Table of Contents Table of Contents
Previous Page  19 / 144 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 19 / 144 Next Page
Page Background

2 0 1 6 A C C O M P L I S H M E N T S

• Provided superior customer service and

expert advice to internal and external

customers along with assistance and

financial advice to Surrey associations and

non-profit organizations.

• Performed identification and due diligence

procedures to decrease the City’s historical

deposit liabilities.

• Corporate Procurement revamped

the Purchasing and Payment Manual,

incorporating changes to reflect our FMS

financial system and process changes.

• For the second consecutive year, Surrey

was named one of the Top 7 Intelligent

Communities in the world by the New York-

based think tank Intelligent Community

Forum. Surrey was selected from over 400

City applicants worldwide.

• Water meter requests were transitioned

from paper filing to digital storage,

resulting in savings for offsite storage

costs.

• As part of the Public Safety Strategy,

cyber security outreach program, “Be Safe

Online”, was launched to provide reliable

and actionable education and resources

to Surrey residents and small-to-medium-

sized businesses with a goal to reduce

incidences of cyber crime.

• Designed and developed a web application

to support ‘IRIS’ which registers camera

locations owned and provided by residents

and businesses in Surrey. This video

camera registry initiative is a partnership

between the City of Surrey, Surrey RCMP,

businesses, and the community.

• Successfully transitioned to a new

collection agency to ensure efficient

revenue collection and the reduction of

bad debts.

• Launched MySurrey Portal which allows

customers quick, convenient and secure

access to popular Surrey online services

anytime, anywhere and from any device.

MySurrey portal currently comprises

more than two dozen services including

the following new services: Freedom of

Information Request, Community Care

license inspection, Building Records

Search, Parking Tickets, IRIS and Fire

Safety Plan Review. More services will be

added as they become available with single

sign-on capability.

• Developed and received Council

endorsement for the Smart Surrey

Broadband Strategy to serve as a road map

for equipping the City to meet its current

and future broadband (high-speed internet

connection) needs.

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 has the responsibility for the following divisions/sections:

FINANCIAL REPORTING

Financial Reporting includes long-term financial planning, annual

budget development, accounting, procurement and statutory financial

reporting; responsible for 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 and targeted savings. 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 appropriate public and competitive processes are applied.

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.

CITY OF SURREY

OVERVIEWS

FINANCE & TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT

9