Business Technologies

An effective PFM system would be instrumental in establishing a firm grip on the organization and to steer it forward. Currently, there is no system to gauge the performance of the organization as a whole or of the individual departments. Further, PFM is also a legal covenant in the agreement for the additional funding from the World Bank, which has not been complied to-date.

The work on development of the PFM system for BISP was initiated with the assistance of the World Bank in February 2013. The first round of meetings was completed in March 2013. Afterwards a zero draft was developed but due to foreseeable changes in the management of BISP at the highest level the work was postponed which was later resumed in August 2013. The second round of meetings was completed by October 11^th, 2013, based on which the first set of KPIs have been developed and are now being presented in this report.

The assignment was undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

Carried out a rapid assessment of the beneficiaries’ payment module to identify area of improvements in order to develop robust, efficient, transparent and accountable payment mechanisms with adequate checks and balances to develop an auditable trail of the beneficiaries’ payment during each tranche disbursement.

Scope and responsibilities is to ensure smooth running of the financial and operational processes and procedures for Programs are in line with the relevant rules and procedures of the World Bank and the Government of Pakistan. The scope of the assignment will be to advise on designing and developing a comprehensive Financial and Operational Management system for the Programs and to also their periodic reviews.

The assignment was undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

The objective of this assignment is to assist DFID in providing technical assistance to BISP while ensuring that a well-designed, accountable, transparent and efficient financial and procurement system is in place. We provide technical assistence for smooth running of the financial and operational processes/procedures for BISP. Scope also includes necessary support to the SCT team/ the Portfolio risk and assurance team during the annual FRA follow up i.e. the annual statement of progress and process review of the program.

We have carried out the Performance Audit of PSDF. The purpose of the audit is to assess the existing setup and its capacity to deliver the scale up to the whole of Punjab.  The scope entailed, appraisal of the existing institutional arrangement, management systems and process flows of the PSDF.  Further, assessing the extent to which the PSDF operation has achieved its goals and objectives in an effective, efficient and economical manner. The scope of work for the Institutional Assessment entails:

• Conduct a structured to gauge views of the PSDF Board, management and staff on the goals, objectives and future vision for the Fund. The exercise will define the PSDF vision, goals and objectives to guide existing operations as well as the scale up phase.
• Assess the institutional arrangement of PSDF as a Section 42 company and compliance with legal requirements vis-a-viz institutional structure, codes of conduct, standard operating procedures, process flows and rules of business. Also review the degree of autonomy exercised and checks and balances in place in the financial, management, implementation, and accountability matters.
• Review governance and management structures of PSDF in relation to its agenda; including the value addition of the private sector representation in the Board and the management of and delivery by PSDF. This will also cover internal communication channels and practices, reporting hierarchies, information creation and its role in management decision making, and systems available to the PSDF Board to perform its oversight and strategic planning role.
• Assess the degree of organizational integration and systems harmonization to facilitate smooth flow of programme activities and the attainment of programme objectives. This would cover key functions pertaining to programme planning and strategic development, programme implementation, quality assurance, information management, monitoring and evaluation, procurement, financial management, legal, and human resource.
• Analyze the quality and efficacy of PSDF arrangements dedicated to enhance systems accountability and transparency. This among others would cover control and accountability mechanisms, quality assurance, monitoring and evaluation systems, beneficiary tracking and outreach.

Conduct a human resource assessment (including incentive structures) of PSDF in relation to roles and responsibilities of key positions, the broader agenda of the PSDF, and scale up plans. Provide the human resource requirements capacity building framework for PSDF with the objective to efficiently meet existing and future (including scale-up) needs. PEOP is a GFBP 55 million program jointly funded by DFID and Government of Punjab by providing GBP 25 each and an additional GBP 5 million as technical assistance by DFID.

We are in the process of implementation of the five year institutional development plan agreed with the BISP management for period 2013-2018. In phase one, implementation of the balance score card strategy, business process engineering of the human resource department and development of the scoping document for the newly proposed human resource management information system. Phase 2 would entail the business process engineering of the remaining departments and implementation of an ERP system.

The assignment was undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

The assignment wsa undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

Advisory services at the pre-bid submission stage includes methodology formulation, budget preparations, proposal conceptualization and review, negotiations with the donor till financial close and at the post award stage; review of the project design and implementation, financial reporting, project burn rate, project cost charging methodology, adherence to ADS / FAR regulations (For USAID funded projects) and relevant guide lines from the donor. Advisory services rendered on various projects undertaken directly or while representing other clients, are here under: -

• CDKN, PricewaterhouseCoopers, UK (Climate Data Knowledge Network)
• ENI Pakistan - Bhit Rural Support Program (BRSP)
• USAID (ASP) – Assessment and strengthening Program (pre award proposal submission in association with Aid, LEAD and GHK)
• Packard Foundation – Women Leaders for Reproductive Health and Development (WLRHD),
• Packard Foundation – Leadership and Reproductive Health Project (LRH)
• Care International – Stimulating Hope in District Buner, NWFP
• Asian Development Bank – Promoting Climate Change and Adaptation in Asia & Pacific
• Sindh Education Foundation - Rural Base Community Supported School
• The World Bank  - Improving Quality, Access and Governance in Education (in collaboration with GET GmbH/ICON-INSTITUTE, LEAD Pakistan and Proman SA)
• British High Commission - The Roles & Capacities of Actors in Water Conflicts in Pakistan: A Mapping Study
• RAF - Maternal and Newborn Health Programme Research
• USAID (JOBS)– Integrated Work and Learning Programmes for Pakistan
• Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung (HBF) – Copenhagen Climate Change Summit
• IDRC – Entrepreneurship Education through School based productive enterprises
• Oxfam Novaib - Disaster Response Network-Balakot (DRN-Balakot)

USAID- Education Sector Relief Assistance.

