Public Accountability for New Accounting Officers

The role of the Accounting (or Accountable) Officer is a key feature of the governance arrangements in the central government sector. Accounting Officers are personally responsible and accountable directly to the Westminster Parliament, Welsh Parliament, Northern Ireland Assembly and Scottish Parliament for the oversight of financial management and stewardship of public funds. In some cases, particularly in ministerial departments, Accounting Officers will be called upon to give an evidence, usually based on a report of the relevant state audit body.

The course provides a thorough, up to date and tailored explanation of the key processes in and requirements that apply to the AO role. Participants will be provided with an in-depth understanding of how public money should be managed and how public businesses should be conducted (in line with the principles laid down in Managing Public Money).

This training is tailored to each participant’s personal organisational context and the content is continuously refreshed to provide participants with an up-to-date insight into central government accountability and governance arrangements.

This course is from our Accountability & Governance series. At the Civil Service College, we tailor our courses to each attendee’s role and organisation, ensuring that each delegate gets the most out of the training. Our courses and trainers are continuously updated and evaluated to ensure that we are always delivering the best service possible.

Key Training Features

Who Can Attend

Learning Outcomes

Key Training Features:

• The roles and responsibilities of an Accounting or Accountable Officer
• The proper and proper conduct of public business, including regularity, propriety, value for money and feasibility.
• The scrutiny role of the relevant Audit Office and associated Public Accounts Committee
• Financial aspects of public accountability for government Departments, and arm’s length public bodies.
• Insights into how to conduct oneself when giving evidence as an AO.
• Key guidance that applies to the AO role
• The importance of assurance and support from the ARAC and senior management colleagues

Who Can Attend:

This course is specifically designed to meet the training needs of newly appointed or acting Accounting/Accountable Officers in all UK jurisdictions. The course is also suitable for those who are responsible for providing assurance to the Accounting/Accountable Officer such as a Director of Finance.

Pre- Requisites:

This course is designed specifically to meet the training needs of newly appointed or acting Accounting/Accountable Officers in all UK jurisdictions and those who are responsible for providing assurance to the Accounting /Accountable Officer such as a Director of Finance.

Learning Outcomes:

Participants will gain a clear understanding of their responsibilities as Accounting/Accountable Officer with reference to the various aspects of this role as detailed in Chapter 3 of HM Treasury’s Managing Public Money. Participants will acquire a comprehensive insight into the personal responsibilities of an Accounting or Accountable Officer, and an appreciation of what it means to be an Accounting Officer in a subordinate relationship with a Principal Accounting Officer in a ministerial department. The course will look in some detail at what it means to be an ALB or NHS Accounting Officer and explains the relationship between the ALB/NHS entity and their respective sponsoring departments. The course will also provide a detailed and up to date overview of on current developments and newly issued guidance on governance and accountability in central government.

Who will run this course?

Brian Whalley is a former accountant and civil servant and holds an MA in Management Learning. Brian has 20 years’ experience in the provision of induction training and board development programmes for non-executive board members of government departments, executive agencies, non-departmental public bodies, NHS bodies and public corporations. He has run programmes for over 120 Non-Departmental Public Bodies, and other arm’s length bodies, and is experienced in working in all UK jurisdictions. He also provides training for newly appointed Accounting Officers throughout the UK central government sector. Brian also runs courses concerned with Managing Public Money and governance arrangements in the ALB sector.