Diligence + hard work = successful FY14 closeout Published Oct. 16, 2014 By Staff Sgt. Laura L. Valentine 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. -- The end of a year is celebrated in different ways by different people; school teachers look forward to summer months, resolution makers count down to January 1, and comptroller and contracting squadron personnel see the light at the end of the tunnel in September. With the fiscal year closing out Sept. 30, there is often an unseen scramble of long hours, number crunching and pulling hair. "End-of-year requires long hours, savvy contracting, quick-thinking and multi-tasking," said Maj. John Kendall, 20th Contracting Squadron commander. "Our focus is to get the customer what they need: legally, ethically, and morally." The 48 personnel in 20th CONS managed approximately $100 million in contracts and the government purchase card program. A total of 629 contract actions were made this year in addition to the $160 million active contracts already in place to keep the wing successfully running. The 38 personnel in 20th CPTS are responsible for the $130 million of annual funds in support of more than 30,000 total force military, retirees, and dependents that make up Team Shaw. "We have a superb, experienced, and professional resource management team who provide timely, accurate, and fiscally compliant action in order to provide Team Shaw with its required resources to accomplish the mission," said Lt. Col. Jorge Jimenez, 20th Comptroller Squadron commander. Many only know the end of year closeout as the opportunity to receive more money to purchase needed office equipment that may not have been fully budgeted throughout the year. "The resource management team is responsible for planning, funding, procuring, accounting, and fiscal compliance of Team Shaw's monetary resources," said Jimenez. "The team coordinates with units' leaders and personnel across the chain to ensure we execute only valid needs for the mission and ensure proper use of taxpayer's funds." Robust planning on the part of the customer, resource advisors, finance and contracting personnel helps ensure a smooth fiscal year end. "This year was a success because the unfunded requirement list was prepared early," said Kendall, "nearly every requirement was funded, and very few unexpected requirements arrived late." Contracting and comptroller personnel scrub all financial records and funding provided to ensure the must-pay bills are covered, only mission essential requirements are purchased, and funded requests meet the strict legal requirements for use of government funds, said Kendall. Closeout is more than just an opportunity for GPC holders to buy more office supplies. The resource management team ensures the wing has funds for services and goods to maintain the base operations at the end of the year to include: the flying hour program, deployment requirements, base supplies, facilities, infrastructure, fuel for vehicles, and utilities. This year the Air Force made a deliberate effort to fund infrastructure projects, and more than $56 million in projects were funded to improve facilities and infrastructure of the base. "Among many other duties, the 20th CPTS and 20th CONS maintain accurate and transparent records to meet legal and regulatory requirements," said Jimenez. "Ultimately, we must be accountable to taxpayers that we are maximizing public funds. We must maintain fiscal compliant processes and records to verify accountability - anytime, anywhere, and to anyone."