Lieutenant Colonel Le Xuan Kien, Head of the Finance Department of the 4th Naval Region, stated: "The unit is stationed in a vast area, dispersed across many remote islands, in a complex terrain with a large number of personnel and many different groups of people receiving various benefits and entitlements; and facing numerous unexpected tasks. To ensure effective financial management, the financial agencies, officers, and staff at all levels must closely adhere to their assigned tasks; thoroughly understand the direction, objectives, guiding principles, tasks, solutions, principles, and regulations of financial work; and proactively advise the Party committee and commanders on leadership, guidance, and strict implementation."

At the same time, the Regional Finance Agency instructed agencies and units to base their budget estimates on the current state of existing facilities, weapons, and equipment, and to anticipate unexpected tasks, ensuring that the estimates are accurate and meet the requirements of the tasks, avoiding fragmentation or omissions; especially ensuring the salary and allowance system for officers and soldiers; and maintaining technical equipment... The Regional Finance Agency also focused on measures to ensure, manage, and use the budget in a flexible manner, creating conditions for sectors and units to be proactive and enhance their responsibility in preparing, allocating, managing, and using the budget and other funding sources in accordance with the regulations of the State, the Ministry of National Defense , and the Air Force.

Officers from the Finance Department of the 4th Naval Region guided and inspected the implementation of accounting work using the Ministry of National Defense's accounting software at Brigade 162, 4th Naval Region.

Based on the allocated annual budget, the Finance Department of the 4th Naval Region guides departments and units in preparing expenditure plans according to their tasks and compiles them as a basis for disbursement, monitoring, and supervision of expenditures. Expenditure estimates must clearly define the content, quantity, price, amount, and adhere to established norms, standards, and implementation timelines. This is especially important for expenditures to support officers and soldiers performing duties on islands, patrol missions, and combat readiness at sea.

Along with ensuring, managing, and utilizing the budget, the financial agency has advised the Party committee and unit commanders on conducting research on action programs for saving and combating waste; promoting increased production and food processing, and improving the quality of material and spiritual life for soldiers. Emphasis is placed on closely coordinating professional inspections by the financial agency with inspections and supervision by Party committees at all levels and supervision by the collective of military personnel, combining regular and surprise inspections; and effectively implementing self-inspection procedures. As a result, the unit has not experienced any instances of spending on inappropriate purposes or exceeding approved budget targets annually, and has limited spending concentrated at the end of each quarter and year.

Each year, the 4th Naval Region receives thousands of officers and soldiers from units throughout the armed forces to coordinate work at island outposts. To ensure proper provision of benefits and standards for officers and soldiers rotating to perform duties on these islands, the Finance Department advises the 4th Naval Region Command to organize professional training for finance personnel and mess hall managers at the island outposts before each troop rotation. The training focuses on methods of ensuring and calculating benefits, standards, and policies for eligible individuals, and incorporates financial management into the training program for officers and soldiers before they begin their missions.

Lieutenant Colonel, Master's Degree holder Dau Thanh Hai, Head of the Finance Department of Brigade 146, Region 4 of the Navy, explained: Due to the unique characteristics of the units being small, scattered, and difficult to access, in order to ensure and manage finances effectively, the finance agency guides the branches and units to develop budget expenditure plans, identify each specific item, estimate the budget, and allocate funds by month and quarter.

The budget for purchasing food and supplies, ensuring the material and spiritual well-being of soldiers; and for replacing and repairing equipment and supplies at island outposts must be consistent with the logistics plan, patrol vessels, and vessels on duty. A plan must be developed to calculate the budget for purchasing and directly sourcing fresh food from fishermen and the Truong Sa Seafood Company to ensure the soldiers' well-being. Regular expenses (salaries, allowances, subsidies, etc.) must be ensured by the financial agency in a timely and adequate manner for officers and soldiers. Monthly, the financial agency prepares salary and allowance tables, coordinates with the military personnel agency, and conducts joint personnel verification, reviewing incoming and outgoing personnel to ensure accurate and complete calculations.

Colonel Mai Hong Than, Head of the Finance Department of the Navy, assessed: Despite being stationed in dispersed locations, facing harsh weather conditions, and numerous unexpected tasks, with a spirit of unity and overcoming all difficulties, the officers and staff of the finance department of the 4th Naval Region proactively advised the Party committee and commanders on consistent, flexible, thorough, and strict management and operation of the budget; firmly grasped the principles, content, tasks, and leadership regulations of financial work; and enhanced the role and responsibility of the commander (account holder) in managing and using finances and assets. They ensured timely provision of benefits and standards for the troops; maintained and strictly implemented the regulations on grassroots democracy and financial transparency as prescribed; and contributed to improving the material and spiritual lives of the troops.

Text and photos: TRINH VAN TU

    Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/quoc-phong-an-ninh/xay-dung-quan-doi/bao-dam-kip-thoi-dung-du-tieu-chuan-cho-bo-doi-845185