Training Kicks Off For New Software System For Marin County

News from the County of Marin:

MARIN COUNTY, CA - County of Marin employees are participating in intensive training sessions in preparation for a new software system that will streamline the way the County’s administrative staff handles its business operations, including budgeting, accounting, purchasing, payroll and human resources management.

The Marin County Board of Supervisors approved a $14 million project budget about 15 months ago for a project called Administrative Technologies of Marin, or the ATOM project for short. In November, project managers provided an “on time and on budget” update to the Board. Another update is scheduled for the March 15 Supervisors meeting.

Project managers believe successful training will lead to successful employee adoption of the new system. Nearly 10 percent of the County employees will be expected to use the new finance system and will be trained and supported to ensure success. The finance software module is on track to go live in July 2016, followed by a payroll and human resources phase with a projected go-live target of July 2017.

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“This is an exciting time for County employees,” said Director of Finance Roy Given, a member of the ATOM Executive Steering Committee. “We are poised to have a finance system that is user-friendly, that is built for the public sector, and that gives us sophisticated options to control and report on all financial activity in our organization.”

The ATOM project is designed to enhance and standardize business processes and to save the County money over the long run relative to continued use of its existing software system. Tyler Technologies was contracted after an exhaustive research and preparation by County staff from the departments of Finance, Information Services and Technology, Human Resources, Public Works and the County Administrator’s Office.

A key installation milestone took place last fall with the completed design of a new chart of accounts, the foundation of financial reporting that allows for the accurate recording of a transaction. The new chart of accounts will enable streamlined reporting and data entry which will lead to a welcomed elimination of so-called shadow systems – the use of supplemental software (such as the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet program). Those shadow systems have been used by necessity because of shortcomings of the current system.

ATOM’s implementation will allow for easier cost tracking of countywide initiatives that cross departmental lines. For example, it’s been a challenge for the County to answer questions about the costs of initiatives on homelessness prevention, mental illness or climate change because the subject involves multiple departments, government jurisdictions and community stakeholders.

Learn more about ATOM project on the County Administrator’s Office webpage.