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Finance & Technology Department
City of surrey Overviews
2 0 1 4 A C C O M P L I S H M E N T S
• Ensured that all financial transactions
and reporting met appropriate statutory
requirements.
• Provided financial analysis and advice on City
initiatives.
• Used effective and efficient financial processes
and systems to safeguard the City’s assets.
• Maintained and sustained IT assets through
replacement and upgrade of aging application
and technologies.
• Continued training key staff on new financial
system offering various sessions throughout
the year focusing on different areas of the
system.
• Provided a leading edge security infrastructure
taking full advantage of modern technologies
and a defense in depth strategy to enable
Internet, local network and wireless
connectivity within the organization.
• Continued to develop our new Financial
System improving our Procurement &
Accounts Payable functions.
• Continued to improve E-Finance services.
• Improved the ease and speed of businesses
submitting or changing a business license
through a new online submission service
enabling improved workflows and integrated
applications while improving consistency of
data collection between business units and
improved collection of fees.
• Moved to electronic file storage for Payroll and
Cash Management.
The Finance & Technology Department delivers financial expertise, risk management, information technology
services, advice and guidance to support all City operations. The Department provides responsive services and
innovative solutions required to streamline City processes, facilitating gains in efficiencies. The Department
leads process improvements and sets, as well as maintains, financial and information technology practices,
policies and standards. The Department’s core services include:
FINANCIAL REPORTING
Financial Reporting includes long-term financial planning, annual budget
development, accounting, procurement and statutory financial reporting;
this includes presenting an annual five-year financial plan which
establishes financial and programming priorities. The Financial Reporting
Division also keeps Management and Council informed about the City’s
financial performance on a quarterly basis, ensuring the City meets its
annual budget. In addition, this division coordinates the procurement
of high quality, cost-effective goods and services, while ensuring all
polices are followed and best practices implemented. The Procurement
Section follows applicable legislation and ensures an appropriate public
and competitive process is applied as required.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
Financial Services includes payroll, investments, treasury, cash
management, accounts payable, and taxation. Staff calculate, levy, and
collect property taxes, water and sewer billing and other payments to
ensure completeness and accuracy, as well as monitor cash flow and
invest funds for maximum return while minimizing risk and adhering to
the City’s investment policy. Staff also ensure that all employees are
paid correctly on a bi-weekly basis and that external vendor invoices are
paid in a timely and cost effective manner.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT)
Information Technology (IT) works to implement and support innovative
technological best practices to maximize efficiencies in City service
delivery, and improve customer service; as a corporate service, this
includes providing all City departments with consulting, technology
research, analysis, development, maintenance and support.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk Management provides service and expertise in risk management,
insurance, claims, litigation and loss control. By incorporating Enterprise
Wide Risk Management practices, they are able to identify, manage and
reduce the overall cost of risk.
INTERNAL AUDIT
Internal Audit is responsible for reviewing business processes,
policies and procedures for efficiency, control and compliance. It
also investigates internal and external breaches of control, conducts
specialized projects, investigates breaches related to the City’s Code
of Conduct Bylaw, provides commodity tax services to the City and
develops the annual Corporate Audit Plan.
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