ADS Chapter 620

Financial Management Principles and

Standards

Document Quality Check Date: 09/14/2012

Partial Revision Date: 08/31/2011
Responsible Office: M/CFO/FPS
File Name: 620_091412

08/31/2011 Partial Revision

Functional Series 600 Budget and Finance
ADS 620 Financial Management Principles and Standards
POC for ADS 620: Pat Wexel, (202) 567-5252, [email protected]

Table of Contents
620.1

OVERVIEW .......................................................................... 3

*620.2

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES ........................................... 3

620.3

POLICY DIRECTIVES AND REQUIRED PROCEDURES.... 5

620.3.1

Financial Documentation Responsibilities ........................................ 5

620.3.2

Federal Accounting Standards, Policies, and Procedures .............. 5

620.3.3

Financial Management Systems ......................................................... 6

620.3.4
620.3.4.1
620.3.4.2
620.3.4.3
620.3.4.4

Financial Statements ........................................................................... 7

Managements Discussion and Analysis ................................................ 7
Financial Statements and Related Notes ............................................... 8
Supplemental Financial Information ....................................................... 8
Other Accompanying Information .......................................................... 8

*620.4

MANDATORY REFERENCES ............................................. 8

620.4.1

External Mandatory References ......................................................... 8

*620.4.2

Internal Mandatory References .......................................................... 9

620.5

ADDITIONAL HELP ........................................................... 10

620.6

DEFINITIONS ..................................................................... 13

* An asterisk and yellow highlight indicate that the adjacent material is new for this chapter or substantively revised.

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ADS 620 Financial Management Principles and Standards

620.1

OVERVIEW
Effective Date: 09/29/2000

This chapter prescribes USAIDs accounting and financial reporting principles and
standards. The standards in this chapter are based on Federal laws and regulations
published by Federal oversight agencies, including the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB), the Department of the Treasury, and the Government Accountability
Office (GAO), for audit and compliance issues. The policy directives and required
procedures for specific financial management topics are found in ADS Series 600,
Budget and Finance.
*620.2

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
Effective Date: 04/10/2009

a.

The Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

1.
Oversees all financial management activities relating to USAID programs
and operations and reports directly to the Administrator on financial management
matters.
2.
Develops and maintains an integrated Agency financial management
system that complies with applicable accounting principles, standards, and other
requirements of Federal financial management systems.
3.
Directs, manages, and provides policy guidance and oversight of USAID
financial management personnel, activities, and operations.
4.
Monitors the financial execution of the USAID budget in relation to actual
expenditures.
5.
Works with the Bureau for Management, Office of Management, Policy,
Budget, and Performance (M/MPBP) to ensure timely performance information
for inclusion in financial reports and statements.
6.
Works with M/MPBP (See ADS 620.2.e) and the Bureau for Management,
Office of Overseas Management Staff (M/OMS) (See ADS 620.2.f) to biennially
review the fees, royalties, rents, and other charges imposed by USAID for the
services and things of value that it provides and make recommendations on
revising those charges to reflect the costs incurred when providing those services
and things of value.

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b.

The Bureau for Management, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Central
Accounting and Reporting Division (M/CFO/CAR)
1.

Prepares the Agency's annual financial statements.

2.
Ensures that USAID accounting practices comply with applicable
accounting standards and other Federal Government guidance.
c.

The Management Bureau, Officer of the Chief Financial Officer, Financial

Policy and Support Division (M/CFO/FPS) develops financial management
policy for the Automated Directives System (ADS) and provides overall financial
policy advice and guidance.

d.

The Management Bureau, Office of the Chief Financial Officer, Audit

Performance and Compliance Division (M/CFO/APC) coordinates the
preparation of the Managements Discussion and Analysis section of USAIDs
financial statements.

e.

The Management Bureau, Office for Management, Policy, Budget, and

Performance (M/MPBP)
1.
Provides information on the Agencys performance goals and program
results in order to meet financial reporting requirements.
2.
Reviews and provides guidance for applying indirect cost rates for the
goods and services that USAID provides other agencies via interagency
agreements, see ADS 306 and General Notice 1104.

f.

The Management Bureau, Office of Overseas Management Staff (M/OMS)

reviews and revises the charges imposed by USAID as an alternate service
provider (ASP) for the International Cooperative Administrative Support Services
(ICASS) program, see ADS 635.

