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Accounting for Growth
While Shirley Wang might be a newcomer to the Chinese Red Cross, she is no stranger to Beijing – a city in which she was born and raised. Funded by the Canadian Red Cross, Finance Development delegate Wang is helping the Chinese Red Cross with their financial management system as they implement their new network of computers.
The people of China have suffered from a number of severe natural disasters in recent years. International donors have responded generously to this need which has necessitated timely and accurate financial reporting.
Although Shirley has spent the last four years in Canada, she welcomed the opportunity to return to China and help out in an area where her skills are in high demand. Wang's role focuses on developing a standardized accounting system (both computerized and manual) to improve financial reporting for 20 provincial Red Cross branches. As well, Wang will help train more than 220 local Red Cross staff on this system. "There are many technical issues to grasp with a project like this," said Wang. "Knowing the culture and language is key to understanding the challenges and proposing appropriate solutions."
Chief of the Chinese Red Cross' Finance Department Yang Xilan explains the importance of accuracy and transparency in their financial reporting. "Strengthening our financial management is vital to increasing the efficiency of our operations. We want to provide our donors with the highest confidence in our system."
Wang's expertise in accounting, her ability to find solutions to complex problems and understanding of the intricacies of the Chinese financial practices have all contributed to a successful mission.
