Industry: Direct Mail

Function: Accounting & Finance

Value-Added Results	Performance Standards
Provided financial and performance reports • Divisional and profit center P&Ls • Balance sheets • Accounts receivable and inventory reports • Publication and cost center performance reports	• Once a year for each report, , end users say that: • The report data is accurate. • They can’t operate without the report. • They understand the data and how it is organized. • The report comes in time for the data to be useful. • The Auditor and Supervisor say the reports are in compliance with GAAP (generally accepted accounting principles) and CAP (cost accounting principles). • Exceeds = Controller initiates unasked-for ideas for improving the reports, which the end user agrees to.
Produced financial plans • Cost projections • Budgets • Forecasts	• Supervisor and management say that: • They agree that the data is accurate. • They agree that the right data is in the plan. • They understand the data and how it is organized. • The plan helps them make a decision and get agreement on action to take. • Exceeds = Supervisor or management agree that useful solutions to problems are offered based on analysis of unusual trends. • Plans are provided by agreed-upon deadline.
Ideas that improve operations or save money	• Supervisor and management say: • The perceived benefits outweigh the cost. • They are able to produce the same results (output, timeliness, or quality) for significantly less money. • Management agrees to implement the idea. • Exceeds = Supervisor and management agree that the idea saves a significant amount of money.
Trained users of financial data	• End users say they have learned what they need to meet their objectives. • Controller says the employees can do what the Company wants them to do. • Meet agreed-upon training plan objectives, which define who is trained in what objectives and by when.
Maintained and improved accounting system	• Management and supervisor say that: • Ad hoc reporting is easy to do without accounting department involvement. • There is an agreed-upon significant reduction in the time to make enhancements or changes to the system. • Quality of the accounting system outputs stayed high while the system became more responsive. • Actual spending for system changes is ± X (% or $) of agreed-upon budget. • Actual spending for department expenses is ± X (% or $) of agreed-upon budget. • Changes/enhancement projects are completed by the agreed-upon deadlines. • (Shared with Accounting Data Processing.) The projects completed are those that have the highest priorities as agreed to by the end users and supervisor.
Satisfied customers • Solutions to problems • Answers to questions	• Management and supervisor hear unsolicited comments from end users that say: • Answers to questions are accurate or solutions to problems work as expected. • Answers or solutions are delivered promptly. • Answers or solutions are delivered in a tactful manner. • Policies are fairly and consistently applied.
City Directory accounting policies and procedures	• Management and supervisor say that the policy and procedures: • Support a business objective. • Are consistent with other policies. • Meet GAAP and CAP. • Are clear, understandable and able to be followed. • Are up-to-date.
Paid employees	• Management and supervisor are satisfied that payroll errors are not happening continuously.• No scheduled payroll or reporting dates missed.
Processed bills and receivables	• Management and supervisor are satisfied that billing errors are not happening continuously. • Payroll and billing systems balance every week. • Cash receipts balance to accounts every day. • Labels arrive at plants prior to shipping date. • Confirmations are mailed weekly. • Collection letters are mailed weekly.
Productive and motivated employees • Functioning performance appraisal system • Performance standards • Interim reviews • Final reviews • Rewarded employees	Supervisor is satisfied that: • All employees have written performance standards. • All employees know how they’re doing compared to their standards. • All employees receive at least 1 interim review/year. • All employees receive an annual written performance appraisal. • The quality of the reward and recognition system is acceptable: • Specific programs are in place. • The available programs are being used. • Merit salary increases are differentiated based on performance.(A spread of increases between 0%–10% is observed.). • Surveyed employees say : • They understand the Company’s direction, their department’s goals and their role in achieving these goals. • They understand specifically what their supervisor expects of them. • They understand how well they are performing and where they need to improve. • Their performance appraisal accurately reflects their performance. • They have the necessary tools and resources to accomplish their work. Where they do not have what they need, they understand why. • They have the skills and knowledge they need to do their jobs or there is a plan to obtain them. • Their good performances are acknowledged and appreciated.
• Trained employees	• Management agrees that the list of agreed-upon training objectives is achieved for each employee. • Management and supervisor are satisfied that good development plans exist for all high performers, that corrective action plans exist for all low performers and that progress is being made on these plans.
Completed special projects	• To be defined when project is assigned.

Division Controller