*For information on Bureau of Management customer service standards, see

Mandatory Reference 501mag, Bureau for Management Customer Service
Standards.
g.

The Office of the Inspector General (OIG)

1.

Audits USAIDs annual financial statements.

2.
Conducts performance audits of Agency programs, activities, systems,
and functions in accordance with Generally Accepted Government Auditing
Standards.

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620.3

POLICY DIRECTIVES AND REQUIRED PROCEDURES

620.3.1

Financial Documentation Responsibilities

Effective Date: 04/10/2009

Financial documentation is any documentation that impacts on or results in financial

activity. It is not limited to documentation within Controllers or CFO operations, but
includes any source material causing or resulting in a financial transaction. Contracting
Officers Representatives (CORs), Agreement Officers Representatives (AORs),
Loans/Grants Officers, Program Area Operating Officials, etc., are responsible for
retaining financial documentation and ensuring it is available for an audit.
Basic financial documentation retention rules follow:

If an action will result in a financial transaction, it must be documented.

Source documentation must be readily available for audit by either the OIG or a
responsible audit entity.

The general rule for retention of financial documents is seven years; however, retention
times may vary. For further details see ADS 502, The USAID Records Management
Program. The specific financial Records Disposition Schedules are located in the
mandatory reference section of ADS 502 under Records Disposition Schedule,
USAID/W, Chapter 15, Fiscal Management Records and Records Disposition Schedule,
USAID, Chapter 35, Financial Management Records. See also the National Archives
and Records Administration (NARA) General Records Schedules (GRS): GRS 6,
Accountable Officers Account Records, and GRS 7, Expenditure Accounting
Records.
620.3.2

Federal Accounting Standards, Policies, and Procedures

Effective Date: 09/29/2000

The Director of the OMB, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the Comptroller General
established the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) in October
1990 to consider and recommend accounting standards for the Federal Government.
The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants designated FASAB as the
standard setting body for the Federal Government. The Board establishes standards by
incorporating the financial and budgetary information needs of Congress, executive
agencies, and other users of Federal financial information. The standards are published
as Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Standards (SFFAS). USAID must
implement financial management activities in accordance with the FASAB standards.
FASAB developed documents that describe the concepts on which the Board may rely
when recommending accounting standards. These documents are called Statements
of Federal Financial Accounting Concepts (SFFAC). These concept statements are

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not authoritative because they do not establish standards or principles, but they may
help you understand a specific SFFAS.
The Treasury Financial Manual (TFM) is the Department of the Treasurys official
publication for the financial accounting and reporting of all receipts and disbursements
of the Federal Government. USAID must follow the policies, procedures, and
instructions contained in the TFM when executing its fiscal responsibilities.
620.3.3

Financial Management Systems

Effective Date: 09/29/2000

USAID must establish and maintain an integrated financial management system that
substantially complies with Federal financial management systems requirements,
Federal accounting standards, and the United States Standard General Ledger
(USSGL) at the transaction level (see Federal Financial Management Improvement
Act of 1996 (FFMIA)). Substantial compliance for financial management systems
requires that systems provide reliable and timely financial information necessary for
Federal managers.
a.
Federal Financial Management Systems Requirements. USAID must meet
the following to be in compliance with Federal financial management systems:

The financial management systems requirements of OMB Circular A-127,

Financial Management Systems Requirements.

The financial management systems must follow the Financial Systems

Integration Office (FSIO), System Requirements Documents.

The security over financial information must be ensured in accordance with OMB
Circular A-130, Management of Federal Information Resources.

