federal Financial System Compliance.
400
What form of payment is used when a group of government employees, specifically 10 or more, are on official government travel and they need to charter a bus?
What is a purchase card?
400
This external step is part of the Financial Management Business Transformation Budget Execution Process Requirements Mapping.
What is conduct Congressional Reprogram and Transfer Authorizations?
400
The 2015 law that changed the way the U.S. federal government acquires and manages information technology, including data center optimization
What is FITARA? The Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (FITARA) puts federal agency CIOs in control of IT investments. FITARA was enacted in response to specific federal IT challenges, such as duplication of IT spending between and within agencies, understanding cost & performance of federal IT investments, providing more visibility into IT spending with an ability to benchmark IT spending within federal entities and between federal and private-sector counterparts. Among the objectives of FITARA are: a.) alignment of IT resources with agency missions and requirements; b.) strengthening federal agency CIOs’ accountability for IT costs, performance, and security; c.) enabling effective planning, programming, budget and execution for IT resources; and d.) Providing transparency into IT resources across agencies and programs. Each federal agency’s dedicated CIO is responsible for FITARA compliance. Each federal agency’s CIO is responsible for FITARA compliance. Directive 6008 affirms the VA CIO's oversight authority over all information related assets as highlighted by the FITARA and establishes roles and responsibilities among VA administrations and staff offices, including the Office of Information & Technology (Ol&T).
400
Categories of accounting identifiers that code financial obligations according to nature of the services or item purchased. Double Daily What specific SUB BOC is generally associated to OIT

What are Budget Object Codes (BOC)?

BOC 31 OIT Equipment / 30 Acquisition of Assets

500
These are actions and/or processes help an organization achieve its mission while promoting effectiveness and efficiency of operations.

What are internal controls? Good controls safeguard assets, promote efficiency, encourage compliance with laws and regulations , provide reliable information, and seek to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.

500

*Daily Double*

This agency administers the overall implementation of the government charge card program and works to maintain and issue the Federal Acquisition Regulations or FAR.

What is the General Services Administration or GSA?
500

The objective of the Accounting Classification Structure? (ACS)

What is - Get Minimum of 4 Establish a standard methodology for classifying financial effects for federal business activities. Manage and track critical non-financial data elements. Facilitate the aggregation of accurate financial data needed for financial reporting and contribute to standardized data within VA. Capture data required to report on legislative mandates such as DATA Act and GPRA, as well VA-specific strategic measures such as progress around MyVA. Support VA’s compliance with federal reporting requirements and continue to have auditable financial statements (through resolution of audit issues) to achieve a clean opinion. Communicate, in a transparent manner, financial information in a consistent and reliable manner to support the efficient and effective management of program and business operations and the use of taxpayer money
500
This major category of VA IT related systems are the most frequently allowed for non-IT funding.
What are Medical Systems used for Direct Patient Care? • Medical systems and devices are defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and usually are assigned a product identification code by the FDA. As defined in Directive 6008, these systems must meet a detailed definition of their function and purpose. This exclusion was granted by VA leadership at the very beginning of the VA-IT appropriation, with congressional awareness, because of the unique clinical requirements necessary to install and maintain these systems. These systems directly connect to the patient, often with life or death consequences and because of their critical clinical nature cannot meet the normal VA IT security requirements and are configured behind an additional VA firewall called the Medical Device Isolation Architecture (MDIA) to manage the security of medical devices. The MDIA is managed by VHA Bio-Medical personnel.
500
In VA's Annual Financial Report (AFR), the opinion on the Financial Statements can be read here.
What is the Independent Auditor's Report?