Public Financial Management: Issues and Solutions

Dates:

• 18 - 22 November 2024 - London (£2,650)
• 2 - 6 June 2025 - London (£2,850)
• 6 - 10 October 2025 - London (£2,850)

Course Outline

Public financial management (PFM) systems are essential for the achievement of government policy and development objectives.

This one-week course explores the fundamentals of government reforms and the key issues and solutions across the PFM landscape. The course will include: budget preparation and execution; accounting; financial reporting and trends towards results-based performance measurement; integrated financial management information systems (IFMIS) and auditing.

Delegates will also explore the important management theories and strategic planning frameworks essential to understanding the current issues and trends in integrated PFM reforms.

Course Objectives: 

On completion, you will be able to:

• Lead in developing solutions to contemporary PFM challenges
• Define the benefits of Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) reforms and budget processes and assist in the realisation of these benefits
• Execute budgets and understand cash management, public procurement and internal controls
• Improve PFM compliance
• Define the PFM oversight function, the role of the Public Accounts Committee and external audit agencies
• Shape reforms to address deficiencies in transparency and accountability frameworks

Key Topics

• Overview of PFM and origins of PFM reforms
• Public sector budgeting, including programme and performance budgeting
• Overview of MTEF and linkages with policy objectives
• Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA)
• Service delivery and performance management in the public sector
• Budget implementation, cash management and forecasting
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Financial accounting and reporting
• Integrated Financial Management Information Systems
• Governance and fraud prevention
• Overview of key issues in Green PFM and Climate Finance

This is week one of the Public Financial Management, ESG and Green Finance Toolkit.