The internal controls over financial management systems must be properly

designed and operate effectively (see OMB Circular A-123, Appendix A).

b.
Federal Accounting Standards. The Agency must be able to prepare audited
financial statements in accordance with applicable accounting standards. Substantial
compliance does not require that transactions be in full compliance with financial
accounting standards at the point of original entry. It does require that the financial
information used in the preparation of financial statements based on such transactions
be adequately supported by detailed financial records.
c.
United States Government Standard General Ledger (USSGL) at the
transaction level. The USSGL provides a uniform chart of accounts and technical
guidance used for standardizing Federal agency accounting. The general ledger
management function of the Agencys financial system must be in full compliance with
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the descriptions and posting rules contained in the USSGL chart of accounts. The
Agency is considered in substantial compliance with the USSGL at the transaction level
when the classification of financial events for the financial statements and required
financial information provided to the Department of the Treasury and OMB are
consistent with the account descriptions and posting rules approved by the Standard
General Ledger Board and published in the TFM (see Department of the Treasury,
USSGL).
620.3.4

Financial Statements
Effective Date: 04/10/2009

USAIDs financial statements report the Agencys financial position and results of
operations. M/CFO/CAR prepares the statements in accordance with the form and
content requirements of OMB Circular A-136, Financial Reporting Requirements.
The Agencys financial statements must include the following major sections:

Managements Discussion and Analysis (MD&A),

Principal Statements and accompanying Notes,

Required Supplementary Stewardship Information (RSSI), and

Required Supplementary Information (RSI).

USAID must submit audited financial statements to the Director of OMB 45 days after
the close of the fiscal year (for fiscal year 2008, see OMB M-08-25, Guidance for
Completing FY 2008 Financial and Performance Reports) and unaudited quarterly
financial statements to OMB 21 days after the close of each fiscal quarter. M/CFO/CAR
has the primary responsibility for preparing the Agencys financial statements. The OIG
audits the financial statements in accordance with OMB Memorandum M-08-24, Audit
Requirements for Federal Financial Statements.
The Government Management Reform Act of 1994 (GMRA) grants the Director of
OMB the authority to consolidate several statutory financial management reports into a
single report that streamlines the financial and program performance reporting.
USAIDs financial statements are a component of the Agencys Annual Financial
Report.
620.3.4.1

Managements Discussion and Analysis

Effective Date: 09/29/2000

The Managements Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) section accompanying the

statements must be in compliance with SFFAS Number 15: Managements
Discussion and Analysis. The MD&A provides a clear and concise description of the
Agencys mission, activities, program and financial performance, systems, controls,
legal compliance, financial position, and financial condition. M/CFO/APC develops the

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MD&A in consultation with M/MPBP, which provides information on the Agency's
performance goals and program results.
620.3.4.2

Financial Statements and Related Notes

Effective Date: 03/11/2009

The principal financial statements and related notes summarize financial information for
individual funds and accounts. The amounts reported on the principal statements are
based on specific general ledger account balances. USAIDs principal statements
include a:

Balance Sheet,

Statement of Net Cost,

Statement of Changes in Net Position, and

Statement of Budgetary Resources.

The notes related to the principal statements summarize the accounting principles and
methods of applying the principles that management has concluded best presents the
Agencys assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, expenses, and budgetary information.
The notes provide additional details on the amounts reported in the statements.
620.3.4.3

Supplemental Financial Information

Effective Date: 09/29/2000

M/CFO/CAR must prepare a schedule that disaggregates the Statement of Budgetary

Resources by major budgetary account. The schedule must be included as
supplemental information to the Agencys financial statements.
620.3.4.4

Other Accompanying Information

Effective Date: 09/29/2000

M/CFO/CAR may include other relevant information that is useful in obtaining a better
understanding of the Agencys programs and the extent to which they are achieving
their objectives.
*620.4

MANDATORY REFERENCES

620.4.1

External Mandatory References

Effective Date: 04/10/2009

a.

Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990

b.

Department of the Treasury, Treasury Financial Manual (TFM)

c.

Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB)

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d.

FASAB, SFFAS Number 15: Managements Discussion and Analysis

e.

FASAB, Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Concepts (SFFAC)

f.

FASAB, Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Standards (SFFAS)

g.

Federal Financial Management Improvement Act (FFMIA) of 1996

h.

Federal Managers Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA) of 1982

i.

Financial Systems Integration Office (FSIO), System Requirements

Documents

j.

Government Management Reform Act of 1994 (GMRA)

k.

National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), General Records

Schedules

l.

OMB Circular A-123, Management Accountability and Control

m.

OMB Circular A-127, Financial Management Systems Requirements

n.

OMB Circular A-130, Management of Federal Information Resources

o.

OMB Circular A-134, Financial Accounting Principles and Standards

p.

OMB Circular A-136, Financial Reporting Requirements

q.

