Werfel resigns from OMB

Danny Werfel, an influential player in efforts to improve federal financial management, and who also ran the IRS for much of last year, has resigned from his post as Office of Management and Budget controller and left federal service, an OMB spokesman confirmed.

Werfel stepped down effective Dec. 31, Frank Benenati said in an email. His low-key departure was not announced at the time and President Obama has not yet nominated a replacement for the Senate-confirmed position. In the meantime, Deputy Controller Norman Dong is serving as interim controller. Werfel, a career federal employee who had been controller since October 2009, could not be reached for comment.

Werfel was closely involved in the White House’s campaign to reduce improper federal payments and helped create the Treasury Department’s Office of Financial Innovation and Transformation, which seeks to move agencies toward more use of shared financial management services. Last May, Obama tapped him to temporarily lead the IRS after the previous acting commissioner left amid an uproar over an inspector general’s finding that the agency used “inappropriate criteria” for evaluating conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status.

While Werfel had been expected to stay as acting IRS commissioner only through the end of the fiscal year in September, he served until last month, when John Koskinen was confirmed as the agency’s permanent head.

Werfel, who regularly represented OMB at congressional hearings, also enjoyed cordial relationships with lawmakers of both parties.

-Sean Reilly, FederalTimes.com
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OMB and COFAR Offer Webinar: Uniform Grant Guidance Training—Supercircular

January 27, 2014 Webinar

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Council on Financial Assistance Reform (COFAR) will conduct a full-day webinar on the major grant reform “Supercircular” on Monday, January 27. The guidance, which was published as a final rule on December 26, 2013 deals with Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards. Register here for the webinar and to get on a mailing list for future announcements and training on the “Superciruclar.” The webinar will be conducted from 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. This is an opportunity for AGA members to not only get their questions answered, but contribute to the body of knowledge that will be developed, through an official Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document that OMB is developing to assist with implementation. Questions should be submitted to cofar@omb.eop.gov. https://cfo.gov/cofar Email: cofar@omb.eop.gov

2014 AGA Federal Financial Systems Summary and Links to Presentations

Pinpointing how to address challenges through leadership for future success takes center stage

By: Joseph Davis, Marketing & Communications Manager, AGA

It’s no secret the last year has been a tough one — fiscally and otherwise — for the federal government and its supporting agencies, which highlights the tough conditions government financial managers in particular, have had to endure. Though they produce constraints, budgetary and resource limitations also create opportunities for innovation and leadership.

Addressing challenges and paving a way for the road ahead was the center of attention as nearly 400 government and private sector financial managers took part in AGA’s 2014 Federal Financial Systems Summit (FSS) last week.

“Because of fiscal constraints, we have to do everything we can to focus on ‘mission’ and leadership,” said Norman Dong, Interim Controller, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), during a panel discussion centered on, “The Vision and Roadmap for Federal Financial Management and Systems.” He stressed that with the help of shared services — which remained at the forefront of this year’s FSS — OMB, as well as other government agencies, can focus on business outcomes rather than a “check-the-box approach” to financial management processes.

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READ THE EXECUTIVE REPORT HERE...