DorobekINSIDER: Turco to lead GSA’s Office of Governmentwide Policy

GSA Administrator Martha Johnson continues to get her leadership team in place — today, Johnson announced that Kathleen Turco, GSA’s current chief financial officer, will lead GSA’s Office of Governmentwide Policy.

Turco will start on May 3, the same day that Michael Robertson will take over as GSA’s chief of staff.

Micah Cheatham, GSA Budget Director, will take over as GSA’s acting CFO.
And GSA insiders also tell Federal News Radio that Robertson will continue to serve as the chief acquisition officer and White House liason until replacements are found.

Insiders tell the DorobekINSIDER that Turco is very excited about the opportunities with GSA’s Office of Governmentwide Policy. OGP has been widely seen as directionless for awhile, and Turco has told friends that she is excited about working on important policy issues that can help government operate better.

Turco has received kudos for her work as GSA’s chief financial officer, including the recently issued “citizen report,” which explains GSA’s budget. Turco joined Federal News Radio’s Tom Temin from IRMCO earlier this month. Hear that conversation here.

The Office of Governmentwide Policy was created in December 1995 to consolidate its policy functions into a single organization. “OGP’s policymaking authority covers the areas of personal and real property, travel and transportation, information technology, regulatory information and use of federal advisory committees. OGP’s strategic direction is to ensure that governmentwide policies encourage agencies to develop and utilize the best, most cost effective management practices for the conduct of their specific programs,” the OGP web site says.

-Chris Dorobek, FederalNewsRadio.com
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New board will advise on improving government operations

President Barack Obama today established an advisory board to help his administration find the best ways to manage federal work.

The newly established President’s Management Advisory Board will offer advice and recommendations to the White House on how government agencies can improve their operations, such as paying close attention to productivity, applying technology usefully, and giving the public good customer service, according to a new executive order.

The board’s chairman will be Jeffrey Zients, deputy director of management in the Office of Management and Budget and the chief performance officer.

Obama will appoint the remaining 17 board members, who will be from outside of the federal government. The members must have a deep understanding of leading large and complex private-sector corporations or organizations and have top-level business experience in executive management, auditing and finance, and human resources. The president is also looking for people who know how to improve customer service and how to streamline operations, the order states.

The members may serve as representatives of their industries or public interest group. The composition of the board will reflect the views of diverse stakeholders, according to the new order.

The board will last until 2012 unless the president extends the order.

-Matthew Weigelt, FCW.com
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An inside look at Treasury's new Office of Financial Innovation and Transformation

Adam Goldberg, Director, Office of Financial Innovation and Transformation, Treasury

The Treasury Department and Office of Management and Budget recently announced the opening of a new federal financial management office. Treasury's Office of Financial Innovation and Transformation will streamline how the government processes financial transactions, help reduce costs and increase transparency government-wide. Adam Goldberg, the new director of the Office of Financial Innovation and Transformation at the Treasury Department, tells us about the office.

-FederalNewsRadio.com

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FSIO has ceased operations effective March 31, 2010

Effective April 1, 2010, the Financial Systems Integration Office (FSIO) is closed. This web site will remain available until May, 1, 2010. The FSIO documents now located on this web site will be transferred to the CFO Council web site - www.cfoc.gov on or before May 1, 2010. For further assistance, please contact the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Federal Financial Management.

For more information, please read the attached memo from Danny Werfel, Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management (OFFM), Office of Management and Budget. After March 31st, please contact OFFM at 202-395-3993 on core financial system requirements, use cases and other federal financial management issues.