







Job Description of an Administrator: (1)
Mr. Khanna
April 1995
(1) Personnel & Administration Related
(2) Administration Related
(3) Business - Related.
Job Description of A Consultant:
Your job is not over till,
(4)
Today, this is a "weak" area. We give
feedback only if (and when) concerned candidate phones us. This is not correct.
We owe it to each Candidate feedback on whether he got
rejected / short-listed for final interview / short-listed for
salary-negotiations.
For this feedback, we should call him up on our own. If he
does not have a phone, we should send him a STANDARD (but nice &
polite) letter (never a postcard!).
CLIENT-RESPONSE (5)
We take action only when client starts phoning! This is
creating poor image.
So first thing to do is to prepare a
COMPREHENSIVE ORDER-BACKLOG LIST
(in chronological order of the dates).
Split this into
| A. Where Advance is received | B. Where we are not
insisting on Advance | C. CASUAL/STRAY REQUESTS Mostly oral |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| obviously this is TOP PRIORITY | either because | Which
could be converted to ADVANCE if we had time to attend to these (although
Intuitively we know that we have in our database, very suitable candidates) |
| & action must be started at once, otherwise these
orders will get cancelled! | * We want to start a relationship with an
important client (e.g. Hindujas / Jindals / Somani's etc) | |
| | * OR | LOST POTENTIAL LOST BUSINESS! |
| | * We are not sure of being able to find suitable
candidates (& it create poor impression) | |
Our priority for action is obviously, First A, then B
& lastly C.
You should sit-down with Nimrit, devise a proper format and,
with his help (his memory) start filling-up each of these lists, starting with
List A. The format could have following columns:
ACTION-TAKEN DETAILS
In the Software being developed by Mr. Nagle, there
are "modules" for
} There is a format for each of these.
The formats to be used are shown in these individual
folders. Of course, All these will ultimately get COMPUTERISED. However,
it will help us - and Mr. Nagle - tremendously if we are to immediately
introduce a MANUAL SYSTEM (of "record-keeping" in Lists /
Statements / Tabulations / Registers / formats etc) and use it for a few months
to find-out its SHORTCOMINGS / LACUNAE, so that, when we computerise, we
can take care of problems faced during MANUAL OPERATION.
(7)
Rewriting computer software again and again is expensive /
time-consuming and throws "production" out-of-gear. This could be
avoided by trying / testing a MANUAL SYSTEM, although it could mean
duplicate / multiple entry of same data in several different FORMS /
STATEMENTS / REGISTERS. But this will be a very good LEARNING-PROCESS,
and will help us do a better job of computerising with very little subsequent
changes.
MIS MODULE: 3/9/93
Mgmt. Info. System.
Every business must set targets (budgets) and must
measure actual performance against those targets. The difference between
the two (Variance) is used as a feedback to the individuals within the
System to take corrective action.
Even if it is difficult for the next $1/2$ years to set
targets, we should, at least, decide upon
So that
even now, pending target setting, we already start compiling
the "ACTUAL / ACHIEVEMENT / PERFORMANCE" figures for those
parameters and start plotting these graphically.
In a nut-shell,
If we compile and graphically plot last $2/3$ years STATISTICS
we would know the TREND for each item. We would also know
inter-relationship, if any, between one
parameter and the other.
(e.g.
A. No. of persons appointed is a function of
(or directly proportional to)
a. Size of databank
b. No. of one-line statement sent
c. No. of bio-datas sent
d. No. of prelim. interviews held.
e. No. of final interviews held
f. No. of call-letters sent
g. No. of applic. / bio-datas recd.
h. No. of clients
i. No. of pending Purchase Orders (order backlog)
j. No. of Advt. released.
k. No. of client inquiries.
etc etc.
Another example
B. Size of Databank (Active) is a function of
& directly proportional to
(3)
e.g.
ORDER EXECUTION-MODULE ADMN. 3/9/93
ORDER EXECUTION SUMMARY
|
Sr. No. |
Purchase Order No. |
PO date |
Client Name |
Vacancy / Position |
NO. of Vac. |
Adv. Amt |
Mode A/D |
Estimated Invoice Value |
Status |
Compl. |
Pending |
|
Adv. |
Databank |
This statement can be broken-up into two separate statements
as follows:
(1) Completed Order statement
(2) Pending order statement
Last column "status" would disappear. In
its place will come a column for "Invoice Amt / dt / Cheque no / amt /
dt" and "Cumulative Invoice value / Cumulative Payment
Value"
Last column will be replaced by "Cumulative Invoice
Value" which is the same as "Cumulative Order Backlog
Value".
