Tip #17: Develop a working relationship with the finance manager.
Discuss the need to develop a positive working relationship with the executive director or the person who supervises the finance manager. Explain the interdependency of the two departments to achieve maximum program utilization and administrative fee spending.
Be sure you can "talk the talk" (see Tip #14). Lay out your budget projections for utilization. Monitor them monthly through reports and discuss them with the finance manager.
Ongoing and effective communication and collaboration between the HCV department and finance about funding and expenditures on a monthly basis will result in more accurate forecasting and increased accountability for both departments.
Next: Achieving high performance in the HCV program: Tip #18
While serving as executive director of a Minnesota housing authority, Nan McKay started one of the nation’s first Section 8 programs. The agency was subsequently honored with a HUD award as one of 13 outstanding Section 8 programs in the country.
Founder and president of Nan McKay and Associates, she has devoted the past two years to redesigning NMA’s HCV Executive Management course, as well as rewriting the HCV Executive Management Master Book with Bill Caltabiano. Follow the #executivemanagement tag to keep up with all related blog posts.
