**GAO-07-679**                      Published: Jul 20, 2007. Publicly Released: Jul 20, 2007.                  

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## Highlights

In the past 16 years, a number of laws, accounting standards, system requirements, and related guidance have emphasized the need for cost information in the federal government, establishing requirements and accounting standards for managerial cost accounting (MCA) information. In light of these requirements, GAO was asked to determine how federal agencies generate MCA information and how government managers use that information to support their decisions and provide accountability. Since 2005, GAO has reviewed and reported on MCA practices at 10 large civilian agencies resulting in five reports. This report brings the overall observations of these studies together in one place.

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## Topics

Auditing and Financial Management

Accounting proceduresAccounting standardsCost accountingData integrityFinancial managementFinancial management systemsPolicy evaluationProgram implementationChief financial officersDecision making