Following the success of the first Cluster Finance Service launched in Bumthang, Paro, and Trashi Yangtse, the finance ministry together with the Royal Civil Service Commission now launched the service for the field offices of the agriculture ministry in Thimphu, today. Cluster Finance Service brings together finance officials of various agencies under one cluster office in a region or a district.
The agriculture ministry has clubbed 23 field accountants and three finance officers under the Cluster Finance Service.
“When they work together, they can support each other. Secondly, when a person takes leave, others can immediately replace,” said finance secretary Nim Dorji.
Today, accountants working independently in their respective agencies are confronted with many challenges.
“We have to carry out additional responsibilities like HR related works, chadi, and handle revenue. It’s not our work. It is the work of the Department of Revenue and Customs. We shoulder additional responsibilities of accountants at the field level. We will focus solely on delivering financial services,” said Jigme Tenzin, an accountant with the National Diary Research and Development Centre.
According to the finance ministry, some accountants are even underutilized. So, the Cluster Finance Service will optimize finance personnel to achieve the objective of doing more with less.
Samten Dolkar
