Running a successful finance operation demands creative thinking while keeping an eye on the bigger picture. Our office guides IT business decisions and prepares VA for future growth by breaking down siloes and fostering integration and partnership across VA.
Responsible for the strategic financial management of VA’s Office of Information and Technology (OIT), IT Budget and Finance ensures fiscal and performance accountability through the oversight of capital planning, formulation, presentation, and execution of the Department’s IT budget. Although IT Budget and Finance has always been important to organizational success, our role is also transforming. No longer simply playing the role of the accountant, we’re a strategic leader that influences the overall direction and vision of information technology across the Department.
Accomplishments
Financial Management
- With passage of Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act to improve health care access and benefits to more than 5 million Veterans exposed to toxic substances, VA has received almost $50 billion in funding, of which OIT received $3.3 billion. ITBF led an Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit of the Toxic Exposure Fund to ensure financial control processes, policies, documents, and governance boards designed to complied with federal standards for internal control systems. Our internal controls system was identified as an exemplary model by the Office of Management and Budget, applauded by Congress, and resulted in a clean OIG audit.
- By investing in our workforce and supporting talent development and retention, we can deliver better services to the Nation’s Veterans. ITBF led an in-depth financial and human capital analysis that identified financing options to fully fund a Special Salary Rate for employees in certain IT positions. VA implemented a historic 17% pay raise for its IT and cybersecurity workforce providing employees, on average, a $18,000 pay increase.
VA Financial System Modernization
- Long-standing audits found VA’s 35-year-old financial system was not compliant with federal financial regulations. We led over 2,900 OIT employees in the transition from VA’s legacy Financial Management System (FMS) to the Integrated Financial and Acquisition Management System (iFAMS), modernizing the way VA manages its finances and improving VA’s financial operations, IT capabilities, and employee experience. By system go-live, we ensured all iFAMS activities met 100% of milestones resulting in the highest VA user acceptance rates to date.
Other News
