USU PUBLIC RELATIONS – Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU) held a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) on Financial Management with the Institut Pertanian Bogor (IPB) on Thursday (October 1, 2026). The event took place in the IMT-GT Room on the second floor of the USU Rectorate Building. The FGD discussed the development of financial systems and governance to improve the effectiveness and quality of financial services across the university.

Secretary of the USU Directorate of Finance, Hasnul Arief Fikri, S.Ti., explained that USU had previously conducted benchmarking with several higher education institutions on financial management. Through this process, USU found that IPB's financial governance had the characteristics most closely aligned with USU's needs.

“Our hope is that we can manage finances more efficiently, with greater transparency and accountability, so that financial services at Universitas Sumatera Utara can improve in the future,” he said.

He also explained that the results of the FGD would be used to improve Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), procedures, and financial information systems. An integrated system is expected to accelerate services for students, lecturers, and educational staff.

“In the past, processes such as fund reimbursements and payments might have taken more than five days. Now, we hope they can be shortened to just one or two days,” he explained.

(Photo: Muhammad Andriansyah)

Hasnul Arief Fikri, S.Ti., added that the USU Directorate of Finance is targeting the implementation of a new system adopted from IPB starting in 2027. The system will integrate various financial management processes into a single system.

“The target outcome of the FGD, particularly in terms of developing the financial system, is for us to start using the new system in 2027. We are adopting it from IPB, with all financial systems integrated,” he added.

Director of Finance and Accounting at the Institut Pertanian Bogor, Dr. Indah Yuliasih, S.TP., M.Si., explained that the development of a financial system must be accompanied by regulations that are aligned with the system being implemented. These regulations include SOPs, application guidelines, and rector regulations.

“We must not end up with good regulations that are not implemented or are inconsistent with actual practices. That could potentially become a finding in an audit by the Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia (BPK),” Indah explained.

She also explained that the system being developed is intended to integrate various financial processes into a single system, ranging from budget proposals and accountability reports (SPJ) to reporting.

(Photo: Muhammad Andriansyah)

Director of the USU Directorate of Information Systems and Technology Development, Dr. Mohammad Fadly Syah Putra, M.Sc., shared an update on the financial system currently under development. He explained that the development process was being carried out by establishing a dedicated team to ensure that the work could proceed in a more structured manner.

He explained that the system development has currently reached the reporting stage. However, several components still need to be completed, including the payroll and planning systems, which require further discussion.

“Some modules are still unfinished, such as the payroll system. The payroll system may also require further discussion,” he explained.

Through the FGD, USU and IPB sought to align their financial systems and governance so that services across the university can be delivered more quickly, in an integrated manner, and with greater accountability.