28/03/98 (1)
DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES OF ACCOUNTANT
(2)
STATUTORY
(3)
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTS
$\checkmark$ Prepare vouchers for all purchases and
make payments after comparing / checking
$\checkmark$ Raise Invoices for all executives
appointed. Follow-up till money received. Raise Debit / Credit notes.
Out-of-Pocket expense invoices.
$\checkmark$ Preparation of monthly P & L a/c
$\checkmark$ All banking matters (deposit / issue of
cheques, passbooks, fixed deposits, tallying bank statements with our internal
records etc).
$\checkmark$ OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES (OOP)
We are supposed to receive OOP from our clients by
appropriate MONTHLY INVOICES.
(4)
This arrangement is part of our T.E.C.
Main OOP are:
A. Courier charges (Call letters / Introductions)
B. STD / ISD phone charges (Very frequent)
C. Outstation travels. (Occasionally)
Outstation travels are only undertaken by Nimrit - so it is
easy to ask him, where he went, on whose (which client) behalf & how much
did he spend. He can fill-in a simple form attaching supporting vouchers.
I believe, "Courier charges" are being compiled
reasonably well: Pl. check.
Can this record be Computerised? Discuss with Sajida.
Biggest chunk is STD charges for which TELESOFT
software has been instructed for over 6 months now. There were some "hitches"
- Are these sorted out? Is software still "clumsy"? What
happens if operatr forgets to enter a few STD calls daily?
Do we have a fool-proof method?
If not streamlined, this is one area where we could lose
lakhs of rupees annually!
When we get MTNL's STD bill at the end of each month,
& discover "unaccounted" STD calls, it is too late to
remember & reconcile!!
(5)
FIXED ASSET REGISTER
|
Asset NO: |
Depreciation Rate: |
|
Asset Name / Description: |
|
|
Asset category Comp. H/W $\square$ Furniture $\square$
Office Eqpt. $\square$ |
|
|
$\quad$ S/W $\square$ Vehicle $\square$ Misc: $\square$ |
|
|
Manufacturer: |
Model: |
PURCHASE DETAILS
Name of Supplier: |
Add. of $\quad$ Phone $\quad$ Fax No: |
$\quad$ (O): $\quad$ (R): $\quad$ e-mail:
Contact Persons: |
Purchase Order No: | Order Date:
Supplier's Dely. challan No: | date:
Invoice NO | date:
Purchase Price $\quad$ Per piece (Rs) $\quad$ Qty (No)
$\quad$ Total value (Rs) |
(incl. of taxes / duties) |
Product Serial NO: |
Guarantee / Warranty |
Intimated to Insur. Company / (for inclusion) on $\&$
date: |
DEPRECIATION-SCHEDULE.
|
Opening Book-Value |
Depreciation Amount |
Year-end Book-Value |
|
|
As on 1 April |
|||
|
Renewal |
In case Asset Scrapped:
|
Book value: |
|
|
Realised Value: |
|
|
Date: |
MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTS (MIS)
$\checkmark$ Prepare monthly / quarterly / annual budgets
$\checkmark$ Use rolling "Cash Inflow / Outflow
statements to alert Nimrit re:
(7)
COST-CONTROL (MIS)
$\checkmark$ Prepare list of
$\checkmark$ Develop "cost-trends" from
historical data and use these trends for future projections for the budget
preparation / Cash outflow statements.
$\checkmark$ Cost-Variance analysis.
for every "account-head"
$\checkmark$ INSURANCE
We have to ensure that our insurance policies are (value)
updated every 3 months and renewed every year.
These policies should cover
|
Fine |
Ins. |
|
|
Office Premises including furniture cabins. |
$\checkmark$ |
|
|
Computers & other office eqpt. H/W. |
$\checkmark$ |
$\checkmark$ |
|
Vehicles (Cars) |
$\checkmark$ & Accidents |
|
$\checkmark$ PURCHASES & PAYMENT
we buy
etc.
