In order to maintain this Opinion for FY1999 and future audits, NOAA must continue to comply with pertinent laws and regulations and improve its internal control procedures governing the reconciliation of new acquisitions of accountable personal property. In some instances, the unreconciled purchases were so old that the property may have already been retired. While the Property Custodian plays a key role in reconciling new acquisitions of accountable personal property with financial disbursements, it is NOT solely the custodian's responsibility.
Reconciliation is the organization's business.
Everyone in the organization, who purchases or uses accountable personal property has responsibility in this area. It should be made clear to those that play a role in the acquisition process that non-compliance with reconciliation policy may result in loss of purchasing authority. Unexplained property purchases remaining on the UPR for more than 120 days will be treated the same as any other lost, possibly stolen, or otherwise misappropriated property. Payments recorded in the Finance system against object class code 31 are assumed to be for accountable property unless explained otherwise. Failure to comply with reconciliation policy may result in loss of purchasing authority.