How do the responsibilities of an Accountable Official differ from the Certifying Officer?

• A. The Accountable Official approves expenditures; the Certifying Officer handles asset safeguarding.
• B. The Accountable Official handles procurement; the Certifying Officer handles inventories.
• C. The Accountable Official audits financial statements; the Certifying Officer signs grant agreements.
• D. The Accountable Official is responsible for physical custody and accountability of property/assets, maintaining records, and safeguarding assets; the Certifying Officer approves and certifies financial compliance and program funds.

Answer: (D)

In managing government property and funds, duties are split to protect assets and ensure proper use of money. The Accountable Official is the one who has physical custody of property and assets, keeps the records that prove those assets exist and are accounted for, and safeguards them from loss or misuse. The Certifying Officer, on the other hand, is the person who approves and certifies that financial transactions are compliant with laws and program requirements, and that funds are being used for the authorized purposes. This separation keeps asset control separate from financial approval, reducing the risk of mismanagement.

So the best description is the one that pairs physical custody and asset accountability with safeguarding responsibilities for the Accountable Official, with the Certifying Officer handling the approval and certification of financial compliance and program funds. Other options mix in duties like procurement, inventories, audits, or contract signings, which aren’t the core roles of these two positions.