Stake Finance Tools in MLS?
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2009 11:13 am
I've been a stake finance clerk for almost 8 years now (once a clerk, always a clerk) and although I have found MLS a vast improvement over FIS, I wish it had more tools for stake level administration.
For instance, with 11 wards and a branch within our boundaries, it is quite an effort to maintain contact with all the ward finance clerks. Although I don't use or endorse the 'Big Brother' approach, it would be helpful to know that each unit has reconciled their monthly statement in a timely manner - a report showing which units have completed this monthly task would be very helpful.
Also, every year I am to submit the outstanding checks report for the stake, relying on the unit clerks to send me their report before the deadline. I cannot see outstanding checks for individual units unless I visit each one and request it. This past audit cycle I attended each audit by way of assignment from the stake president. During the audits I found more than half the units had outstanding checks from 2008, and two units had outstanding from 2007! They did not report these on their outstanding check reports. For the most part these are excellent clerks, many are long timers. I helped each one understand the legal implications for not reporting the outstanding checks. If I had a report showing outstanding check details by unit each month I could help nip this problem in the bud. Ditto NSF checks, and out of balance deposits.
Lastly, since each finance clerk as well as bishopric member is required to have reviewed the on-line training for church finances, it would also be very helpful to get a report showing who has completed the training so we can encourage those not on the list, especially prior to audit cycles. I know I had to log in to take the training, so the data should be available. Ditto for the audit committee training.
I fully realize that with more dedicated, passionate, knowledgeable, driven, (insert your own adjective here) clerks I would not have a need for the above reports. Maybe in the millennium...
Are any of these possible? MDC
For instance, with 11 wards and a branch within our boundaries, it is quite an effort to maintain contact with all the ward finance clerks. Although I don't use or endorse the 'Big Brother' approach, it would be helpful to know that each unit has reconciled their monthly statement in a timely manner - a report showing which units have completed this monthly task would be very helpful.
Also, every year I am to submit the outstanding checks report for the stake, relying on the unit clerks to send me their report before the deadline. I cannot see outstanding checks for individual units unless I visit each one and request it. This past audit cycle I attended each audit by way of assignment from the stake president. During the audits I found more than half the units had outstanding checks from 2008, and two units had outstanding from 2007! They did not report these on their outstanding check reports. For the most part these are excellent clerks, many are long timers. I helped each one understand the legal implications for not reporting the outstanding checks. If I had a report showing outstanding check details by unit each month I could help nip this problem in the bud. Ditto NSF checks, and out of balance deposits.
Lastly, since each finance clerk as well as bishopric member is required to have reviewed the on-line training for church finances, it would also be very helpful to get a report showing who has completed the training so we can encourage those not on the list, especially prior to audit cycles. I know I had to log in to take the training, so the data should be available. Ditto for the audit committee training.
I fully realize that with more dedicated, passionate, knowledgeable, driven, (insert your own adjective here) clerks I would not have a need for the above reports. Maybe in the millennium...
Are any of these possible? MDC