ART - Principles and Practices of Managing a Global P-Card Program 2005

The document discusses best practices for managing complex card programs, specifically purchase card programs. It highlights the importance of standardization, establishing close relationships between buying and finance offices, and implementing written operating procedures at the local level. The document also emphasizes the need to keep program profile and hierarchy information up to date and to access invoices and cardholder statements online. It suggests centralizing overall program management while decentralizing field operations. Other practices mentioned include establishing local quality control reviewers, ensuring payments are made off the official invoice, and filing and tracking disputes in a timely manner. The document acknowledges the challenges of managing purchase card programs in a global environment and discusses the steps taken by the Department of State to ensure proper card usage and oversight. These steps include annual reviews of purchase card operations, implementing internal controls such as individual card dollar limits and training, and enforcing program performance reviews. The document concludes by stating that by following the principles of standardization, centralization, and collaboration, agencies can better manage growing purchase card programs.