Article: Finance and Property Article Body The Finance and Property directorate provides a full range of financial and property services. The sevices provided by the Finance and Property directorate include: Strategic Financial Planning and Advice Budgeting Accounting Insurance and Taxation Internal Audit Risk Management Co-ordination Borrowing and Investment Council Tax and Benefits Exchequer Services Welfare Rights Advice Co-ordination and Strategic Advice. Strategic Property and Procurement Management. The following services are also delivered through our partners - NPS Barnsley: Property Design Commissioning and Procurement Corporate Procurement Asset and Estate Management Building Maintenance Energy Maintenance Facilities Management Our main over-arching aspiration is that our services remain relevant to the authority's needs and objectives. In general terms we will continue to pursue good practice and top quartile performance whilst helping to steer the authority through a difficult and challenging period. There are many challenges facing our directorate services, including in particular: Development of well-informed and sustainable budget/efficiency strategies to support the authority through a period of significant turbulence and uncertainty in terms of available resources and budgetary pressures. Delivering efficient and pro-active Benefits and Welfare Rights services during a period of severe economic difficulties within the borough's communities. Generally contributing to the authority's ongoing efficiency agenda through the delivery of not only directorate efficiency measures, but supporting others in identifying and delivering efficiency gains and cost savings. Promoting the development of a low carbon future for Barnsley and reducing the impact of the authorities activities on the environment Supporting the regeneration of the Borough through maximizing use of assets to encourage economic growth. Supporting peoples opportunities to build their own communities and provide services that complement those of the state and local government through encouraging community and/or shared ownership of assets and work to promote active citizenship and community leadership. For services throughout the council to use their resources in the most effective way, they need superb financial management behind them. We're here to provide it - as well as the support our teams need to achieve value for money and exercise effective controls over their significant budgets. Finance and Property services are delivered through four distinct areas: Financial and Business Support Services Local Taxation and Benefit Internal Audit and Risk Management Property and Procurement in partnership with NPS Barnsley Services The following list shows the services that provided by the division "Finance and Property". Following the links to the services below will take you to the services section of our website: Benefits, Taxation and Welfare Rights : The division is split into four service delivery areas of:Taxation; Benefits; Welfare Rights and Community Liaison, and Customer Services and Development. Financial and Business Support Services : Acting Assistant Director Financial and Business Support Services For services throughout the council to use their resources in the most effective way, they need superb financial management behind them. We’re here to provide it – as well as the support our teams need to achieve value for money and exercise effective controls over their significant budgets. Internal Audit and Risk Management : Assistant Director Internal Audit and Risk Management Internal Audit is the authority's own independent appraisal service for the review of internal control systems. It seeks to objectively examine, evaluate and report on the arrangements in place to secure the economic, efficient and effective use of resources. Internal Audit also provides advice on the prevention of fraud and irregularities and undertakes investigations where necessary. Property and Procurement This service is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the council in the areas of asset management and procurement and for working with our partner organization to achieve specified strategic objectives.