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
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