FM transfers customer service to AFFSC Published Feb. 15, 2008 By Capt. Douglas Bauer 3rd Comptroller Squadron commander ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- The Air Force is transforming its Financial Management operations in the largest change in FM's 60-year history. The changes will help to provide more effective and efficient finance operations within base-level comptroller squadrons by consolidating and standardizing the backshop processing operations currently provided by 93 separate base finance offices worldwide into one operation at the new Air Force Financial Services Center at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. The workload currently performed at each base is migrating to the AFFSC by Major Command. It started with Air Force Space Command in October 2007 and will conclude in April. You will continue to receive outstanding service, while the changes will save the Air Force $210 million. The initial effort to consolidate the workload is designed to be seamless and how customer service is provided does not change in the initial stand-up of the AFFSC. In October, the initial operational capability of the contact center will be reached. In this phase additional options for customers to get service, including web self-service and a contact center will be available. Much like other career fields, Airmen will see fewer managers on base, but will have more flexibility in obtaining service through 24 hours a day, 7 days a week self-service and contact center options. Elmendorf's finance office will continue to operate as it has for the last several months; strongly encouraging its customers to utilize the service options of email, phone and fax. To prepare Elmendorf, the finance office has developed into a local contact center to teach its customers how to handle finance business via email, phone and fax. Our contact center is open 5 days a week from 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. We currently are still providing walk-in services Monday, Wednesday, and Friday however these services will be limited further as manpower continues to depart. We also will be making appointments but only if unable to assist by correspondence. The Financial Services Transformation cut-over team is assisting each base in preparation to transition to the new service center. Recently, the FST cut-over team visited Elmendorf and briefed the comptroller squadron as well as Wing and Base Leadership on the transformation initiative. Elmendorf will see its back office processing move to the new Financial Services Center starting March 13, 2008. The transition is designed to be seamless to customers, and bases that have already migrated their processing to the AFFSC have not seen any adverse impact to operations. Air Force Financial Management is transforming the way it conducts business to better provide focused financial services to all Airmen in alignment with the Air Force's goals of ensuring its 700,000-plus men and women are provided with the state-of-the-art technology and outstanding financial services that they and their families expect and deserve. "Financial Management's transformation objective is to provide the Air Force 'a longer tooth and a shorter tail' by returning resources from support operations to direct war fighting capabilities," said John Vonglis, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller. The AFFSC will utilize the latest technologies and training to increase the efficiency of Air Force Financial Management operations and will free up resources that can be allocated to directly supporting the warfighter and Air Force Mission. Stay tuned for more updates on changes and for more information visit the AFFSC website on the Air Force Portal by highlighting 'Life & Career' Tab, then clicking on 'Money - Finance Central', then select 'Air Force Financial Services Center (AFFSC). The Elmendorf finance office is working hard to shape transformation by being actively involved in every step of the creation and implementation of the AFFSC. For local assistance prior to migration, the first stop will be to visit our self help web page at: http://www.elmendorf.af.mil/units/3rdcomptrollersquadron/index.asp. You can send your questions and documents to 3cptsfso@elmendorf.af.mil.