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The following are examples of projects where HELM have been at work in Northern Ireland
Department for Regional Development Water Service - Consultancy Services - Accounting and Financial Systems Support 1 February 2006 - 31 January 2008 (2009)
HELM is the nominated framework contract provider of financial and management accounting services to the Agency. During the last number of years HELM Consultants have provided support on a number of management accounting programmes including
- Secondment of staff to the management accounting function to assist in the production of management and cost accounting information for the various functions within Water Service.
- Review and preparation of Memorandum Trading Accounts to monitor performance of market tested services within the Water Service.
- Secondment of staff to the Transport Management Group to assist in monitoring costs, setting fees, billing customers and production of management information/accounts.
- Specification and implementation of new stores system for the Agency.
- Development of models -Water Billing in light of proposals for the Agency to be self financing in the future.
- Compiled a guidance paper for the treatment of VAT on the various supplies made by Water Service.
- As part of the overall reform of the Water Service HELM managed the project which will see the accounts payable function established as a single unit.
- Seconded with responsibility for the day to day running of financial accounts department, -Production of the monthly accounts, production of monthly financial performance analysis pack, completion of VAT returns.
- Management Accountant within Water Service, overseeing Economic Regulation within the organisation, with specific responsibility for charging policy and price setting, setting of, and reporting on, performance targets. This role required the design and development of complex financial models.
Review of the SEUPB's Community Uptake Analysis
SEUPB, as Managing Authority for the Peace II Programme, commissioned an appraisal and review of:
- the extent to which the two main communities in Northern Ireland have engaged with and benefited from the Peace II Programme; and an analysis and review of
- the factors likely to have influenced Programme accessibility and uptake.
The appraisal took into consideration the over-riding aims, objectives and policies underpinning the Peace II Programme.
HELM used sophisticated statistical techniques taking account of the religious profile of Enumeration Districts (EDs) to apportion project funding between the two communities. That is, for each project originating in Northern Ireland the postcode of the project or project applicant was used to place the project in a particular ED. The funding to that project was then apportioned amongst the two communities in accordance with their respective share of the ED population. HELM also noted any assumptions underlying this estimate and identified factors likely to have influenced community uptake and benefit.
Department of Education - Strategic Review of Educaton and Library Board's Accounting, Financial Management and Business Planning
The review was initiated following a report published by the Comptroller and Auditor General( C&AG ) in June of 2004 'Accounting to Parliament by the Education and Library Boards' in which he expressed concern about several aspects of the Boards' accounts over the period 1999/2000 - 2002/2003. The problems documented in the C&AG's report arose mainly through difficulties experienced by Boards in moving from cash to accruals accounting. The C&AG recommended that there would be merit in a thorough review of Boards' accounting arrangements. The Department concurred with the C&AG's recommendation and engaged HELM to carry out a strategic review of the Boards financial management arrangements and of the linkages with business planning.
HELM informed the Department of Education of the level of understanding and capability within Boards with regard to resource budgeting and accounting and financial control, monitoring, and reporting arrangements, and assessed the effectiveness of links between these matters and business planning.
We considerd the Boards' experiences from the first four years of accrual accounting and examined the alignment of the Boards' accounting policies and practices with the Department's resource accounting regime.
HELM examined the current budgeting, accounting and financial monitoring and reporting arrangements within each Board and the reporting arrangements to the Department on financial performance;
HELM examined the link between the Boards' budgeting and business planning processes;
We examined the capacity of the Boards' computerised accounting system to support fully resource accounting and budgeting and the effectiveness with which the system is used by Boards;
We considerd what steps could be taken to improve further, the quality and timeliness of Boards' accounts and the Boards' financial control, monitoring, and reporting arrangements, including the link to business planning; and In light of those findings, made recommendations for improvements within individual Boards, where appropriate, and for best practice which could be introduced for consistent application across all five Boards.
Department for Regional Development DRD: Road Service Direct (RSD) Stores Review
Following a business improvement review of Roads Service Direct (RSD) operations, the Head of RSD, acknowledged the need to carry out an in-depth review of the organisation arrangements relating to the supply of goods to maintenance workers, through stores, yards and direct purchases. There were a number of concerns around efficiency and effectiveness of operations, staffing combined with a need to review existing computer system effectiveness.
The review was carried out from a strategic & operational perspective. The fundamental supply chain was considered, as well as operational effectiveness of the existing stores and yards.
Department for Regional Development DRD: Road Service Direct (RSD) Stores Review
Following a business improvement review of Roads Service Direct (RSD) operations, the Head of RSD, acknowledged the need to carry out an in-depth review of the organisation arrangements relating to the supply of goods to maintenance workers, through stores, yards and direct purchases. There were a number of concerns around efficiency and effectiveness of operations, staffing combined with a need to review existing computer system effectiveness.
The review was carried out from a strategic & operational perspective. The fundamental supply chain was considered, as well as operational effectiveness of the existing stores and yards.
Livestock and Meat Commission - Review of Policies and Procedures
HELM have carried out a Review of Policies and Procedures at the Livestock and Meat Commission. This work included a review of policies and procedures within LMC and an assessment of their suitability to meet current best practice.
The review included for discussing with the Permanent Secretary at the Department for Regional Development and Key Stakeholders.
The review covered policies and procedures, roles and responsibilities of the LMC in relation to DARD, the Northern Ireland Assembly Agriculture Sub Committee and other parties including producers and processors. A number of changes in terms of policies and procedures were recommended to the Board as a result of the review.
Northern Ireland Court Service - To review the current policy regarding the charging of fees for the conduct of Business in the Civil Courts
The objectives of the assignment were as follows:
- To analyse, and apply as appropriate, a staff time survey with the aim of identifying the time expended on each category of civil business
- To provide draft proposals for a new fee structure and rates capable of generating sufficient revenue to meet the cost of civil business in Courts Service.
- Prepare an initial draft public consultation document on revised civil court fees
- Identify for the most recent period the operational costs relevant to the running of the courts.
The results of the above activity validated and provided assurance on the robustness of fee models and supported recommendations for changes in fee policy. It also identified gaps or where more robust information was required.The results from the staff survey were used to validate the allocation of time against particular business categories. We extrapolated the model using this data and to compare the results of the extrapolation with the current fee model. It was also necessary to carry out a sensitivity and robustness analysis on the model and to apply confidence limits on the information emerging from the staff survey.
The project was quality reviewed by the Director of Corporate Services who commented on HELM's thoughtful, challenging and technically strong approach to the review of fees policy for the conduct of business in the Civil Courts.
HELM Northern Ireland is managed by Richard Troope and Manus MacGinty who can be emailed at Richard.Troope@tribalhelm.com and Manus.MacGinty@tribalhelm.com.
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HELM Corporation Limited, HELM House, 88 Main Street, Moira, Co Armagh, BT67 OLH
Tel: +44 (0) 28 9261 0930 Fax: +44 (0) 28 9261 0931 email: info@tribalhelm.com
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