EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- The Air Force is transforming its Financial Management operations in the larges change in FM's 60-year history.
The changes will help to provide more effective and efficient finance operations within base-level Comptroller Squadrons by consolidating the backshop-processing operations currently provided by 93 separate base finance offices worldwide (active and reserve bases) into one operation at the new Air Force Financial Services Center (AFFSC) at Ellsworth AFB, S.D.
The workload currently performed at each base will migrate to the AFFSC by MAJCOM beginning with Air Force Space Command (which happened in October 2007) and will conclude in April. Customers will continue to receive outstanding service, while the changes are scheduled to save the Air Force $210 million over the next several years.
The initial effort to consolidate the workload is designed to be seamless to the customer, with only back-end processing moving to Ellsworth. How the customer service is provided will not change in the initial stand-up of the AFFSC. In October 2008 the second phase of operational capability at the AFFSC comes in line. This second phase brings with it the opening of a contact center.
In this phase additional options for customers to get service, including expanded web self-service, e-mail and a call center will become available. Much like other career fields, Airmen will see fewer financial managers 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 highly encouraged to use the new service options.
The Financial Services Transformation Cut-over Team is assisting each base in preparation to transition to the new service center.
In November 2007, the FST Cut-over Team visited Eielson to brief the Comptroller Squadron as well as Wing and Base Leadership on the transformation initiative and train the Comptroller Squadron on the processes and specific technology solutions they will use in the future. Eielson AFB is scheduled to see its back office processing move to the new Financial Services Center starting March 14, 2008.
The transition is designed to be seamless to customers, and bases that have already migrated their processing to the AFFSC have not seen any impact to operations. This is important as our most important output is timely and accurate financial services to Eielson Airmen.
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 that 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.
Stay tuned for more updates on changes. For more information you may visit the AFFSC website on the AF Portal by highlighting the 'Life & Career' Tab, then clicking on 'Money - Finance Central', then select 'Air Force Financial Services Center' link.