Public Sector Consultants Richard Leadill, Jim Waight and Vivien Holland, supported the initial implementation of the Agresso Financial Management System at Hounslow LBC during 2004. At that stage the implementation was restricted to General Ledger and Accounts Payable.
Following the success of the initial implementation, Jim was asked to implement the Purchase Ordering module and roll this out throughout the Council.
This was then followed by the introduction of web requisitioning, enabling budget managers to authorise expenditure on line at the order rather than at the invoice stage, with commitments being raised at the same time.
Hounslow has adopted an evolutionary approach to these later projects. This has involved Jim setting up the systems and hierarchies and then training users in small groups at their desks. This approach has allowed users to be given the training and support that they need individually, rather than a ‘one size fits all’ standard training course.
Now, Public Sector Consultants has been given a nine month contract to introduce the invoice scanning, workflow and e-procurement modules of Agresso. This will follow the same low key approach which has proven successful before, based on:
- evaluating the systems
- working with Agresso to understand the systems
- working with superusers to agree how they should be implemented at Hounslow
- setting up parameters, hierarchies, etc
- writing procedures
- training staff
- change management to ensure that staff use the systems
- supporting the system until permanent staff are trained to the necessary level.
Hounslow’s Chief Accountant Hugh Godsland, who has been managing the projects, said “the projects to enhance and modernise Hounslow’s financial systems are progressing well and the work of Public Sector Consultants has been crucial in all stages of the process.”
