Finnpilot was established according to modern financial management methods

The national pilot office was turned into an independent company, Finnpilot Pilotage Oy, in early 2011. Changes in financial management procedures were implemented by means of modern software applications.

The pilot office has managed its finances, processing of purchase invoices, and monetary transac-tions by using a combined Jeeves/Basware/OpusCapita system. The processes and systems were put to the test at the beginning of 2011, when the office was turned into a public company, Finnpilot Pilotage Oy.

‘The impacts of the new corporate organisation were more pronounced in financial administration than in our day-to-day operations. The financial management systems required numerous changes and updates. Establishing a new company also meant that the office was now subject to value added tax. The transition phase was challenging, but we were able to get through it successfully', says Business Controller Timo Sirén of Finnpilot Pilotage Oy.

An integrated solution for electronic financial management

Modern financial management tools made the transformation project easier. ‘Linked, flexible tools and electronic processes were key requirements for successful change management,' Sirén says.

Finnpilot's new solution includes accounting, ledgers, reporting, sales invoicing, processing of pur-chase invoices, and the management of monetary transactions. The applications are integrated with the ERP system and also the payroll and travel management systems. Online management of purchase invoices extends from receipt, scanning, and registration of invoices to circulating them for approval, transferring them for payment, and entering them in accounting systems.

‘The systems produce accurate, real-time information to support response to the needs of financial management and reporting. The automation level and performance are also excellent,' says Sirén.

Results through collaboration and experience

Finnpilot has used the systems in the form of cloud services provided by Pretax. Financial admini-stration processes have been managed in-house. The collaboration has produced excellent results. ‘I am very happy with the present state of our financial administration. The challenging project is now behind us, and we are back in business as-usual mode,' Sirén comments.

A customer relationship that has continued for years entered a new stage in autumn 2011, when the sales and marketing of the Jeeves, Basware, and OpusCapita applications was transferred within the Accountor Group from Pretax to Mepco Oy. The objective of the change is to centralise and increase software solution expertise and provide more comprehensive service to customers.

‘It is important for us to be able to develop operations and systems in collaboration with a single, reliable partner. We want to put to use the full potential of our vendor's solutions and expertise in the future,' Sirén sums up.

For further information, please contact:

Mepco: Consulting Director Kari Tuomikoski, at +358 40 772 2107 or send e-mail
Finnpilot: Business Controller Timo Sirén, at +358 40 145 9848 or send e-mail

Finnpilot Pilotage Oy is a state-owned company responsible for supporting and promoting the safety of waterborne traffic, and a good operation environment for it. The pilotage services provided by the company improve maritime safety from the perspective of the ships, their crews, passengers, and nature. Finnpilot operates in Finland's territorial waters and on Lake Saimaa. The company has approximately 350 employees. The national pilot office was turned into a public company, Finnpilot Pilotage Oy, in early 2011. The office's 2010 turnover was nearly €35 million. For more information, please see www.finnpilot.fi.

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