After World War II, Henry Ford II became president of Ford Motor Company, instituting reorganization, decentralization, and modernization on a massive scale. By 1946, the old Accounting Department, Auditing Department, and Disbursement Department were abolished, and a new Finance Division was created. On a company-wide level it exercised broad supervision of policies and procedures, furnished financial plans and programs, engaged in some cash management activities, and administered audits and related services. It also provided support to the decentralized financial units of the operating and staff divisions and offices. The Finance Division was made up of the Controller's Office, Treasurer's Office, Planning Office, Auditing Department, and smaller departments managing other financial activities such as insurance, real estate, office services, and personnel. Over the next several years, changes to the organizational structure were continued and refined. By 1949 the Finance Staff division appeared. Its structure and functioning were very similar to that of the older Finance Division, with a Treasurer, Controller, and General Auditor. As the largest Finance Staff office, the Controller's Office oversight included the General Accounting Department, the Budget Department, and under a Director of Financial Analysis, various financial planning and analysis departments.
From the description of Finance Staff (Ford Motor Company) records subgroup, 1903-1955. (The Henry Ford). WorldCat record id: 159957465
