R 270017Z Feb 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
MARADMIN 0133/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC PR//
SUBJ/FINANCIAL STATEMENT AUDIT READINESS TRAINING AND STANDARD
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT BUSINESS PRACTICE (SFMBP) ASSESSMENT SCHEDULE//
REF/A/DESC:MSGID CMC WHITE LETTER/01-08/-/-//
AMPN/REF A OUTLINES THE MARINE CORPS STAKE IN SECURING ADEQUATE
RESOURCES FOR WARFIGHTING EXCELLENCE BY CONFIRMING THE MARINE CORPS
STATUTORY COMMITMENT TO WITHSTAND A FINANCIAL AUDIT//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  SITUATION.  AS DISCUSSED IN REF A, THE MARINE CORPS HAS UNDERTAKEN SEVERAL COORDINATED AND FOCUSED EFFORTS TO IMPROVE BUSINESS PROCESSES, DEFINE AND STRENGTHEN INTERNAL CONTROLS, ENHANCE SYSTEMS AND INCREASE THE ACCURACY, TIMELINESS AND RELIABILITY OF RECORDING FINANCIAL INFORMATION TOWARDS BETTER DECISION MAKING BY
MARINE CORPS LEADERS. SUCH EFFORTS SHOULD CULMINATE IN THE MARINE
CORPS ASSERTING ITS READINESS AS THE FIRST SERVICE COMPONENT TO
COMPLY WITH THE 1990 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICERS ACT AND UNDERGO A
FINANCIAL AUDIT.  WITHSTANDING A FINANCIAL AUDIT REQUIRES THE
APPROPRIATE LEVERAGE OF LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT
FROM ALL FACETS OF MARINE CORPS ENTITIES THAT REQUEST, CONSUME, FUND
OR DIRECT THE USE OF RESOURCES A COMPTROLLER OR FINANCIAL MANAGER
IS NOT THE ONLY VESTED STAKEHOLDER.
2.  MISSION.  TO PUBLISH A SCHEDULE TO VISIT SELECT COMMANDS OR
ACTIVITIES TO BETTER PREPARE THE MARINE CORPS FOR FINANCIAL AUDIT.
3.  EXECUTION.
A.  COMMANDERS INTENT.  THE PURPOSE OF THE VISIT IS TO IMPART
LESSONS LEARNED FROM RECENT AUDIT READINESS DRILLS TOWARDS A FOCUS
ON PRODUCING VALID AND COMPLETE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION.  AN
ADDITIONAL EMPHASIS WILL BE TO TEST A LIST OF HIGH-RISK, KEY
FINANCIAL CONTROLS ASSOCIATED WITH A FINANCIAL AUDIT.
B.  SCHEME OF MANEUVER.  HQMC-RFA WILL COMMUNICATE THE AUDIT
READINESS LESSONS LEARNED VIA A TRAINING AND OPEN DISCUSSION FORUM
WITH ALL APPROPRIATE STAKEHOLDERS.  THE MARINE CORPS FINANCIAL
EVALUATION AND ANALYSIS TEAM (MCFEAT) WILL ALSO BE DISPATCHED TO
ASSESS AND TEST ADHERANCE TO SELECT KEY FINANCIAL CONTROLS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE STATEMENT OF BUDGETARY RESOURCES FINANCIAL
STATEMENT. HQMC-RFA HAS IDENTIFIED A LIST OF COMMANDS OR ACTIVITIES
TO BE VISITED BY MCFEAT.
