2. Compliance made easy
Any statutory reporting process should be able to use data that the
organisation already collects for management reporting and the
processes should be lean and part of the ‘day job’. Collecting this
kind of data as a separate exercise wastes time and can be
disruptive.
The ownership of staff at all levels is vital in changing these
processes and gaining ownership prior to implementation.
Background What we did
Ofwat uses two returns, the Our support took the form of:
June Return and Principal
Statement, as part of its Project managing the 2007
regulatory regime for the water June Return submission.
industry. The June Return
“The Consultancy reports on performance during Project managing the
Company challenged the past year and the Principal submission of the Principal
and supported us in Statement is the case for tariff Statement in January 2008.
redesigning our changes for the following year.
processes and Carrying out a review of both
changing our attitudes The Challenge processes and developing a
to reporting. The result new process for both,
was a well designed The water sector as a whole supported by technology.
route to preparing our was being asked by Ofwat to
key Ofwat returns. produce more accurate and Leading a group of senior
Your consultant worked reliable returns. managers from the company
to deliver work packages as
really effectively with
Severn Trent Water wanted to part of the development of
people at all levels.” the new processes.
see a new standard set for their
organisation’s response to the
Tony Wray Ofwat challenge. Streamlining processes and
Chief Executive incorporating them into the
Severn Trent Water plc The company initially asked for ‘day job’; reducing the length
an experienced consultant to: of the June Return and
increasing quality.
Drive the June Return
process for 2007. Working with internal staff,
other consultancies and
Line manage a team within external auditors to review
the Regulation and internal controls and risk
Competition Directorate. assessment tools to drive
audit activity.
Develop an enhancement
of internal control Reporting directly to the
processes. Executive and Audit
Committees on progress in
Act as a channel of terms of submissions and
communication to the the improvement activity.
Executive and Audit
Committees.
3. Results How we work
Immediate results and long- Our approach combines our
term direction in the form of: experience as senior
managers in commercial,
The 2007 June Return public and not-for-profit
completed and submitted to organisations and as
Ofwat to schedule. management consultants
working with a broad base of
A new, more focused June clients.
Return process that has
been used in 2008 and 2009 Our consultants work in
and will be used in 2010. partnership with our clients
to ensure that what we
propose reflects your needs,
resources and capabilities.
What the client most
appreciated: We will make a difference
through working with you
Rapid assimilation of the and understanding your
task and engagement with needs rather than delivering
key managers. off the shelf solutions which
do not necessarily fit
A proactive approach to comfortably with your
project management that operating environment,
entailed setting clear organisational culture or
outcomes and affordability criteria.
accountabilities for delivery.
This approach and our mix of
The ability to challenge the expertise give us capabilities
Severn Trent culture, engage where the value of the whole
with managers and push is much greater than the sum
hard for deadlines to be met. of the parts.
A reduction in the energy
and time needed to produce
the returns.
Can we help you develop your regulatory reporting?
For an initial meeting call:
John Dilks
Utilities Lead
07770 512578
john.dilks@the-consultancy.co.uk
www.the-consultancy.co.uk