All of above must be paid on time / must be budgeted /
must form part of expected cash-flows. Rule is "NO SURPRISES EVER!"
$\checkmark$ SALARY PAYMENTS / ATTENDANCE.
A Computerised "Personal Folder" must be
created for each & every employee, giving his joining salary & annual
increments and new salary as on $1^{\text{st}}$ July of each year.
For each month, depending on no. of working days (including
paid holidays), DAILY SALARY should be worked out for each employee.
To multiply by "no. of days worked" to
arrive at monthly salary payable.
A Computer software is already installed for this.
All employees to be issued Appt. letters? (check with Mr.
Salil Gandhi first.)
All employees to be allotted a PS No. (Pay-Sheet No)
& issued plastic ATTENDANCE RECORD CARD after entering the "PS
NO." & "Full Name" & "Monthly
Salary" data into the concerned Software.
We may create physical folders (pieces of papers) -
one for each employee - to begin with and, after using for $4 / 6$ months, and
gaining experience, change over to ELECTRONIC (COMPUTER-BASED) FOLDERS
after. I have already prepared a ...
FAMILY ACCOUNTS & FINANCIAL MATTERS
DAILY
$\checkmark$ Bank balance in all accounts must be checked
& tallied daily with the cheques issued / received and the Passbooks.
$\checkmark$ All entries in software package "TELLY"
must be up-to-date. There should be no backlog at the end of the
day.
$\checkmark$ "Imprest" account book should
be up-to-date. Only persons authorised by Nimrit should be able to
operate imprest a/c. In each individual's case, upper / max limit must
be specified and a/c must not be replenished without first clearing old (or)
withdrawals by submission of vouchers / bills.
$\checkmark$ Electricity Bills / Water Bills / Phone Bills /
Society Bills etc.
These must be paid prior to due date to appropriate
authorities & Wherever possible recipient's signature be obtained on the
counterfoil. For each of these payments a running-record month-wise
must be maintained on computer so we know, at a glance, when exactly each
month's payment was made with bill no / bill amt / cheque no.
DAILY
OUTSTANDINGS FOLLOW-UP
$\checkmark$ One very important daily activity shall be the
follow-up of our clients and collection of all outstanding payments.
This has to be done / carried-out Vigorously (but quite politely
although persuasively).
As soon as
it should get posted on computer & the software
must instantaneously "re-work / re-cast" the
CUSTOMER OUTSTANDINGS STATEMENT
in
This statement (auto generated) should have following
details:
OUTSTANDING FOLLOW-UP
If a particular client owes us amounts against several
assignments (several invoices), the Software should be capable of auto-generating
client-wise outstanding statements (in descending order of value) which
Accounts Officer should send out attaching a STANDARD covering-letter by
Depending upon the last time / date on which such a previous
statement was sent to a given customer, the Accounts Officer, will decide when
to send-out the next statement.
Software must keep track of:
On the "promised" date, a screen should
automatically POP-UP as a reminder to Accounts Officer.
Clicking on client Name $\rightarrow$ Accnt. Officer
$\rightarrow$ to client.
OUTSOURCING OF ACCOUNTS - FINANCE & RELATED FUNCTION
DAILY ACTIVITIES
$\checkmark$ Preparation / entry of all expense vouchers
$\checkmark$ Preparation / entry of all cheques
MONTHLY MIS
$\checkmark$ Preparation of rolling (next 3 months) Cash
Inflow / Cash Outflow statements based on
"NEXT 3 MONTHS FORECAST STATEMENT"
Each consultant must fill-in figures relevant to his / her
activity ONLINE (on our intranet).
By adding-up each individual consultant's "forecast",
a consolidated COMPANY-WIDE statement could be prepared to find-out if
our cash flow position would be satisfactory.
It would permit us to deploy surplus cash (in instruments
such as short-term FD's etc) and earn interest.
These "forecasts" must not be confused with
monthly / quarterly / annual "budgets / targets".
Monthly "Performance Comparisons" (Budget
vs. Actuals & Variances) shall be only with respect to BUDGETS &
TARGETS & not with respect to these "rolling" forecasts,
which are made, strictly for one purpose viz. to figure-out CASH-FLOWS
& manage liquidity / payment issues.
