Defense finance & accounting service Denver

Air Force Comptroller, July, 2003 by Zack E. Gaddy

Fulfilling the role of trusted advisor to Air Force Comptrollers is the goal of the Air Force Accounting Business Line's (AFABL) Client Executive (CE)-Mission Support Accountant (MSA) program. Established in June 2001, this initiative places highly qualified and dedicated DFAS professionals at Air Force major commands and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Financial Management and Comptroller). The CE-MSA program is a collaborative process that leverages DFAS capabilities and client requirements to support transformation initiatives.

The CE acts as the agent between the client and DFAS for any services or products provided by DFAS. The role of the CE-MSA team is modeled after the private sector business consultant. These outside experts, valued for their ability to help companies raise the level of their performance through managed change, bring industry knowledge, strategic perspective and resource management to bear in a focused and deliberate manner. Similarly, the CE-MSA team can positively affect the finance and accounting operations of a major command. The CE-MSA role is to understand the client's business and reconcile DFAS products with client needs and provide the best service at the best value.

Benefits of the CE-MSA Program

* Access       CE-MSAs are
               immediately available
               to client; no red tape

* Choice       Collocation improves
               DFAS capability to
               identify specific client
               requirements leading to
               tailored products (specialized
               agent role)

* Knowledge    CE-MSAs and client in perfect
               position for Two Way Learning

* Quality      Client quickly available to
               discuss CE-MSA projects:
               improves project development
               and minimizes surprises

* Recovery     CE dedicated full time to
               quick responses for all
               services (universal
               agent role)

* Tangibles    Professional image of CE-MSA
               staff is visible to client

* Timeliness   CE-MSA sensitive to
               timeliness; has daily contact
               with client

The most important resource available to our CEs comes in the form of MSAs. The MSAs are professional support staff, generally collocated with the CE, who work on the projects initiated by the CE. The MSAs are a leveraged resource within the CE-MSA team at the major command. They are assigned on a project-to-project basis that gives the CE a flexible arrangement allowing our people-assets to be used when and where they are most needed.

Identifying and developing new projects and innovative solutions for our clients are central functions of the CE-MSA team. As a knowledgeable outside set of eyes with access to resources, the CEMSA team is in an ideal position to make recommendations for improving systems and processes and to act as a change agent when necessary.

The CE-MSAs team is an extension of my office, and I hope that is how you perceive them. I have established a Client Relationship Committee, comprised of our CEs, key AFABL Support staff, and myself. The purpose of this committee is to discuss the needs of our clients, as identified by the CEs, and to determine how to best use our business line resources to respond.

There are currently 13 CEs and 27 MSAs serving the accounting needs of Air Force major commands and by the end of the year we plan to increase the number of MSAs to 60. The level of expertise and experience brought to this new program virtually guarantees success. The CE-MSA team has started their work and they have a great sense of what their challenges are and we are all committed to making a positive contribution in partnering with you to meet the challenges of creating the future of Air Force Financial Management.