The Assistant Secretary acts for the Secretary in the administration of the Department and represents and advises the Secretary on all inter- and intra-agency administrative matters (e.g., procurement, financial management, grants management, human capital management, personnel security and facilities management, and business support systems) as well as other activities and functions as directed. The Assistant Secretary provides leadership on all operational matters, offering expertise and technical assistance to the Secretary and the Deputy Secretary on the implementation of major management reform initiatives such as those mandated by the President's Management Initiatives and the Government Performance and Results Act Modernization Act of 2010. Additionally, the Assistant Secretary serves as a standing member of the Department's Senior Management Council (SMC)— the primary governance body for advising the Deputy Secretary on all matters related to operations and management of Department programs, functions, and activities. The Assistant Secretary for Finance and Operations is supported by a Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (PDAS), who serves as the Department's Deputy CFO, along with a Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary.
The Immediate Office of the Assistant Secretary for Finance and Operations is responsible for supporting the Assistant Secretary's overall direction and administration of the Department's administrative management functions and coordinates programs with those of other Federal agencies, such as the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the General Services Administration (GSA), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and with members of Congress. The Immediate Office also coordinates responses to Government Accountability Office (GAO) studies and Office of Inspector General (OIG) inquiries.