Finance plans move to support customers

  • Published
  • By 96th Comptroller Squadron
The finance office is expanding operations to better serve its customers.

Beginning Nov. 15, a new finance cell will be located in Building 210 where other personnel customer service operations are currently located. This replaces the walk-in service currently provided in Bldg 260.

This front end shop will provide three customer service counters staffed with financial services experts; assisting in researching travel voucher status and three self-service computers with the capability to file vouchers through E-Finance and make pay changes using MyPay. New extended service hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

"Ultimately it is about the customers, trying to find ways to give their time back to their mission by spending less time at finance," said Maj. Bill Hunter, commander of the 96th Comptroller Squadron.

Major Hunter said many support organizations have turned to on-line customer services as manpower continues to draw down.

"Finance is no exception," he said. "We hope our finance cell will create a bridge between the face-to-face interaction where we once were to the virtual financial systems where we will eventually be."

Several web-based financial applications are already in place on E-Finance, including the Permanent Change of Station In-Processing System, or PiPS. PIPS provides a secure, paperless way to submit PCS-related financial documents with automated assistance to the members as well as allow members to complete other customer service tasks online. Plus, E-Finance is open 24 hours a day.

"Many of the system solutions are in place already, and the need to come face to face is minimal. However, the systems are not always as user friendly as we would like," Major Hunter said. "This customer service cell will allow us to use the face-to-face interaction to educate users on our new on-line services and help everyone get more comfortable with them."

According to Col. Marc Piccolo, 96th Mission Support Group commander, the addition of the finance cell is a step closer to creating a true one-stop customer service area in Bldg 210.

"This partnership furthers our goal to create a one-stop customer service building to serve Team Eglin," Colonel Piccolo said. "This will facilitate in-processing and out-processing as well as any other support services needed by our employees."