The National
Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) has completed a major agency-wide
financial system upgrade with the help of Accenture that
is designed to improve the way the agency manages its projects,
achieve cost savings through more efficient financial management
processes, and enhance its ability to adhere to federal cost
accounting standards.

Specifically, the Integrated Financial Management Program, as the
project is known, is designed to help NASA: (1) obtain more timely,
consistent, and reliable financial information; (2) improve its
ability to assess program costs; (3) increase the operational
effectiveness of, and reduce the costs associated with, its
accounting, budgeting, and financial management processes; and (4)
enhance information sharing with customers and other stakeholders.

As the designated implementer on the Integrated Financial
Management Program, Accenture worked with NASA to consolidate 10
disparate financial management systems and processes into a single
standard system based on the implementation of SAP’s Industry Solution
– Public Sector (IS-PS) software. This week the remaining four of
NASA’s 10 centers were transitioned to the new core financial system,
which now supports 10,000 users across the agency.

“The new system puts NASA at the forefront of federal agencies
looking to transform the way they manage their financial operations,”
said Stanley J. Gutkowski, managing partner of Accenture’s USA
Government practice. “The agency now has a financial information
backbone that integrates with project management data to provide an
integrated view on the status of each project. This allows for better
decision-making, improved operational efficiencies, and a much higher
level of accountability.”

About NASA

With its $15.1 billion annual budget (FY03), NASA operates 10
centers across the United States and employs more than 17,000 civil
servants. NASA’s fundamental financial and resource management goal
focuses on efficient and effective support of NASA missions including
Human Space Flight and Science, Aeronautics, and Technology.

About Accenture

Accenture is the world’s leading management consulting and
technology services company. Committed to delivering innovation,
Accenture collaborates with its clients to help them realize their
visions and create tangible value. With deep industry expertise, broad
global resources and proven experience in consulting and outsourcing,
Accenture can mobilize the right people, skills, alliances and
technologies. With more than 75,000 people in 47 countries, the
company generated net revenues of $11.6 billion for the fiscal year
ended August 31, 2002. Its home page is www.accenture.com.