1. SHARED SERVICES CENTER (SSC) TASK FORCE OVERVIEW
Ben Lowenthal
Nico Washington
11/30/12
Nico

2. Background Information
Taskforce Charge & Purpose
The UMBC campus community has identified the need to establish a strong platform of financial and administrative management that will sustain our current growth as well as future growth as we continue to thrive and expand.
Nico Washington, Ben Lowenthal – Co-chairs
Nico

3. What is a Shared Services Center?
A Shared Services Center (SSC) consolidates expert resources currently distributed through out the University into a centralized unit.
The service centers focus on administrative activities to increase service quality while positioning us for projected future growth.
Nico

4. Benefits of Shared Services Centers
Shared Services Centers will allow us to streamline, consolidate, and automate processes to leverage economies of scale. This will lead to:
Higher level expertise
Expert knowledge
Improved transactional flow
Use of technology to improve reporting tools
Re-engineering and standardizing current processes incorporating accepted best practices.
Improved compliance and audit results
Nico

5. Specific Benefits in Administrative Areas
Payroll and HR – Improve processing turnaround time and accuracy of charges.
Procurement and accounts payable – Proactive review and problem resolution.
Contracts and grants pre and post-award coordination – Expert knowledge of required regulations to assist with navigation of complex rules and policies and related compliance issues.
Financial management – Consistent review and monitoring of accounts. Proactive alerts to prevent over-expending of spending limits/budgets and/or approaching contract end dates.
Technology liaisons – Provide customer focused reporting.
Nico

6. Plan of Action Identify existing models Commission smaller workgroups
Consistent communication to campus (background, progress, recommendation, and plans)
Recommend Shared Services Center model(s)
Report Models to President, Provost, and Vice President Administration and Finance
Develop implementation plan
Ben

7. Progress to Date Workgroups established
Communication – Implement campus communication plan.
Data – collect, survey, analyze, and review transactional, position, and benchmarking data.
Needs Analysis/Business Processes – review current administrative structure, process flow, and functions.
Shared Services Center Models – review various SSC models, advantages, and disadvantages.
Ben

8. More Progress
Taskforce and Work groups are meeting bi-weekly – alternating weeks
Campus update schedule for the Business Managers Group meeting on November 30.
Resource library with materials from University Executive Business Roundtable, NACUBO, and other higher ed sources.
Contacts established with peers that have implemented shared service centers.
Established internal UMBC website to report progress to campus.
Established taskforce myUMBC group.
Ben

9. Timeline
October 2012 – Taskforce and workgroups established; communication initiated November – December 2012 – Research, gather data, site visit. January 2013 – Initial recommendation to President, Provost, and VP, Admin & Fin. February 2013 – Initiate planning and implementation for FY14 budget cycle.
Ben

10. Questions/Comments