GOALS II/IAS Factsheet

Statement of Differences

WHAT IS THE STATEMENT OF DIFFERENCES?

The Statement of Differences (SOD) is an Internet application of the Government On-Line Accounting Link Information Access System II (GOALS II/IAS). This application provides Federal Program Agencies (FPAs) access to reconciliation data using a standard web browser and access via the Internet. The data available in this application allows FPAs to identify differences between what has been processed through the collection systems, disbursing systems, and the Intragovernmental Payment and Collection system (IPAC) and what the FPAs have classified on their monthly statements of transactions.

WHAT DOES IT DO?

The SOD application allows the user to access its SOD summary reconciliation data via the Internet. In addition, the detail supporting information is also available here (Deposit Ticket/Debit Voucher, IPAC support listings). This application provides notification that agency-reported amounts are not in accord with FMS records and an agency review of accounting transactions may be necessary. For example, when agency-reported transactions differ from amounts maintained in FMS central accounts, the result is presented as a deposit difference or a disbursement difference on the SOD.

This application receives a daily transmission from the Central Accounting System (STAR). This daily transmission allows FMS to provide more up-to-date information to FPAs. Deposit data and agency statements of transactions are updated daily in STAR, so for these items, the FPAs are receiving daily reconciliation information from GOALS II. This enables the FPAs to identify and correct differences earlier, sometimes before the monthly processing is closed. FPAs have the ability to restrict their report to differences by age (i.e, only those differences 6 months old or older) to enable them to concentrate on specific problem areas. In addition, fifteen months of historical data is available on-line and can be downloaded in a variety of formats.

WHAT IS THE CURRENT BULK FILE FORMATS?

Below are the Statement of Differences current bulk file formats. Bulk file formats are available for download in PDF Format or as a MS Word File.

PDF Form

MS Word File

These files are in Adobe Acrobat's portable document format (pdf). The Acrobat Reader is included in many Web browsers, but if your browser does not read Acrobat's pdf files, Acrobat is free to download and use.