A Guide for Councillors

The Role of Councillors in Municipal Finance Management

Part 2

The chief fi nancial of fi cer will assist the municipal manager with many of these tasks. Councillors meet with the municipal manager on all matters involving service delivery and municipal employees. This generally happens through standing committees or sub-committees of council which meet as required. The chief fi nancial of fi cer

The chief fi nancial of fi cer is administratively in charge of the budget and treasury of fi ce and must provide advice and assist the municipal manager with various fi nancial tasks. The chief fi nancial of fi cer must provide advice to other of fi cials on fi nancial issues and must perform duties relating to budgeting, accounting, reporting and fi nancial management.

Senior managers Senior managers are given the authority to run their operations through formal delegations. They must have the skills and expertise to do the required duties. They need clear statements of policy and strategy from council. They report directly to the municipal manager and are sometimes referred to as section 56 managers (Municipal SystemsAct). Their conditions of service and pay are set out in a performance contract determined by council. Municipal of fi cials Municipal of fi cials are responsible for carrying out the tasks assigned by their managers. The staff as a whole must operate within council policy but individual staff must answer to their heads of department (or HoDs). Tasks that are delegated Any delegated task, responsibility or authority must be properly documented and must be done in accordance with legislation.

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Understanding the Municipal Finance Management Act