C.  CONCEPT OF OPERATION.  HQMC-RF STAFF WILL ARRIVE AT EACH SITE
AND CONDUCT AN IN BRIEF WITH SENIOR COMMAND REPRESENTATIVES
CONCERNING THE SCOPE OF THE TRAINING AND SUBSEQUENT TEST OF KEY
FINANCIAL CONTROLS, THEN CONDUCT THE TRAINING SESSIONS.  THE RFA
AUDIT TRAINING WILL PROVIDE THE COMMANDS INFORMATION DIRECTLY
RELATED TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE AUDIT AND WILL PROVIDE DETAILED
LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PREVIOUS TESTING.  THESE TRAINING SESSIONS
WILL CONSIST OF ONE, THREE HOUR COURSE FOR THE FINANCIAL MANAGERS
AND ONE THREE HOUR COURSE FOR REQUIREMENT GENERATORS (OPERATIONAL
PERSONNEL). THIS TRAINING WILL PROVIDE THE DETAILED REQUIREMENTS AND
ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS RELATED THIS EFFORT.  SUBSEQUENTLY, MCFEAT
TESTING WILL ENSURE THAT COMMANDS ARE AWARE OF THE STEPS TO IDENTIFY
AND REVIEW A CROSSWALK OF STANDARD PRACTICES AND KEY FINANCIAL
CONTROLS THAT AN INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT OR A SUBSEQUENT
AUDITOR MAY EVALUATE. MCFEAT WILL CONCENTRATE ON ASSESSING A SAMPLE
OF TRANSACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIGH RISK LINE ITEMS OF THE
STATEMENT OF BUDGETARY RESOURCES FINANCIAL STATEMENT.  AS WE SHOULD
ANTICIPATE DURING AN ACTUAL AUDIT, THE GOAL IS TO PRODUCE COMPLETE,
VALID SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR EACH TRANSACTION WITHIN TWO WEEKS
OF RECEIPT OF THE SAMPLE LIST.  MCFEAT STAFF WILL CONDUCT SPECIFIC
COMMAND VISITS TO ASSIST IN OUTLINING ANY POTENTIAL FINDINGS,
DISCUSS ADDITIONAL OR RECOMMENDED AUDIT READINESS STEPS.
4.  ADMINISTRATION AND LOGISTICS.  THE FOLLOWING COMMANDS AND DATES
ARE SCHEDULED FOR HQMC RF AND MCFEAT VISITS.
TEAM      COMMAND                                   DATES
RF        MCAS IWAKUNI                              9 MAR    9 MAR
RF        III MEF, MCI-WESTPAC                      11 MAR   13 MAR
RF        MARFORPAC                                 16 MAR   16 MAR
RF        I MEF, MCI WEST, MCRD SD, WRR             16 MAR   18 MAR
RF        MARFORRES, MARFORSOUTH                    20 MAR   20 MAR
RF        HQMC P&R, I&L, PP&O, C4, MARBKS 8th & I   23 MAR   24 MAR
RF        MCCDC, MCSC, TECOM, MCRC, HQMC M&RA       25 MAR   26 MAR
RF        MARFORCOM                                 30 MAR   30 MAR
RF        II MEF, MCI-EAST, MARSOC                  31 MAR   2 APR
RF        LOGCOM, MCLB ALBANY, MARCENT              7 APR    7 APR
RF        MCRD-PI, MCAS BEAUFORT, ERR               9 APR    9 APR
MCFEAT    HQMC (PPO)                                25 MAR   27 MAR
MCFEAT    HQMC (RPPB&RFM  MILPAY)                   30 MAR   2 APR
MCFEAT    MCSC                                      6 APR    9 APR
MCFEAT    I MEF                                     20 APR   24 APR
NOTE - MCRC, TECOM AND MARSOC ENTITIES WILL BE ABLE TO ATTEND
TRAINING WHERE AVAILABLE. PENDLETON,LEJUENE,QUANTICO
5.  COMMAND AND SIGNAL.  DETAILED AGENDA WILL BE FOWARDED VIA
SEPCOR.  HQMC-RF WILL REQUEST AN IN-BRIEF WITH THE CHIEF OF STAFF OR
APPROPRIATE COMMAND REPRESENTATIVE AT EACH COMMAND. COMMANDS SHOULD
PROVIDE A POINT OF CONTACT FOR COORDINATING ALL ASPECTS OF THE VISIT
WITH COL BRENT NORRIS, HQMC-RF, BRENT.NORRIS@USMC.MIL, 703-614-2426,
DSN 224 OR CWO5 PATRICK SWEENEY, PATRICK.S.SWEENEY@USMC.MIL, 703-693-9823, DSN 223. THE MCFEAT POINT OF CONTACT FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF KEY FINANCIAL CONTROLS IS MR. DAVE GARZA, DAVID.R.GARZA@USMC.MIL, 816-926-1418, DSN 465. 
6. RELEASE AUTHORIZED BY SES C. E. COOK III, ASST DEPUTY COMMANDANT, PROGRAM & RESOURCES DEPARTMENT//