Administration and Finance Department
By Ms Koh Chew Hwee

The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Providing staff guidance on all administrative and financial matters, the Administration & Finance Department has one of the most important roles in the Singapore Police Force.

The Administration & Finance Department (A&F) has two separate divisions, namely the Administration Division and the Finance Division. The Department works closely with Vital.org, a dedicated centre that offers common corporate services to public sector clients, to provide transactional financial functions to all SPF units.

Journey of Service Quality

The mission of our Department has always been one of quality service to our customers. On that note, we called on the participation of everyone, that is, our SPF colleagues, pensioners, Police National Service officers and volunteers and embarked on our journey towards organisational excellence.

This was achieved through the development of a robust quality management system in 2004, the same year we achieved the ISO 9001:2000 certification standard.

Through dedication and perseverance, our quality management system was re-certified for ISO 9001:2000 standard in 2008. This demonstrated our common goal to realise the Department’s vision of becoming an ‘Impeccable Success Organisation’ (model department) in the continual pursuit of delivering value-based administrative and finance services to our customers.

Strengthening our Quality Policy

A&F constantly seeks excellence in its products and services such that they surpass customer expectations. Working closely with all SPF units on our internal audits and financial transactions, we hope to maintain our quality policy and strive for continual improvements.

We are the staff authority on all financial matters, overseeing the management of bank accounts of all SPF units and the Police Institutional Funds by centralising the authorisation of new bank account signatories as well as the opening and closing of bank accounts within the Department. This ensures consistency and rule compliance in work processes pertaining to bank accounts.

A&F also assisted the three Police Institutional Funds, namely the Police Central Welfare Fund, Police Sports Association and Police Officers’ mess, in procuring audit services from external firms. We also facilitated the timely submissions of their audit reports to the Accountant-General’s Department and the Auditor-General’s Office.

Another project that A&F embarked on in FY 2007 was the straight through electronic processing of Make-Up Pay Claims. This project produced annual cost savings of more than $40,000, which went a long way towards boosting customer satisfaction for the Operationally Ready National Servicemen.

The Forecast for FY 2008

A&F work plans for FY 2008 will be shaped by its four strategic thrusts of Consolidation, Audit, Systems and Hallmarks, or CASH.

Consolidation

A&F will explore opportunities on process and cost-efficiency for the Force through collaborations with SPF units and the Police Institutional Funds.

Audit

Internal audit is a cornerstone of good public sector governance and provides objective assessment of the use of public resources. Transparency and accountability in all A&F’s activities, accomplished through a responsible and effective management of public resources, will build greater public trust.

To do this, an Internal Audit Division (IAD) will be established within A&F in FY 2008 to strengthen the internal financial control environment within SPF. This move will enhance public accountability for all SPF units as well as the Police Institutional Funds. The IAD will focus on its assigned responsibilities in the accounting of public monies, and the economic as well as the efficient use of public resources.

Systems

This represents our desire to continually leverage on the power of advancing technology to improve our services and delight our customers. A&F will be exploring how the future registry can be transformed into a more efficient and user-friendly electronic platform.

Hallmarks

We will work together with all our stakeholders and partners to successfully launch our work plans and projects for FY 2008, which will become the hallmarks of the Department.