Chief Counsel

Chief Counsel, Financial Management Service

< BACK

The Chief Counsel of the Financial Management Service (FMS) supervises the Deputy Chief Counsel, staff attorneys, and support staff. The Chief Counsel's office is responsible for providing legal advice to FMS' Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, and seven Assistant Commissioners.

FMS is the United States Government's financial manager. As such, it is responsible for, among other things, the management of Federal collections and payments, including mandatory electronic funds transfers, the Government's central accounting and reporting system, and government-wide debt collection.

The Office of Chief Counsel provides legal advice to FMS in a wide variety of areas including administrative law, ethics, Federal personnel and procurement law, disclosure and patent/ copyright law, and debt collection. The Office of Chief Counsel also is involved in legislation, regulatory activities and litigation affecting FMS' authorities and responsibilities.