OMB Memorandum M-08-24, Audit Requirements for Federal Financial

Statements

r.

OMB Memorandum M-08-25, Guidance for Completing FY 2008 Financial

and Performance Reports

s.

Revised Implementation Guidance for the Federal Financial Management

Improvement Act

t.

United States Government Standard General Ledger (USSGL)

*620.4.2

Internal Mandatory References

Effective Date: 04/10/2009

a.

ADS 306, Interagency Agreements

* An asterisk and yellow highlight indicate that the adjacent material is new for this chapter or substantively revised.

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*b.

ADS 501mag, Bureau for Management Customer Service Standards

c.

ADS 502, USAID Records Management Program

d.

ADS 594, Audit of USAIDs Annual Financial Statement

e.

ADS 596, Management Accountability and Control

f.

ADS Series 600, Chapters 621-637

g.

General Notice 1104, Cost Reimbursement Rates for Interagency

Agreements under the Economy Act, FAA 632(a), and FAA 632(b) Authority,
November 3, 2008

620.5

ADDITIONAL HELP
Effective Date: 04/10/2009

The following is a list (in chronological order) of major legislation governing

accounting and financial management activities:
a.

Economy Act of 1932 (31 USC 1535)

This Act prescribed the rules for the purchase of supplies, equipment, or services from
another Federal agency.
b.

Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949

This Act required agencies to maintain adequate inventory controls and accountability
systems for the property under their control.
c.

Budget and Accounting Procedures Act of 1950 (31 USC Sections 35113515, 3521)

This Act directed the Comptroller General of the United States to prescribe the
principles, standards, and related requirements for accounting to be observed by
executive agencies after consulting with the Secretary of the Treasury and the Director
of the OMB. Pursuant to the Act, the head of each executive agency has responsibility
for establishing and maintaining adequate systems of accounting and internal control.
The use of accrual accounting, cost-based budgeting, consistent classification,
simplifications of allotment structure, and adequate control of property is required to
establish and maintain adequate systems of accounting and internal control.

* An asterisk and yellow highlight indicate that the adjacent material is new for this chapter or substantively revised.

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d.

Federal Claims Collection Act of 1966

This Act prescribed procedures for the follow-up of claims against those who owe the
Federal Government money, including amounts owed as a result of audits.
e.

Prompt Pay Act of 1982

This Act called for the payment of bills no later than due dates based on the receipt of
proper invoices and satisfactory performance. It also established the requirement to
pay interest penalties.
Federal Managers Financial Integrity Act of 1982

f.

This Act required agency heads to establish controls that provide reasonable assurance
that

Obligations and costs comply with applicable laws;

Funds, property, and other assets are safeguarded against waste, loss,
unauthorized use, or misappropriation; and

Revenues and expenditures are properly recorded and accounted.

g.

Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990

This Act enabled the Federal Government to more accurately measure the cost of its
credit programs. The Act required the calculation of subsidy elements of credit
programs, encourages more cost-effective delivery of benefits to beneficiaries, and
seeks to improve the allocation of limited financial resources among credit and other
spending programs.
h.

Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990

This Act established a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the United States within the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and a CFO in each executive department.
The legislation required the CFO to develop and maintain an integrated Agency
accounting and financial management system that provides for

Complete, reliable, consistent, and timely information that is responsive to the

financial information needs of Agency management;

Integration of accounting and budgeting information;

Development and reporting of cost information; and

Systematic measurement of performance.

* An asterisk and yellow highlight indicate that the adjacent material is new for this chapter or substantively revised.

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The legislation also required that agencies submit audited financial statements. The
Inspector General or an independent external auditor must audit the statements
according to Generally Accepted Government Auditing Standards.
i.

The Government Performance and Results Act of 1993

The purpose of this Act was to improve the confidence of the American people in the
capability of the Federal Government by systematically holding Federal agencies
accountable for achieving program results. The Act established requirements for
Agency strategic plans, annual performance plans, and annual performance reports.
j.

Government Management Reform Act of 1994

This Act required the head of each executive agency to submit audited financial
statements to the Director of the OMB each fiscal year. The financial statement must
reflect the results of operations and cover all the accounts and associated activities of
each office, bureau, and agency. The Act also required an annual government wide
financial statement that contains the results of operations of the executive branch.
k.

