INTRODUCTION The work described herein is a continuation of the Report of Tasks (Contract Number 133-0840.0) dated January 9, 1981. The completion of Task V - a Comparative Analysis of OTA's Project Management Information System with GAO's Accounting System, was delayed pending the receipt of financial statements from GAO from the first quarter of the new fiscal year. This report completes Task V. Whelan, Barsky, Matelis & Company, Chartered CERTIFIED FUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Page 3 of 7 Task V Comparative Analysis of OTA's Project Management Information System A comparative analysis of OTA's Project Management Information System with GAO's Accounting System indicated that both systems are accurate, complete and reliable. In our opinion, the interim financial statements generated by GAO were not accurate, complete nor reliable. In our opinion, the interim statements generated internally by OTA's Project Management Information System are accurate, complete and reliable. Whelan, Barsky, Matelis & Company, Chartered CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Page 4 of 7 1) TASK V Comparative Analysis of OTA's Project Management Information System with GAO's Accounting System PLAN AND APPROACH We obtained batch input information sent by GAO, traced and compared to batch input of OTA. 2) We obtained the appropriation balance sheet and division statements prepared by GAO for the first quarter of fiscal year 1981. 3) We compared Division statements of salaries and expenses prepared by 4) We compared expense statements prepared by GAO and OTA for the purpose of reconciling differences. Whelan, Barsky. Matelis & Company, Chartered Page 5 of 7 1) TASK V FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The financial statements produced by GAO for the first quarter of fiscal year 1981 were of little and dubious value to management of OTA for the following reasons: a) b) c) d) e) f) g) No monthly financial statements had been received by OTA for the The first statement received, for the first quarter, was late The statements received did not indicate whether a December 31 or The appropriation balance sheet did not balance (nor did corresponding unexpended balances): The division statement accompanying the balance sheet did not Miscellaneous accounts receivable contained a credit balance; No explanations, reconciliations, or schedules accompanied the statements; h) There were indications that not all transactions for the quarter were even entered by GAO and, i) No financial statements were received for prior year appropriations. 2) A reconciliation of the two systems consisted of a litany of almost identical data being processed at different times with GAO consistently behind. Whelan, Barsky, Matelis & Company, Chartered CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Page 6 of 7 3) TASK V FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (CONTINUED) In order to insure that OTA's and GAO's systems are compatible and reconcilable, far greater cooperation and interfacing will be necessary in the area of cut-off dates and batching of similar data (see our further recommendations in Task I). 4) The OTA Project Management Information System appeared to be accurate, complete, reliable and timely. However, without integration or reconciliation within a compatible accounting system absolute accuracy and control are not guaranteed. 77-536 0-81-34 Whelan, Barsky, Matelis & Company, Chartered CERTIRED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS Page 7 of 7 |