Delivered an ERP strategy and roadmap to senior management, to assist LEAD Pakistan in transforming the company’s accounting and financial management operations. Managed cross-functional team of core business, operatr5ions and support personnel to evaluate existing technologies and business processes. Analyzed and documented system and business workflows, designed improvements based on industry best practices and authored ERP Strategy document presenting ROI of new process flows. Final presentation highlighted areas in LEAD’s operations business where the proposed SAGE based ERP could transform operations. On board’s approval the ERP was implemented that included the GL, AP, AR, Payroll and treasury. In addition a customized application for time writing work flow for online authorization was developed that integrated with the ERP to allocate time cost to the cost centers.

The project scope included setting up the accounting system from scratch in seven districts offices, closing the trial balances and consolidating them after verification for onward reporting to the client and to the Donor. The project also included compiling the invoice and answering to the queries of the donor’s internal audit department for clearing the invoice for payment clearance. The project also entailed payroll processing of the payroll for all the project staff and maintenance of the fixed asset register.

Accounting & Donor Reporting Outsourcing) – The project scope included setting up the accounting system to accumulate the thematic expenses from 13 developments areas spread over all four provinces of Pakistan. The process included on line verification and closing the trial balances and consolidating them after verification for onward reporting to the client. The reporting also included a quarterly financial Monitoring & Evaluation Report analyzing the grant burn rate during the reporting period.

The objective was to implement a financial system to manage grant for the USAID funded Education Sector Relief Assistance (ESRA) for the partner organization. Assumed the project responsibility for a full financial suite (GL, AP, AR and Fixed Assets) and delivered the solution using SAGE Software solution implemented in two districts connecting seven (7) remote offices

The client required a comprehensive grant management system for their entire development areas partner NGO’s covering the full length and breadth of the Pakistan. For the same purpose 30 full scale site implementations of SAGE were carried out covering GL, AP and AR Treasury.

Largest non-government network of rural development program in the country, called Rural Support Program or RSPs.  Developed a provident fund accounting system for RSPN. The system could handle fund’s life cycle. In addition to the normal accounting routines the system was capable of handling member advances, interest accruals and its allocation to its members.

Development of grant management system to manage grant funds for the donor. The assignment included implementation of SAGE Accounting together with customization of the general ledger to record and report costs for themes that are funded by the donor.

Development of grant management system to manage grant funds for the donor. The assignment included implementation of SAGE Accounting together with customization of the general ledger to record and report costs for themes that are funded by the donor.

Development of grant management system to manage grant funds for the donor. The assignment included implementation of SAGE Accounting together with customization of the general ledger to record and report costs for themes that are funded by the donor

Development of grant management system to manage grant funds for the donor. The assignment included implementation of SAGE Accounting together with customization of the general ledger to record and report costs for themes that are funded by the donor.

Development of financial management system. The assignment included implementation of SAGE Accounting together with customization of the general ledger, project costing together customization of reporting for the London Head Office.

AGHAZ was given the task to digitize almost 4,500,000 documents from almost 5,500 folders in bind form. The preprocessing included separating documents from the binders, pasting small clips on to an A-4 size paper and makes it ready for the scanner. The documents are than scanned and then OCR are run and indexing of almost five fields on each from the header page was done. In the end all the documents from the same folder are again put together in the same folder and shelved in the original rack.

Carried out archiving of 4.5 million financial documents. The process involved pre and post processing of the document and running OCR using the Humming Bird’s capabilities and indexing the documents while registering the document into Humming Bird. Implemented workflow for the data entry into the “Humming Bird” archiving system.

AEO is a premier IELTS testing and having offices in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Carried out the implementation of SAGE ABRA HRMS application which included the modules for human resources, attendance and employee self-service. As part of the implementation and employee work load assessments was also carried out.

Orascom is the largest telecom service provider in Pakistan via its subsidiary Mobilink. Developed the application architectural vision for tracking a file folder throughout its shelf life and also once archived, for online viewing. Analyzed and documented system and business workflows, designed improvements based on industry best practices.

On annual basis almost 13,000 applicants applies for IELTS testing and admissions in various universities in Australia from Pakistan through AEO. To handle such large volumes an online management system for the application processing was developed. The applicant can submit and view the recent status of the application on line and also submit their queries online.  The system is capable of handling the full life cycle of the processing stages. The portal also included cash book entries, employee attendance, CV builder, and alumni

Developed a consignment tracking system capable of tracking each consignment form the loading to final delivery of the consignment. The clients could login and check the latest status and location of their consignment along with the tentative time of delivery. Other features attaching supporting documentation electronic files with each consignment for on line viewing at any time.