M/3
(Budget Vs. Actual - Contd) 3/9/2000
Such detailed, individual consultant-wise BUDGETS /
TARGETS must be "published" on our Intranet in a transparent
manner (for everybody to see at any time). This must be done at the beginning
of the year as also when each new consultant joins.
Ideally, the appointment letter issued to each consultant
should contain his / her "Performance Targets" and the "Incentive
Scheme" applicable to him / her.
In case, the incentive-payment is jointly applicable to a "group"
/ "team" of consultants, such group budgets / targets must be
specified in the appointment letter.
Monthly "Variance" statements (for the
whole company as well as for each individual consultant) must be posted on corporate
Intranet for everybody to see. Such transparency boosts employee morale
since everyone knows that there is no "adhoc-ism / favouritism"
and that same "rules" apply uniformly to everyone.
With second quarter coming to an end, we must hurry up with
formulation / framing of all budgets / targets for $3^{\text{rd}}$ &
$4^{\text{th}}$ Qtr and publish the same by 20/9/2000.
M/2
MONTHLY ACTIVITIES
$\triangle$ Incentive Payment (HR)
We have just introduced an incentive-scheme for our
program-manager, Chetan Shah. This will call for monthly payment of
incentive-amount. This should be studied carefully & implemented. All
records (of performance & incentives earned) must be maintained on Computer.
$\triangle$ Budget vs. Actual (MIS)
At the end of each month, "Budget vs. Actual"
statements must be prepared (on computer) for the following:
} Must be "budgeted" & compiled for
each consultant individually & for the entire Company totally.
Obviously this (Comparison / Variance statement) would
require ANNUAL / QUARTERLY / MONTHLY BUDGETS to be prepared at the
beginning of each year in minute details (with all "assumptions"
explicitly stated). These will need to be prepared for each consultant
individually.
M/1
MONTHLY ACTIVITIES
$\checkmark$ Salary Payments / Retainership Payments
From appointment letters / retainership letters, all salary
& perks details must be entered into relevant software.
Details of authorised leave (with pay / without pay)
must be entered from the leave-card on daily basis so monthly deductions
can be computed automatically by the software. For this purpose salary /
retainership payments must be linked with "ATTENDANCE"
system.
Monthly "Salary-Slips" must get
automatically printed-out.
$\rightarrow$ Enquire "TALLY" has built-in PAYROLL
Accounting feature.1
Timely payment of salary / retainership is an important
monthly routine.2
All salary payments must be made by cheques only.3
If all employees agree to open personal accounts in Saraswat
bank, it should be possible to effect a CONSOLIDATED payment to the bank
rather than issuing individual cheques to employees. This should be seriously
explored & implemented. It will save a lot of time / effort & ensure
timely crediting of each employee's ac4count.
P/1
PERIODIC ACTIVITIES
These will comprise:
$\checkmark$ Timely renewal of all Insurance Policies
$\checkmark$ Timely renewal of all "Contracts"
A/1
ANNUAL ACTIVITIES
$\checkmark$ P&L statement / Balance sheet,
preparation
$\checkmark$ Income Tax Returns filing
$\triangle$ Preparation of next year's Annual Budgets /
Targets & release to all (for whole Company & each individual
covered by any-incentive-scheme) (MIS)
$\triangle$ Issue of Annual Awards (Increments) /
lump-sum awards / incentives to all concerned employees (HR)
S/1
$\checkmark$ STATUTORY ACTIVITIES
} Pay job
FINANCIAL / MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTING M.I.S.
