FinanceLeadingPracticesLeadingPracticesProductionCost&InventoryLittletimespentondatacollection/manipulationUsestandardallocationsheldconstantfortheperiodElectronicapprovalofjournalsReal-timedataaccess,user-oriented,standard,GUItoolsFocusonanalysisvs.transactionprocessingEnterprise-widefinancialinformationwarehouseIntegratedreceiving,shipping,inventory,andaccountingsystemsIntegratedmanufacturingandfinancialsystemsFinancialReportingShortened/streamlinedcloseprocessSoftClosefornon-quartermonthsElectronicapprovalofjournalsReal-timedataaccess,user-oriented,standard,GUItoolsFocusonanalysisvs.transactionprocessingLiaisonteamslinkingbusinessandaccountingChallengepoliciesformaterialityEnterprise-widefinancialinformationwarehouseLedgerfullyintegratedwithdistributedbudgetanalysisStaffDevelopmentAcquirerelativelyfew,highqualitystaff;compensatethemwellandexpecthigherproductivitytooffsetthecostGiveindividualssubstantialleewayinstructuringtheirjobstospeedtheirdevelopmentandincreasetheirjobsatisfactionExplicitlymanagethehiring,placement,trainingandrotationofFinanceprofessionalsthoughouttheorganizationAggressivelyseekoutbusinessunderstandingtoincreaseattractiveness/usefulnessoffinancialprofessionalcontributionActivelyweedoutpoorperformersandthoseunabletomakethetransformationandrewardsuperiorperformersBuildloyaltyandprideamongFinanceprofessionals,regardlessofwhethertheyreportintothecentralfunctionorarepartofbusinessunitsExpenditureCycle:Paperlessrequisition-to-checkprocessingVendorperformancemonitoring(cost,quality,delivery)“Coordinated”purchasingCommodityteams“Local”purchasingwithapprovedvendorsProcurementcardsElectronicrequisitioning,routing,approvalEDILinkagetosuppliers,paperlessPO’sIntegrationwithmaterialsmgmt./GeneralLedgersystemsIntegratedpurchasingandA/Psystems/singlevendorfileRevenueCycleOrderentrycentralizedincustomerserviceCentralizedinvoiceprintingandcontrolUseofautomatedsystemsIntegratedorderandbillingsystemsAutomatedapprovalofexceptioninvoicesUsecreditteamstomanagecustomerrelationshipsOn-lineaccesstocustomerhistory/balancesMaterialitylimitsforautomaticwrite-offtolerancesSource:UtilitiesGen;Utilitiesbestpractice;FinanceVision.pptFinancialManagementPeoplePeopleProcessProcessLeadingPracticesInternalAuditAddvaluebyfocusingauditworkonorganization’sbusinessobjectivesImproveefficiencybypromotingandleveragingmanagementself-assessmentofcontrolsUsetechnologytoassistwithanalysisofdownloadeddata,riskassessmentetc.EliminateformalauditreportsandreplacewithmanagementactionplansUseofoutsideresourcestosupplementin-housestaffinselectedtechnicalareasCloselyintegrateinternalandexternalauditworkTax:FinancefeedersystemsdesignedwithTaxinputShortened/streamlinedcomplianceprocessDirectGLdownloadintoTaxsoftwareRealtimedataaccessandanalysisElectroniccalculation/generationofbook/taxdifferencesSingletransactioncalculatesbothbookandtaxadjustments,ifanyCommonaccountingsystemfortaxandmanagementreporting“What-if”systemcapabilityCustomer-FocusedAssignTaxdepartmentliaisontoeachmajorbusinessunitIncreasedteamworkwithbusiness-increasedinteraction=knowledgeTaxinvolvedinallsignificantbusinesstransactionsSource:UtilitiesGen;Utilitiesbestpractice;FinanceVision.pptFinancialManagementProcessPro...