MAXWELL AFB-GUNTER ANNEX, Ala. -- The Integrated Accounts Payable System (IAPS) is a Defense Finance Accounting Service (DFAS)-Columbus-owned Vendor Pay entitlement system that computes and creates vouchers for payment.
Operational since 1972, IAPS processes payments for both commercial services and materiel and supply accounts payable; processing vendor payments valued at over $10 billion annually, and approximately $40 million daily. This legacy system is used by over 900 personnel across Air Force bases, many joint bases, and select DFAS field sites.
In June 2024, DFAS leadership announced preparations to conduct purges of four databases in which there was a need for expert support from the IAPS team to perform a global Query Language Processor to update the Accrued Expenditures Unpaid Adjustment field to expedite the purge.
In an impressive display of collaboration and technical expertise, the IAPS team from Business and Enterprise Systems Core Financial Systems service desk played a crucial role in resolving a longstanding issue within the system that had persisted for over two decades.
Through their efforts, the team was able to clean up 189 contracts with a combined total of 243- line items from Columbus, Limestone, Europe, and Japan DFAS locations.
Even though these contracts had been paid in full, they could not be cleared from the system due to a legacy field no longer in use. This field contained data and prevented the contracts from being purged through normal processes.
Thanks to the precision support of the IAPS service desk, DFAS is now well-positioned to meet audit requirements and prepare for the eventual retirement of the system. This achievement not only demonstrates the team's technical expertise but also highlights the value of collaboration and teamwork in resolving complex issues.
Overall, the IAPS team's work has had a significant impact on the efficiency and effectiveness of DFAS operations, and their efforts will undoubtedly have a lasting positive effect on the organization.