Mitchell Shire Council’s Finance Department is becoming a leader in the Local Government sector and lending a hand to help others learn from their experience. Efficiency improvements, staff empowerment and open sharing of ideas both internally and externally are keys to this success, according to Finance Manager Tom Caelli.
The process began about two and a half years ago when Council upgraded its financial systems and used this as the springboard for a process of continuous improvement. This has led to changes in duties and reporting structures, streamlined processes and efficiency gains, a more open approach to innovation and decision making, and key staff lending their expertise to other councils to support sector wide improvements.
During 2008, Mitchell has been working with Indigo and Yarra Ranges Shires on issues including monthly financial forecasting and better use of the key reporting tools in the Finance One system.
Tom Caelli said that while making things more efficient for finance staff is important, the ultimate goal is to make reports and systems as straightforward and easy as possible for users throughout Council.
“Instead of complaining about other departments and their lack of financial understanding, we work with them in their own environment,” he said. “The result is more finance literate staff and finance systems that work better for the people who need them.
“Both our Accounting Services Officer and Senior Accountant have spent time ‘embedded’ with other departments including Local Laws, Planning and Rates to work through their processes to better align the way they do things with our requirements from a finance perspective.
“Internally, finance staff are involved in day to day decisions and input comes from a variety of areas.
“Our successes in the finance area are a direct result of this teamwork.”
Mitchell Shire Mayor, Councillor Bob Humm, commended the Finance Department on their success.
“Strong and flexible financial systems are critical to Council operations and I would like to thank our finance staff for providing this foundation our services and projects,” Councillor Humm said.
