Today, finance function has obtained the status of a science and an art.
Organization of the Finance
Functions
Today, finance function has
obtained the status of a science and an art. As finance function has far
reaching significance in overall management process, structural organization
for further function becomes an outcome of an important organization problem.
The ultimate responsibility of carrying out the finance function lies with the
top management. However, organization of finance function differs from company
to company depending on their respective requirements. In many organizations
one can note different layers among the finance executives such as Assistant
Manager (Finance), Deputy Manager (Finance) and General Manager (Finance). The
designations given to the executives are different. They are
Chief
Finance Officer (CFO)
Vice-President
(Finance)
Financial
Controller
General
Manager (Finance)
Finance
Officers
Finance, being an important
portfolio, the finance functions is entrusted to top management. The Board of
Directors, who are at the helm of affairs, normally constitutes a ‘Finance
Committee’ to review and formulate financial policies. Two more officers,
namely ‘treasurer’ and ‘controller’ – may be appointed under
the direct supervision of CFO to assist him/her. In larger companies with
modern management, there may be Vice-President or Director of finance, usually
with both controller and treasurer. The organization of finance function is
portrayed below:
It is evident from the above that Board of Directors
is the supreme body under whose supervision and control Managing Director,
Production Director, Personnel Director, Financial Director, Marketing Director
perform their respective duties and functions. Further while auditing credit
management, retirement benefits and cost control banking, insurance, investment
function under treasurer, planning and budgeting, inventory management, tax
administration, performance evaluation and accounting functions are under the
supervision of controller.
Meaning
of Controller and Treasurer
The terms ‘controller’ and ‘treasurer’
are in fact used in USA. This pattern is not popular in Indian corporate
sector. Practically, the controller / financial controller in India carried out
the functions of a Chief Accountant or Finance Officer of an organization.
Financial controller who has been a person of executive rank does not control
the finance, but monitors whether funds so augmented are properly utilized. The
function of the treasurer of an organization is to raise funds and manage
funds. The treasures functions include forecasting the financial requirements, administering the flow of
cash, managing credit, flotation of securities, maintaining relations with
financial institutions and protecting funds and securities. The controller’s
functions include providing information to formulate accounting and costing
policies, preparation of financial reports, direction of internal auditing, budgeting,
inventory control payment of taxes, etc. According to Prof. I.M. Pandey, while
the controller’s functions concentrate the asset side of the balance sheet, the
treasurer’s functions relate to the liability side.
Tags : Financial Management - Finance – An Introduction
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