Agency: 105 - Office of Financial Management

The Office of Financial Management (OFM) provides comprehensive, cost-effective accounting, budgeting, and payroll services to small agencies. Small Agency Client Services (SACS) serves as the fiscal officer, financial advisor, budget officer, and service coordinator for these agencies.

This office supports executive policy and budget development through expenditure, population and revenue forecasts, program evaluation and research.

The administrative activity represents the OFM Director's Office which includes executive management, communications, legal and legislative affairs, internal human resources, and fiscal/facilities staff.

The Office of Financial Management's (OFM) Information Services Division (ISD) is the main supplier of financial and administrative systems to all of state government, particularly in its support role of the statewide accounting and budgeting processes for which OFM is responsible. ISD currently supports over 90 applications of various size, complexity and user base, including the state's general ledger accounting system, budget development and allotment systems, fiscal note system, travel and expense management system, and enterprise reporting tools. This activity helps reduce the total cost of government by providing systems all agencies can use, reducing the need and cost for individual agency applications. System support activities include user training and help desk support. The division also provides internal technology support to OFM and the Governor's Office.

The Accounting Division develops and maintains state administrative and accounting policies for payroll, travel, federal grants, accounting and reporting. Policies incorporate federal and state regulations as well as national accounting standards. The staff consults with and provides training to state agency personnel on the policies. The Statewide Accounting unit also monitors financial data for compliance with the policies and prepares a number of reports, including the state’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, the Audit Resolution Report, the federally mandated Single Audit Report and the SWCAP. The Accounting Division serves as business owner of statewide accounting and administrative systems and collaborates on improvement and maintenance initiatives.

The Budget Division assists in the development of the Governor's budget proposal to the Legislature. Primary activities include evaluating budget requests from state agencies and providing the Governor with recommendations for funding levels; preparing the Governor's budget proposal; assisting the Governor in establishing financial, budget and program policies for the state; and monitoring agency implementation of executive and legislative budget objectives.

The Washington Commission for National and Community Service (referred to as Serve Washington or the Commission) was established in February 1994 by Executive Order 94-03 to administer federal funds from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). The goal is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic participation through service and volunteering. Federal authorizing legislation requires the Governor to establish a state service commission to be eligible to receive federal funding. Serve Washington is comprised of 20 Governor-appointed commissioners who serve three-year terms of service. Federal funding from CNCS supports AmeriCorps national service programs which address community needs in six areas identified in the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act: 1) disaster services; 2) economic opportunity; 3) education; 4) environmental stewardship; 5) healthy futures; and 6) veterans and military families. Since 2003, the Commission has also served as the Washington State Citizen Corps Council, which harnesses the power of every Washingtonian through education, training, and volunteer service.

This activity serves as the state’s central human resource policy-making body. The State Human Resources Division provides leadership and support on enterprise strategic planning, collective bargaining and oversight of human resource systems, rules and policy.

State HR maintains the statewide human resource foundation that includes the classification and compensation structures for the state workforce. This oversight provides sound, consistent standards within which state agencies may make personnel decisions and policies. Provides consultation, training and tools to agencies on best practices and pursues enterprise classification strategies. This section also conducts all compensation modeling and produces workforce data metrics and analysis.

This section provides leadership, expertise, tools, standards and strategies to help state agencies plan, attract, recruit, develop and retain a diverse, qualified workforce. The section convenes enterprise stakeholder workgroups and communities of practice to collaborate on enterprise HR issues and works closely with other central service entities and executive priorities and directives. The section administers the state employee survey and provides consultation on performance management tools and best practices. This section also maintains the personnel rules that govern civil service (Chapter 357 WAC). Provides support to the Director’s Review and Personnel Resources Board appeal processes which allow state employees to request independent review and ruling on personnel actions taken by their employer.

OFM manages and coordinates the K-20 Education Network to deliver data and video services to universities, community and technical colleges, and K-12 locations throughout the state, and provides staff support for the K-20 Education Network Board, which has policy, budget, and oversight responsibilities.

State HR maintains the personnel rules that govern civil service (WAC 357). The office also supports the Director’s Review and Personnel Resources Board appeal processes, which allow state employees to request independent review and ruling on personnel actions taken by their employer.

The Office of Financial Management is leading the project to replace the state’s core financial system with a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that will integrate budgeting, accounting, and procurement functions. This activity includes planning, business process redesign, development, and implementation for each stage of the One Washington project.