During the last decade, university has introduced a number of reforms to improve the financial administration. Shivaji University is the first university to introduce account code which is the official directive of all the financial matters of the university, and defines the general responsibility for university accounting policy. Its goal is to make the accounting procedures as clear and useful as possible.  The Maharashtra Universities Account Code is prepared on the basis of Shivaji University Account Code.  This is come into force from  1^st April, 2012.  University accounts are computerised in order to prevent delay in closing the accounts and to establish the budgetary control over expenditure.

Here are some of the Innovations introduced in Finance section -

BUDGET 

University Budget is restructured as per requirements of the computerisation.  University have tried to curtail the recurring expenditure. The departmental expenditure is limited to its income.  University Research and Development fund is utilised for the construction of buildings of Technology School, Distance Education Centre, Library etc.  University has spent a lot on renovation of the old buildings. A critical analysis of the budget is submitted to the Senate along with the budget in the form of evaluation report.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW SYSTEM FOR PAYMENT OF EXAMINATION EXPENDITURE

• Advance is given in the form of grants to colleges to reimburse the examination expenditure.
• Amount of the grant is based on the number of students.
• College authorities keep all the vouchers, sub-vouchers with them and get it audited from their auditors.
• College authorities submit Utilisation Certificate alongwith audited statement of expenditure, on the basis of which the advance is adjusted.

COMPUTERISATION OF FINANCE AND ACCOUNTS SECTION

A software for automation of accounts was developed during 2004-05 and it is being used since 1 April 2005.  Finance Section employees are using it without any difficulty for the last so many years.

Some of its benefits are –

• Fast results - As the same data is used for various reports, the work of preparing various sub-registers/reports is made easier and faster.
• The updated information of receipts and payments is available at any time, which is necessary in ascertaining the financial affairs of the university as well as review of expenditure.
• Preparation of receipts and collection of university amounts has become faster than earlier.
• The work of passing of bills and disbursement has become less time consuming.
• It has become easier to ascertain bank balances of various bank accounts and to invest surplus funds in fixed deposits.
• Due to computerisation, closure of the university accounts on 31st March has become possible.
• With the availability of up-to-date statistical data, the administrators are in a position to submit receipt and expenditure figures for review of the progress of income and expenditure to Finance Committee.
• It has facilitated control and check on errors or mis-appropriation.
• Speedy reconciliation of accounts is possible.

BILL PASSING UNIT

Bill Passing Unit  is functioning since 2005-06. The prominent feature of this section is that every expenditure bill is passed only after pre-audit and every loop-hole of overpayment in the bill is removed.

• As a result, the objections raised by the statutory audit are reduced.
• The irregularities pointed out in the internal audit are corrected from time to time, there was reduction in the number of adverse remarks in the statutory audit report.
• This Section has been continuously training employees from other sections of the administration.

ACCOUNT CODE

 For the first time, University has framed the “Account Code” which is implemented from 3rd August 2006.

Salient features of the Account Code

• Provides guidelines - for working system of the Finance & Accounts Dept. and its sub-sections.
• Defines the responsibility - of its employees of each section and officers, which is useful for the newly recruited or transferred employees.
• Delegation of Powers - as a decentralizing policy, we have re-delegated powers to various authorities, which is useful for the ministerial staff as well as authorities.
• Guidelines for Purchase
  • The guidelines give clear-cut ideas about the procedure of all types of purchases.
  • The guidelines for purchase procedure have made the purchasing easier.
• Uniformity in the working system - For this purpose, eight formats have been prescribed for obtaining administrative sanction, making purchases, repairing of the equipments, sanction of bills, supply order etc. Due to these formats, there is uniformity in working of all the units of the university.

OUTSTANDING ADVANCES

The large number of funds were blocked in the form of advances for a very long period. The decision of stopping payment and charging penal interest proved effective as lot of pending cases were disposed off.

1. FACILITIES TO STAKEHOLDERS

• Receipt - In the present system of collection of fees, students are required to visit university office for remitting fee amounts. This results in big queues, pressure on administration, involvement of large number of the employees for collection of money including security personnel and unrest amongst the students. To overcome all these drawbacks, we have now started E-banking procedure. Students were allowed to remit fees at their own places in any branch of State Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, IDBI,  UCO Bank and Bank of India through ATM Card or Cash deposit. The collected amount is immediately credited into University Accounts at the same moment. On production of the bank deposit slip, one can obtain the official receipt.

• Details of the account numbers and IFSC numbers are as under –

• Payment- Every day, University cashier makes payment to a large number of individuals. There are queues in front of the cashier. Sometimes, bills travel through many sections and there is always unrest amongst the people whose bills are not traced out and timely payment is not made. Now, all these payments are done through bank. The amount of passed bill is being credited into the payee’s account directly and as a result, there is no rush at cashier’s counter. Payee can withdraw the amount through his ATM Card immediately. Payee is required to give details of his bank account and branch code to the concerned section.

• Zero balance accounts – The University has put forth its efforts to provide zero balance account to all students and employees through Bank of India and UCO bank.

The purpose of these reforms and innovations is to make the financial administration of the university more efficient and the concerned officers more competent. These changes ensured transparency in the various financial transactions and also saved a good amount of money and time and made it possible for the university to implement its different ambitious projects efficiently.

Please feel free to contact me on fao . unishivaji @ gmail . com