Meeting participants in the study room on the first floor of BPPNFI Regional V Makassar loudly laughed when listening to the brief of the Head of Financial Division of Directorate General Secretary of Early Childhood Education, Ministry of Education and Culture, Eko Budi Hartono MM. 

 

Material hosted by Eko on the second day of Plenary Meeting of BPPNFI Regional V Makassar was about financial management. He is either a good and fun person as he has lots of jokes that made participants laugh.

 

Besides jokes, Eko notified a number of information regarding financial management in Ministry of Education and Culture, especially in General Directorate of Early Childhood Education. One of the important points that were informed is financial officials must have certification.

 

“This March, the finance officials should have all certified including expenditure treasurer and  assistant expenditure treasurer,” said Eko. While conveying the necessity of certification, Eko asked how much finance officials in BPPNFI Regional V Makassar have already certified. They were asked to raise their hand. 

 

Eko reminds that the trusted officials of which duty is handling the finance must pay attention to workflow such as the disbursement, accountability and report of the budget. “Our weakness, generally, are all divisions wanted to manage finance. However, need to remember that everyone has their own duties and responsibilities. But I do hope that it’s no happened in this BPPNFI Makassar,” said Eko while smiled. 

 

The head of treasury is offensive to financial liability, which is inappropriate although training related to employees’ expense, goods expense, capital spending, and social assistance expense. Especially for issuing funds for social assistance, Eko reminded to keep escorting the funds since it remains the responsibility of the Ministry. 

 

“I hope that if social assistance funds are already executed, we should supervise the program and finance as it is our responsibilities,” Eko reminds.

 

Eco also talk about the remuneration that will be enforced at the headquarters of Ministry of Education and Culture. It will be started on April 2012. “On April 2012, remuneration will be enforced at the headquarters but in bureau,” said Eko. 

 

One of the requirements that must be followed regarding remuneration, according to Eko, employees must be discipline and work by the rules such as the attedance. If one is undisciplined, the remuneration salary will be reduced.

 

When he talked about official duty travel expenses, participants felt very enthusiastic. There are lots of questions asked by participants particularly by the finance official for example the date of travel ticket which is not in accordance with the duration of the assignment by the office and the endorsement letter by related official in destined city. 

 

Eko simply answered and explained about things to do and not to do and about appropriate official who may sign the endorsement letter of official duty travel.