OPW invests €670k in finance system


4 Dec 2006

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has invested in a €670k accounting, payments and financial records system that will streamline payments and improve financial reporting across 2,000 workers and 100 locations nationwide.

The company recently appointed iB Solutions to implement the Integra e-Financials system.

Key factors in the decision were the ability of the system to meet OPW’s functional needs, the cost effectiveness of the technology and iB’s expertise and experience in the implementation of financial systems in a public-sector context.

The OPW’s remit is to provide the Government with property, design, construction, facilities management and procurement services as well as being responsible for the day-to-day running of all national monuments and historic properties.

“We needed to improve and modernise our accounting, financial and management information systems in line with developments under the Government’s Strategic Management Initiative, including the development of management information frameworks [MIF] in government departments and offices,” explained Pat Granahan, MIF project manager at the OPW.

“We wanted to ensure that the new system gave everybody involved in the running of the OPW a clear and concise view of its financial affairs. We also wanted a system that was easy to use. User friendliness was one of our criteria and the solution we chose had to have fast, accurate reporting,” Granahan added.

Integra is an integrated finance system that is built on proven industry-standard client server architecture. iB Solutions provides online access to all relevant modules via the web. This will enable both core and occasional users to access the system remotely for data input, enquiry and reporting purposes.

The system encourages direct data input and online authorisation and offers opportunities for improved work flow handling.

As the functionality of the system is rolled out, staff in most locations will use the system for a range of purposes including creation and issue of purchase orders, recording and accounting for cash receipts, making and authorising claims for travel and subsistence expenses and they will have direct access to management reports.

Another aspect of the technology is the Invoice Approval System which, when fully implemented, will remove the need for purchase orders and invoices to travel around the organisation for approval and enquiries.

By John Kennedy