| | ACTIVITY | FREQUENCY | |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| | | Daily | Monthly | Quarterly | Periodic |
| 1. | Development of Cost-centres & Cost-Trends. | | |
| $\checkmark$ (Ann) |
| 2. | Compile / Tabulate actual expenses incurred during
last 2 years (Cost-centre-wise). | | | | $\checkmark$ (Ann) |
| 3. | " actual invoicing " " " "
(Several ways). | | | | $\checkmark$ (Ann) |
| 4. | Develop "NORMS" for "expenses"
based on | | | | $\checkmark$ (Ann) |
| | * Staff strength $\rightarrow$ Area $\rightarrow$ No. of
persons appointed $\rightarrow$ No. of computers | | | | |
| | * No. of telephone lines $\rightarrow$ No. of
consultants $\rightarrow$ No. of clients | | | | |
| | * No. of shopping baskets $\rightarrow$ No. of Advts | |
| | |
| 5. | Develop a set of "Assumptions" for each
cost centre / staff member who is likely to "incur expenses" or
"achieve billing targets". | | | | $\checkmark$ (Ann) |
| 6. | Develop ANNUAL / QUARTERLY / MONTHLY budgets (for
expenses) targets (for achievements / billing). | | $\checkmark$ | $\checkmark$
| $\checkmark$ (Ann) |
| 7. | Prepare Budget Vs. Actual / "Variance"
statements (for expenses / invoicing / collection / customer outstanding /
appointments / partners signed-up / resumes received / shopping baskets recd /
interviews conducted / proposals submitted etc). To be done monthly (Qty
Variance / Price Variance / Assumption Variance). | | $\checkmark$ | | |
| 8. | Develop 3 monthly rolling forecast for CASH INFLOW /
OUTFLOW. | $\checkmark$ | $\checkmark$ | | |
| 9. | Prepare month-end "ORDER BACKLOG" statement
(Industry wise / Function-wise / Desig. Level wise / Client wise / Consultant
wise). | | $\checkmark$ | | |
| 10. | Same as above, prepare, monthly ORDER BOOKING
statement | | $\checkmark$ | | |
| | * Invoicing | | $\checkmark$ | | |
| | * Collection | | $\checkmark$ | | |
| 11. | Client-wise, chronological, Invoice History /
Payment Receipt History | | | | $\checkmark$ (As & when Req'd) |
| 12. | Supplier-wise, chronological, Bill History /
Payments made history | | | | $\checkmark$ (As & when Req'd) |
ROUTINE ACCOUNTING
| | ACTIVITY | FREQUENCY | |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| | | DAILY | Monthly | Quarterly | Periodic |
| 1. | Preparation & entry of all expense vouchers in
Computer | $\checkmark$ | | | |
| 2. | " " " cheques along with Supplier's
Invoices / GRN / Challans etc | $\checkmark$ | | | |
| 3. | Entry of all Purchase orders released by us on
Suppliers | $\checkmark$ | | | |
| 4. | Entry / bank depositing of all cheque-payments recd
from clients with invoice details | $\checkmark$ | | | |
| 5. | Daily reconciliation / verification of cheque book /
Pay-in-slip / Pass-book / Bank balance | $\checkmark$ | | | |
| 6. | Maintenance of "Imprest" a/c & tally
with "cash-on-hand" | $\checkmark$ | | | |
| 7. | Timely payment of all bills (water / electricity /
society / Phone / Supplies / Service etc) | $\checkmark$ | | | |
| 8. | Preparation & Despatch of all Invoices (to
clients) as per data given by concerned consultants | $\checkmark$ | | | |
| 9. | Follow-up of each & every invoice, one week
before due date / vigorous follow-up till payment is received, based on
CUSTOMER OUTSTANDING STATEMENT | $\checkmark$ | | | |
| 10. | Preparation of Client-wise "Out of Pocket
Expense" Invoices & despatch | | $\checkmark$ | | |
| 11. | Follow-up of OOP Invoices payment | | $\checkmark$ |
| |
| 12. | Renewal of all Insurance Policies
(office-eqpt-car-mediclaim etc) | | | | $\checkmark$ |
| 13. | Alerting & follow up with concerned responsible
persons for timely renewals of all "Service-contracts", before expiry
date in each case | | $\checkmark$ | | |
| 14. | Monthly trial balance / P&L statement | |
$\checkmark$ | | |
| 15. | Monthly actual expense statement (item-wise) | |
$\checkmark$ | | |
| 16. | Filing of Income Tax Returns (Co. & Family
members) | | | $\checkmark$ | $\checkmark$ |
| 17. | Timely payment / deposit of TDS / Prof Tax / IT /
Service Tax / PF / any other statutory levies | | $\checkmark$ | | |
| 18. | Timely payment of salaries / retainerships /
Incentives to all staff (as per attendance) | | $\checkmark$ | | |
| 19. | Timely renewals of all FD's / creation of new FDs |
| | | $\checkmark$ |
| 20. | Maintenance of Fixed Assets Register | |
$\checkmark$ | | |
Note:
Routine accounting will cover A/C / Income & all family
members.