Finance and Resources - Divisional Snapshots
The role of the finance department in the public sector is one that is developing and changing with a shift in emphasis from scorekeeper to one of strategic business partner. Keeping the books and safeguarding the use of public funds will continue to be important, but ensuring that the Finance and Resources Directorate is a key player in driving improvement across the Council (particularly in relation to efficiency) and supporting our colleagues in achieving their objectives, will be of growing importance.
The Finance and Resources Directorate does much more than look after the money and provide financial management and support, important though that is. The Directorate is also responsible for major customer facing services in collecting the Council Tax and Business Rates and managing the Benefits Service as well as the administration and Investment strategy for the Council’s Pension Fund.
Finally, the Directorate also leads on the delivery of the Council’s Building Schools for the Future Programme as well as managing the administration of the Learning Trust contract.
The Finance and Resources Directorate is comprised of the following teams:
Financial Management
The Financial Management division is divided into six teams – Accountancy, Exchequer, Insurance and Risk, Treasury & Pensions, Systems and Financial Planning & Technical.
The division acts as corporate guardian of the Council’s overall finances. It takes the lead in the development of the Council’s Medium Term Planning Forecast and the annual budget setting exercise. It also ensures that the Council has robust financial procedures and systems providing the platform for ongoing budget monitoring and the annual production of Statement of Accounts.
Alongside these functions, the division is also responsible for the provision of an effective treasury management service and oversight of the Council’s Pension Fund, the Council’s banking and invoice payment service, collection of sundry debts, the promotion of an effective risk management framework and provision of an efficient insurance administration service.
Revenue and Benefits
The Revenues and Benefits Division provides excellent customer services, whilst administering the collection of Council Tax and Non-National Domestic Rates. This service is also responsible for the processing and payment of Housing and Council Tax Benefit claims.
Audit and Anti-Fraud
The Internal Audit team provides an independent appraisal function to the Council’s internal control arrangements. The key objective is to provide assurance to management throughout the authority that the various control systems in place are adequate, effective and operating as intended.
The Anti-Fraud team is responsible for developing and implementing the Council’s anti-fraud strategy, in order to embed an anti-fraud culture across all Council services and functions. The service also has responsibilities around establishing and maintaining intelligence led approach to the management and investigation of fraud (which includes both internal and housing benefit fraud).
Procurement
The Procurement Division provides leadership to enable services to deliver excellent outcomes across the whole of Hackney’s procurement portfolio. Procurement will make a major contribution to efficiencies and financial savings going forward, and will be underpinned by meaningful performance measures and excellent systems. The Procurement team will add value through innovation, making a clear contribution to the Council’s strategic objectives.
Fleet Management Unit
The Fleet Management Unit supports the acquisition, maintenance, management and disposal of the Council's vehicle fleet. It provides advice and guidance to all directorates on vehicle related matters, whilst working with them to ensure that value for money is derived across all fleet activities.
Strategic Property Services
This team provides a range of valuation, property management and property related services to the corporate body of the Council, service departments, and business tenants. They are also responsible for the provision of strategic property advice to the Mayor, Chief Executive and Cabinet.
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
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