The financial management landscape is changing. Driven in large part by recent technological advancements in artificial intelligence (AI), data analysis, and digitally enabled enterprise resource planning (ERP), today’s federal financial managers use a very different set of tools to achieve their mission.
At the same time, the federal sector is also dealing with an evolving workforce. Retirement-age federal employees currently outnumber younger employees by a two-to-one ratio. As more and more of these individuals exit the workforce, they take with them decades of specialized knowledge and hands-on experience that can be difficult to replicate.
The right partner can help agencies navigate these shifting tides with ease, taking advantage of a generational opportunity to streamline process inefficiencies and onboard new technology solutions while also bridging knowledge gaps to ensure internal employees have the skills they need to succeed.
Why choose a partner over a consultant?
When organizations have a problem they can’t easily solve on their own, they’ll often bring in a consultant to lend their expertise. However, our years of experience have taught us that looking for a partner is often the better approach.
Consultants typically work on a short-term basis and are focused on a narrowly defined scope or contract. By contrast, a partner can deeply embed itself within an organization and jump in at every step of a project.
The right partner will:
- Think two steps ahead: While it’s always important to make sure contracted deliverables are delivered on time and within scope, the right partner should go above and beyond to make sure they are proactively anticipating current and future needs. This kind of foresight is only possible when a partner has taken the time and effort needed to truly understand your mission priorities and familiarize themselves with current operating procedures.
Many MDC employees have decades of experience leading federal and military organizations before they come to MDC. We leverage this wealth of experience and expertise alongside our dedication and passion to help clients craft their financial future while remaining compliant with industry regulations.
- Offer personalized solutions: Regardless of where they operate, no two organizations are alike. They have different challenges and ways of doing business. That’s why a good partner should offer tailored solutions rather than the one-size-fits-all approach you often see with consultants.
At MDC, we combine our subject matter expertise in federal financial management with our deep understanding of each client’s business needs to enhance efficiency, drive increased effectiveness, and develop tailored solutions.
- Deliver 24/7 availability: No matter how much planning or forecasting you do, there will always be unexpected challenges that arise during the course of a project. Rather than having to call or email a consultant for help, organizations can turn to a partner who is already by their side.
At MDC, we walk in lock-step with our clients to help navigate their toughest challenges. Whether on-site or assisting virtually, we’re always ready to jump in and help clients identify the problem and craft a customized solution.
MDC’s partnership in action
At MDC, we always strive to go the extra mile for our clients. In addition to creating customized solutions for each client’s unique needs, we also work to help employees grow their individual skill sets and develop the expertise they need to succeed throughout their careers.
For example, MDC recently worked with the Defense Health Agency (DHA) to help streamline and scale its use of ServiceNow—an IT service management and operational support system used by the Financial Operations Division (FOD). As DHA FOD expanded its IT services to support multiple directorates, it began experiencing increased errors and inefficiencies with its manual ServiceNow processes. DHA FOD needed a more scalable way to streamline operations, improve service delivery, and ensure compliance with strict federal regulations.
Not only did MDC step in to optimize existing ServiceNow processes and tailor the platform to align with DHA FOD’s unique workflows and federal compliance requirements, but we also created a series of dashboards for incident reporting and advanced analytics. Using this data-driven insight, we were able to identify common ticket complaints or patterns of behavior that signaled an existing knowledge gap or need for increased training.
We then created a series of knowledge articles and training modules to promote continuous learning and drive more comprehensive skills development. This is a direct reflection of how an embedded partner can go beyond the scope, working to expand employee knowledge while also solving the organization’s immediate needs.
To learn more about how MDC can help transform your IT operations and drive digital transformation in financial management, contact our team at businessdevelopment@mdc-llc.com.
