Steve Freer

About Steve Freer

Steve Freer has been CIPFA’s chief executive since 2000. Previously he worked in senior public finance roles in several local authorities, and in management consultancy. Steve is a board member of the Centre for Public Scrutiny and the Local Government Leadership Centre. He is also an adviser to the International Federation of Accountants.

Budget: time for the Whole truth

14 March 2012 | Steve Freer

Having published the Whole of Government Accounts for the first time last year, George Osborne should be bold and refer to these figures in his Budget rather than the traditional numbers from the National Accounts Read more

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Local government: getting the job done

23 February 2012 | Steve Freer

Councils are clearly facing a difficult time, but CIPFA’s chief executive suggests that good financial progress has been made and there is reason for cautious optimism Read more

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Do the right thing

16 November 2011 | Steve Freer

CIPFA’s chief executive calls for a concerted effort from accountancy institutes, firms and individual accountants to respond to the current global crisis by tackling poor public financial management Read more

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Hidden truths of the debt crisis

1 November 2011 | Steve Freer

As the full extent of the sovereign debt crisis becomes clear, so does the urgent need for governments to adopt accurate and transparent accounting practices Read more...

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Let’s end the blame game, by Steve Freer

10 February 2011 | Steve Freer

As followers of Public Finance know, politics is an endlessly fascinating and entertaining business. Just occasionally, however, it does have a tendency to veer self-destructively into the territory of ‘a plague on all their houses’. Read more...

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When the going gets tough, by Steve Freer

3 February 2011 | Steve Freer

As the public sector struggles to cut its spending, chief financial officers need to ensure budgets are realistic and to double-check every risk Read more...

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Budgets and the back office, by Steve Freer

14 December 2010 | Steve Freer

I have been having a few difficulties with my bank recently. I am a telephone banker and find that polite call centre staff can handle most of my routine business without too much difficulty. But the moment we step outside of pretty narrow tramlines, the service regularly judders to a spectacular halt. Read more...

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Revaluation: if not now, then when? By Steve Freer

27 September 2010 | Steve Freer

The government’s decision to rule out a council tax revaluation during the lifetime of the current Parliament came as no surprise.  Expected spending cuts are already creating a tremendously high level of uncertainty and risk across the public services.  Launching a revaluation in this climate might mix a very, very explosive cocktail. Read more...

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Shock and audit, by Steve Freer

16 September 2010 | Steve Freer

Public sector regulation faces a big shake-up with the sudden demise of the Audit Commission. So what comes next? Read more...

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When the going gets tough, by Steve Freer

16 June 2010 | Steve Freer

The waiting is almost over.  Last week’s CIPFA Conference may go down as the last such event of the old era, the end of the Good Old Days!  As new President, Jaki Meekings Davis said in her opening address, ‘The time for talking is over……’ Read more...

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