Federal Financial Management Improvement Act of 1996

This Act codified certain financial management policies and audit procedures
established by the Executive Branch. The legislation required each agency to
implement and maintain financial management systems that comply with Federal
financial management systems requirements, the applicable Federal accounting
standards, and the U.S. Government Standard General Ledger at the transaction level.
In addition, the auditors were required to report on compliance with the requirements of
the Act, and agencies must establish a remediation plan to correct deficiencies.
l.

Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996

This Act enhanced debt collection government wide and mandated the use of electronic
funds transfer for Federal payments. This law establishes that any nontax debt or claim
owed to the U.S. that has been delinquent for more than 180 days must be turned over
to the Secretary of the Treasury for appropriate action.
m.

Reports Consolidation Act of 2000

This Act required that agencies prepare a combined Performance and Accountability
Report (PAR) that consolidates financial and performance management information.
n.

Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (IPIA)

This Act required agency heads to annually review all programs and activities, identify
those that may be susceptible to significant improper payments, estimate annual
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improper payments in the susceptible programs and activities, and report the results of
their improper payment activities.
o.

Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006 (FFATA)

This Act required all agencies to provide information on federal awards to OMB. Federal
awards include grants, subgrants, loans, awards, cooperative agreements, and other
forms of financial assistance as well as contracts, subcontracts, purchase orders, task
orders, and delivery orders. OMB is responsible for making this information available to
the general public via a website.
620.6

DEFINITIONS
Effective Date: 04/10/2009

The definitions listed below have been included into the ADS Glossary. See the ADS
Glossary for all ADS terms and definitions.
accounting standards and principles
Those conventions, rules, and procedures necessary to define acceptable accounting
practice. Accounting standards include broad guidelines of general application and may
also include detailed practices and procedures. (OMB Circular A-134) (Chapter 620)
core financial system
A core financial system may perform all financial functions, including general ledger
management, funds management, payment management, receivable management, and
cost management. The core financial system is the system of record that maintains all
transactions resulting from financial events. (OMB Circular A-127) (Chapter 620)
Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB)
The Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board established accounting standards
for the Federal Government. Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Concepts
(SFFAC) and Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Standards (SFFAS) are
approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, the Director of the Office of Management
and Budget, and the Comptroller General. Once approved, FASAB standards apply
across the Federal Government unless excluded by legislation. (Chapter 620)
financial system
See core financial system. (Chapter 620)
financial management system
A financial management system includes the core financial systems and the financial
portions of mixed systems necessary to support financial management. (OMB Circular
A-127) (Chapter 620)

* An asterisk and yellow highlight indicate that the adjacent material is new for this chapter or substantively revised.

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The Financial Systems Integration Office (FSIO)

The Financial Systems Integration Office is responsible for developing, testing, and
certifying core financial systems requirements; supporting the Federal financial
community on priority projects; and conducting outreach through various activities.
(Chapter 620)
information system (IS)
The entire infrastructure, organization, personnel, and components for the collection,
processing, storage, transmission, display, and dissemination of information. This term
includes both automated and manual information systems; its acronym is IS. (source:
NSTISSI 4009) (Chapters 502, 545, 550, 552, 562, 620)
mixed financial system
An information system that supports both financial and nonfinancial functions. (OMB
Circular A-127) (Chapter 620)
non-financial system
An information system that supports nonfinancial functions or components. Any
financial data included in the system are insignificant to Agency financial management
and/or not required for the preparation of financial statements. (OMB Circular A-127)
(Chapter 620)
Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Concepts (SFFAC)
Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Concepts are documents that describe the
concepts used by the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board when
recommending standards. Concept statements are not authoritative, but may be useful
in understanding specific Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Standards.
(Chapter 620)
Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Standards (SFFAS)
Statements of Federal Financial Accounting Standards are accounting standards for the
Federal government recommended by the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory
Board and approved by the Director of the OMB, the Secretary of the Treasury, and the
Comptroller General. (Chapter 620)
U.S. Standard General Ledger (USSGL)
The U.S. Standard General Ledger provides a uniform chart of accounts and technical
guidance to be used in standardizing Federal agency accounting. (Chapter 620)
620_111814

* An asterisk and yellow highlight indicate that the adjacent material is new for this chapter or substantively revised.

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