
Enhancing Transactional Efficiency for a London Borough Council
Evance Consulting embarked on a project to revolutionise a London Borough Council’s financial processes, slashing supplier setup time by 99.6% and streamlining operations for maximum efficiency.
The Challenge
A London Borough Council embarked on a strategic initiative to overhaul its financial operations, aiming to reduce redundancy, streamline processes, and enhance overall efficiency. This project was a crucial part of the broader Council Digital Programme, which focuses on transforming service delivery through digital solutions and continuous improvement. Evance Consulting played a pivotal role as a Hybrid Business Analyst and Project Manager to achieve these objectives.
The Client's Need
The London Borough Council aimed to
Eliminate duplicate roles and merge functions across Accounts Payable and Adult Finance Operations.
Create a streamlined and efficient workflow.
Enhance transactional efficiency and improve information flow.
The council faced several challenges:
Resistance from key departments to changes.
Risk of project scope creep.
The critical need to maintain service quality during the transition.
Before engaging Evance Consulting, the London Borough Council had:
Identified inefficiencies in financial operations but lacked a comprehensive approach to redesign processes.
Faced challenges in engaging stakeholders effectively and aligning them with the transformation goals.
Our Solution
Evance Consulting provided a strategic and thorough approach to tackle the council’s challenges. Here’s what we did:
As-Is Process Documentation
Conducted a thorough review of current processes to identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement.
Documented existing processes comprehensively.
2. To-Be Process Design
Designed optimised processes aimed at enhancing efficiency and reducing redundancy.
Obtained necessary sign-offs from stakeholders to ensure alignment and buy-in.
3. Proactive Stakeholder Collaboration
Collaborated closely with internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and address concerns proactively.
Fostered a collaborative environment encouraging continuous improvement.
4. Risk Mitigation Strategies
Identified potential risks early in the project.
Implemented strategies to mitigate risks effectively, ensuring project stability and success.
5. Project Phases:
Set the project foundation by defining scope and gathering initial requirements.
Documented existing processes and identified inefficiencies.
Crafted optimised processes and obtained necessary sign-offs.
Ensured the redesigned processes met project goals and stakeholder expectations.
The Outcome
Reduced process redundancy and merged functions, leading to improved efficiency in financial operations.
Introduced significant improvements, such as automated supplier setup and invoice processing, drastically reducing the time from setup to payment.
Fostered a collaborative environment that encouraged continuous improvement and aligned with the Council's Digital Programme.
Impact on the London Borough Council
The enhancements in transactional efficiency have enabled the council to:
Achieve faster turnaround times for financial operations.
Reduce errors and duplicate payments, ensuring financial integrity.
Enhance staff capabilities through targeted upskilling and new technology adoption.
Client Testimonial
The strategic insights and technical expertise provided by Evance Consulting were instrumental in transforming our financial operations. The team's ability to manage complex projects and deliver substantial process improvements has greatly contributed to our goals of enhancing efficiency and service delivery." - Project Sponsor, London Borough Council
Conclusion
This project highlights Evance Consulting's strength in driving significant business process improvements and managing complex digital transformations within the public sector. Our approach not only addressed immediate operational needs but also set the stage for sustained improvements and digital innovation at the London Borough Council.
To discover how Evance Consulting can help transform your organisation's processes and increase efficiency, contact us today.
Power in Numbers
99.6
Core business processes mapped and re-designed.
33
Day intensive work Package delivered ensuring rapid implementation readiness.
4
Documents were analysed to provide informed decisions to the Board and Project team.