Financial Services

DEPARTMENT GOALS

To provide excellence in customer service to meet the needs of the citizens of Kelowna, Council, City Management, administrative and operating staff of all City departments, external agencies and the Ministry of Community, Aboriginal and Women’s Services.

To provide financial advice and guidance on day-to-day operational matters to Council, the City Manager and management staff that will assist them in the decision-making process to the extent that the best overall decisions are made on behalf of the citizens of Kelowna.

To provide the vision to achieve the department mission statement, "Together, we are dedicated to provide quality service", and assist in the development of both short and long term growth management plans for the provision of services to both existing and new citizens.

To participate as a corporate team member in identifying and developing partnerships and alternative service delivery method opportunities that are consistent with corporate strategies.

To safeguard and administer the assets of the City through proper financial controls, insurance plans, accounting systems and policies in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and statutory requirements.

FINANCE

1. Review and update of existing Financial Services policies and development of new policies that comply with the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recommended practices for local governments.
2. Prepare an update to the Landfill Model to reflect current conditions and future projections for landfill requirements.
3. Review the City’s reserve requirements and develop policies for reserve levels including recommendations for any consolidation or expansion of reserves.
4. Conduct valuation appraisals of significant City owned facilities.
5. Assist Works & Utilities Department in developing policies to administer ditch maintenance and catch basin security.
6. To further automate the preparation of working papers to better align the audit requirements with the City’s process of preparing and storing reconciliation and working papers.
7. To coordinate the completion of at least one Value for Money audit.

FACILITIES/EQUIPMENT/TECHNOLOGY 

1. Review various software budget modules to determine the product best suited fo our budget and reporting needs.
2. Expand Finance’s use of internet applications to provide customer service oriented topical, historical and educational information • All taxation related information • On-line property tax inquiry
3. Implement an improved claims management system and improve claim reporting.
4. To further develop ebusiness opportunities within the City by providing customers further options for payment of fees and permits either on-line or by establishing an account.
5. To continue the development of eForms throughout the organization.
6. To work with the Development Engineering Division to investigate mature deferred revenue and performance deposit balances unclaimed by developers.

PARTNERSHIPS

1. Continue to work with contractor to improve customer care services for the City’s utilities customers.
2. Determine future contract potential for utility billing.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

1. Review corporate performance based on the various performance measurements being tracked at the divisional level and provide support for making improvements to the performance measurement initiative.
2. Improve compliance management for third party contracts and insurance requirements.
3. To review options brought forward from the Financial Information System Replacement (FISR) Committee to determine if a cost effective alternative to existing finance/human resources software is available in the market.

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1. Prepare a consolidated budget summary for ease of understanding of the municipal budget by citizens, staff and other interested parties. The summary will be made available on-line.
2. Commitment to professional and community involvement as a department.

• Terry Fox Run for the Cure
• Adopt-a-Family Christmas initiative
• GFOA
• RIMS