55TH ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE

Clockwork Operations: Student Achievement Within

A Collaborative Environment

Charles A. Burbridge, Chief Financial Officer and

Nader Sohrab, Comptroller

55TH ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE

Clockwork Operations: Student Achievement Within A Collaborative Environment

Challenges:• Financial condition with multiple qualifications and audit

findings

• Extended procurement fulfillment cycle time, undocumented processes and procedures resulting in open records requests and protests

• District financial reputation was at significant risk

• Reputational risk was taking focus away from student achievement

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55TH ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE

Key Performance Indicators and Operational Systems Impact on Urban Student Achievement

Student Achieveme

nt

Business Operations

Finance

Human Resources

Information Technology

Perform operation reviews and risk assessments to identify and take appropriate action to mitigate risks

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55TH ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE

Key Performance Indicators and Operational Systems Impact on Urban Student Achievement

Strategic Process Improvements: • Conduct National Institute of Governmental Purchasing

(NIGP) study of Procurement department and implement recommended best practice process improvements

• Use cross-functional teams and collaboration

• Adopt and deploy project methodology

• Align organizational structure

• Adopt communication tools such as team meetings and surveys to identify opportunities and raise concerns

• Implement system upgrades and new functionality based on cost benefit analysis

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55TH ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE

Key Performance Indicators and Operational Systems Impact on Urban Student Achievement

Continued Process Improvements: • Review current practices and propose changes as needed• Align goals and objectives to performance management

system and district scorecard• Re-implement and use ERP system to maximize efficiency

and effectiveness of processes• Define staff development and professional education plans• Develop KPIs to support process improvements

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55TH ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE

Key Performance Indicators and Operational Systems Impact on Urban Student Achievement

Results:• Unqualified audit opinions for the past three years• No financial audit findings for Fiscal Year 2010• A-133 audit cycles compressed from 20 months to 7

months • Monthly close completed 5 business days after month-end• Financial and Budget presentation awards from both GFOA

and ASBO• Successfully addressed and implemented 47 of the 54

NIGP Procurement recommendations to date• Improved fulfillment cycle times and user community

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55TH ANNUAL FALL CONFERENCE

Key Performance Indicators and Operational Systems Impact on Urban Student Achievement

Conclusion:• The challenges presented opportunities to promote a

collaborative culture through a fundamentals-based approach focused on an assessment of people, process and tools

• The solution established a framework for developing operational functions that perform like “clockwork”; thereby, providing effective and efficient support to student achievement

• The challenges at Atlanta Public Schools were no different than those identified by the peer reviews conducted by the Council of Great City Schools and presented at the September 16, 2011 CFO Conference

• Effective leadership is critical

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