New IT Manager - Developing my first budget
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Ok, maybe the subject will give me away, but I used to be (all of 7 months ago), a C# developer splitting time between web development and some light PM work at a financial institution. Fast forward to Sept 2010 and we find Mike tasked with building an IT department from SCRATCH. As the year is coming to an end the buzz in management has been about budgets for 2011 and I don't know where to start. I've done some reading about how others would do it and I have always gotten great advice here on Code Project so I figured I'd cast into this pool and see what you all have to say. So, fire away and feel free to be sarcastic, demeaning and talk down to me, so long and you add some good advice to your posts! Thanks in advance for any help! :thumbsup:
Mike Devenney
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Ok, maybe the subject will give me away, but I used to be (all of 7 months ago), a C# developer splitting time between web development and some light PM work at a financial institution. Fast forward to Sept 2010 and we find Mike tasked with building an IT department from SCRATCH. As the year is coming to an end the buzz in management has been about budgets for 2011 and I don't know where to start. I've done some reading about how others would do it and I have always gotten great advice here on Code Project so I figured I'd cast into this pool and see what you all have to say. So, fire away and feel free to be sarcastic, demeaning and talk down to me, so long and you add some good advice to your posts! Thanks in advance for any help! :thumbsup:
Mike Devenney
Hey Mike, Nothing like chucking you in at the deep end is there? Find yourself a mentor within the organisation. Make at least one of the accounts guys your best friend, and get some help from them. They'll help to get you through your first budget and hopefully you won't f*** up too much. Keep your aims modest and build in some financial contingency. Always, always, always keep a close eye on costs but don't let on to your team that is what you are doing. Lastly remember the three aspects of management: planning, finance and people. Be on your guard not to let the people aspect suffer by the other two. They are always interconnected and a change in one aspect with always affect the other aspects in some way. As far as building an IT department goes, I would say this is still a technical task, even if it is a larger problem. Go througth the process as you always would, gather requirements, design etc Now instead of estimating in man days, you are estimating in pounds and pence. This is where your accounting buddies come into play because their experience of costs is going to be much better than yours ever will be. Do this course with the Open University: "Certificate in Professional Management". I found it hard, but has really elevated my confidence and skills as a manager. Hope this helps.