In-House Training.

December 22nd 2006.

I came up in my career life, in the Finance & Accounts department of manufacturing organizations, from an Accounts clerk and rose steadily up the rung to become a Manager with my specialization in Cost accounting, acquiring experience in various functions within the department. While discharging functional duties there were lot of interactions, with personnel of other departments- both production and service, and externally with people who were doing business with our company. The interactions were in person, over phone and through written communications. I was friendly, articulate in dealing with all to get my work done, and was part of a team representing the interests of our department and the company during internal meetings, and in matters of negotiations with Trade union members, the suppliers and the clients as well. Besides, there were official tours to few cities where other units were located , and opportunities to travel and see places as well. The experience was great, and I enjoyed ever bit of it. I think the systems I sailed through shaped me to become what I am.
As part of in-house training in our company, I was assigned the role of teaching workers, supervisors, middle and senior executives the various functions of the Finance department to create an awareness among them for better understanding. This assignment was for a brief period. This exercise was given to all departments. I formed a small team to take the task head on. None of us had any previous experience of teaching, but were encouraged by the departmental head with a message “ To tell what all we are doing”.
I strongly believe that a finance department is an important cog in the wheel of corporate sector; is misunderstood and viewed with askance. In reality it is well equipped with people, data and act as a navigator to those executives who steer the company. It was a good opportunity to inform other employees of the company, the importance of this department.
In about a week's time, we prepared notes from the perception of the participants, keeping technical terms to the minimum. As we were confident with our functions, the barrier we faced in putting across them was our nervousness facing a gathering of 40 or so trainees, who all knew us. The feeling that what they would think of us should we falter and fail to answer to barrage of questions at the end of the session, was uppermost and haunted us till we began. There was no “Great Escape”!!, and we were determined to succeed, for the reputation of the department was at stake.
I initiated the class in the forenoon session with a brief on the composition of the department, how sections within the department were segregated by their functions; lecturing on the major functions the department does under each section, like Recording - writing and maintaining books of accounts; Reporting – generating financial statements, the profit & loss Account, the balance sheet, and Annual reports; Planning - helping the management with vital information, like forecasting, budgeting, pricing, cost alternatives for business growth; Analytical – Through Ratio Analysis of figures, trends are indicated of the performance of the company, for corrective measures by the management; Auditing – how the work in the department is constantly checked, re-checked through internal audit procedures, and through external audit, the figures and the systems are scrutinized in line with statutes.
The importance of infusion of money and how effectively it is put to use to generate profits for the growth of the company, through accounting principles, procedures and systems were all explained in detail, drawing parallel to their own work/product process; how they exercise caution while meeting the needs of their family's requirements, and about the disastrous result should they squander their limited income.
I carried the session using humour narrating simple anecdotes of life, how important the subjects of mathematics, economics, law, computers are to us, involving the participants that further enlivened the lecture.
My colleagues, taking a cue from me, astutely carried subsequent sessions going into detail of each and every financial statements that the department generates.
Each one of us, answered all their questions with patience. We left them with an impression that accounting is not just record keeping, but a fascinating subject which has its own thrills.
A participant, said humorously, that we are overpaid to do simple work. We replied that life is simple, they made it complicated, and we unwind them to receive/demand more pay!
The end result was extremely satisfactory, and were surprised at our communication skills springing up from a dormant stage. This became possible through sharing knowledge, and a great opportunity to spread it.
Learning is a continuous process without an end. In-house training in organizations are essential for improvement of team work and co-ordination.
We all know that knowledge is power, and when it is shared with others, yields satisfaction.