McGuire finance office prepares for transition Published Jan. 4, 2008 By the 305th Comptroller Squadron MCGUIRE AIR FORCE BASE, N.J. -- The Air Force is transforming its financial management operations in the largest change in AF FM's 60-year history. The changes will help provide more effective and efficient finance operations within base-level comptroller squadrons by consolidating the back-shop processing operations currently provided by 93 separate base finance offices worldwide into one operation at the new Air Force Financial Services Center at Ellsworth AFB, S.D. The workload currently performed at each base began migrating to the AFFSC by MAJCOM, starting with Air Force Space Command in October 2007 and is scheduled to conclude in April 2008. But, don't worry -- you will continue to receive outstanding service, while these changes save the Air Force $210 million. The initial effort to consolidate the workload is designed to be seamless, and how customer service is provided will not change in the initial stand-up of the AFFSC. "McGuire will start to experience changes with the finance office beginning in February," said Lt. Col. Troy Sanders, 305th Comptroller Squadron commander. "Although the changes will be largely transparent to the customer, 35 percent of the back shop operations will move to the Financial Services Center at Ellsworth AFB with another 17 percent shared between the center and the base. Despite these changes, we will continue to offer face-to-face customer service, and our phone lines and e-mail will still be available for any questions customers might have." The contact center is scheduled to reach initial operational capability in October 2008. In this phase, additional options for customers to receive service, including web self-service and a contact center will be available. Much like other career fields, Airmen will see fewer financial management personnel on base, but will have more flexibility in obtaining service through 24/7 self-service and contact center options. Base finance office walk-in service will remain for some services; however, customers will be encouraged to use the new service options. "In October 2008, McGuire's finance office will begin to move the customer service-piece to the call center at Ellsworth," Colonel Sanders said. "At that time, instead of physically going to the finance office, personnel will be able to log on the computer, talk and ask questions over the Internet and call the customer service hotline; even when they're deployed." "With some changes already underway, we have faced some challenges regarding manpower," Colonel Sanders said. "Travel vouchers are one area that can be very time consuming when information is incomplete or inaccurate. During the transition, we are asking for help with travel vouchers; personnel should continue to fill out vouchers as completely and accurately as possible to ensure they are not rejected. This will ensure Government Travel Cards are paid on time and customers are reimbursed as quickly as possible," he said. "With some changes already underway, we have faced some challenges regarding manpower," Colonel Sanders said. "Travel vouchers are one area that can be very time consuming when information is incomplete or inaccurate. During the transition, we are asking for help with travel vouchers; personnel should continue to fill out vouchers as completely and accurately as possible to ensure they are not rejected. This will ensure Government Travel Cards are paid on time and customers are reimbursed as quickly as possible," he said. The Financial Services Transformation Cut-over Team is assisting each base in preparing to transition to the new service center. The FST Cut-over Team visited Sept. 5 and briefed the comptroller squadron as well as held a town hall briefing on the transformation initiatives. The comptroller squadron was also trained on the processes and novel technology solutions they will use in the future. Air Force Financial Management is transforming the way it conducts business to better provide focused financial services to all Airmen in alignment with the Air Force's goals of ensuring its 700,000-plus men and women are provided with the state-of-the-art technology and outstanding financial services they and their families expect and deserve. "Financial Management's transformation objective is to provide the Air Force 'a longer tooth and a shorter tail' by returning resources from support operations to direct war fighting capabilities," said Mr. John Vonglis, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller. The AFFSC will utilize the latest technologies and training to increase the efficiency of Air Force Financial Management operations and will free up resources that can be allocated to directly supporting the war fighter and Air Force mission. "These changes allow us to refocus what the base level finance mission is," Colonel Sanders said. "We will be able to move away from the day-to-day transaction processing and focus on analysis skills, and what we can do for our commanders' decision support. This is the end of a part of our mission and the beginning of a new comptroller entity." For more information, visit the AFFSC Web site on the Air Force Portal by highlighting the 'Life & Career' Tab, then clicking on 'Money - Finance Central', then select the 'Air Force Financial Services Center' link. Airman 1st Class Rebekah Phy, 305th Air Mobility Wing public affairs specialist, contributed to this article.