Background
The Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) has begun a process to change the way in which it does business. Previously, there was much duplication and repetition of work processes throughout NICS Departments. To remedy this it was decided to rationalise ordering and payment processes by moving to a fully integrated finance and procurement system.
The Department of Finance & Personnel (DFP), including CPD, and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) were the first two Departments to migrate to the new system in December 2007. They will be joined on 07 July 2008 by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) and the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL). All other Departments will migrate to the new system by April 2009.
Account NI
To make the transition as simple as possible for our suppliers and service providers, those companies that have transacted business with us over the last few years will have been contacted to inform them of the changes. All purchase orders and invoices will now be processed by a Shared Service Centre known as Account NI. This Centre has sole responsibility for ensuring that invoices, containing a valid purchase order number, are processed for payment. Invoices without a valid purchase order number will be returned the originating supplier or service provider.
In effect, all orders issued by Central Procurement Directorate are now generated by the new system. Invoices relating to these purchase orders must be sent to the Account NI Shared Service Centre. Transactions with other departments will not change without further notification. You should maintain current ways of working with other Departments until notified of future migration dates.