Millicom Subsidiary Paktel outsourced the maintenance of accounts payable ledgers in SUNAccounts. The project included processing quarter of a million transactions in a year and disbursing USD 11 million within the same period. Another feature of the project was to process refunds and commissions of the retail outlets thorough out Pakistan. In addition we were also responsible for reconciling 20 bank accounts and accounts of almost 5,000- vendors.

Millicom Subsidiary Instaphone outsourced the maintenance of accounts payable ledgers in SUNAccounts. The project included processing quarter of a million transactions in a year and disbursing USD 11 million within the same period. Another feature of the project was to process refunds and commissions of the retail outlets thorough out Pakistan. In addition we were also responsible for reconciling 13 bank accounts and accounts of almost 5,000- vendors.

Oversaw deployments of accounts payable module of SUN Accounts and integration with CitiDirect, an online payment authorization tool offered by Citi Bank to its premium clients. Led module rollout for enterprise-wide project. Managed all phases of project from requirements gathering through user acceptance testing and documentation development to ensure a sound architecture, track progress, and stay true to CIO’s long-term goals

Managed critical project directing a 20-member team including resources from Millicom for Business Process Re-engineering of the refunds and commission. Highly visible project stepped into several roles, such as quality assurance liaison, during peaks in project development lifecycle. The processing time was cut down by a remarkable 46% while attaining more accuracy. Amended processes were mapped into SUNAccount. Achieved high level of customer satisfaction resulting in client volunteering to be a reference for product and Professional Services.

CIIT is the largest public sector technology University of Pakistan having campuses in Lahore, Islamabad, WAH, and Abbottabad. Over saw the global unification effort for CIIT General Ledger system. Assumed project responsibility for full financial suite (GL, AP, AR, and Fixed Assets) rollout in all campuses and integration patch with the student information system. Managed and coordinated migration/integration of accounting procedures consistent with global reporting standards. Delivered project on time and under budget.

Oversaw deployments of Peachtree by SAGE. Developed special reporting package using Crystal Reports fro reporting to the Higher Education and Commission (HEC) of Pakistan. Carried out class room training to the end users. Managed all phases of project from requirements gathering through user acceptance testing and documentation development to ensure a sound architecture, track progress, and stay true to organization’s long-term goals.

Eni is one of the largest producers of oil & gas products in Pakistan. Integrated a layered application using Crystal Reports for on line viewing of customized reports to overcome the reporting weaknesses of SUNAccounts that cover cross section of the management reporting. The application was capable of delivering reports to user base independent of the SUNAccount user base

Revisit the existing management reporting for content and layout. Recommended amended layout and content to reduce 112 reports to mere 18 management reports. All the reports were than designed in Crystal Reports in ready to dispatch formats to generate reports on real time basis from SUNAccounts.

Appointed by Askari Commercial Bank to short list and select vendor for the implementation of Oracle Financial Fixed Asset module. A highly visible project directing a 20-member team including resources from Oracle, subcontractors, and assigned client resources for the selection process. A pre bid conference and proposals evaluated against selection criteria developed in close collaboration with the client.

One of the prestigious and oldest school systems based out of Islamabad and has branches in Islamabad, Lahore and Rawalpindi. Supervised the implementation of Rediker School management system which was developed in USA and currently have 4000 installations in 110 countries around the world. The full suite which includes Admission Plus, Administrator Plus and FINACS (Accounting) was implemented. All three campuses are now on line and managing the full student’s life cycle using Rediker

Impact Design is a premier design firm having offices in Pakistan, Malaysia, Congo and Dubai. Carried out the implementation of SAGE ABRA HRMS application which included the modules for human resources, attendance, employee self-service. In addition, integration between the payroll software was carried out with SAGE ABRA. Financial Information system was implemented for mapping costs right down to the BOQ level. Accounting System included modules included GL, A/R, A/P, Job costing.

As part of the ongoing technical assistence to BISP, we have developed a design document for an online interface for the Finance & Accounts (F&A) department, which proposes an independent verification work flow for the beneficairies payment tranche in terms of its completeness, accuracy and adequate approvals.

To obtain additional assurance as to the completeness and accuracy of the quarterly tranche details of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), Intigro is developing a user friendly interface for the Finance and Accounts (F&A) department of BISP based on the design document which was developed under a separate contracting arrangement. The interface will be support the F&A department to verify the tranche generated by the payments department.

The assignment was undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent consultant with the World Bank.

Income Support Program for the poorest is the largest Social Safety Net program in Bangladesh supported by the World Bank to tune of 300 Million Dollars. After our sucessfull engagement during Phase I of the Program, in Phase II we are supporting the MIS development by Developing a Software Design Specification of the Disbursment Module and also Supervising the Software Development, contracted to work with a seperate software firm 

The assignment is undertaken by Mr. Hussain as an independent international Consultant with The World Bank, Washington Headquaters.firm.