Professional issues

Holding governments to account

9 January 2012 | Ian Ball

It’s time for governments to take their accounting responsibilities seriously and to modernise their finances. The eurozone debt crisis has highlighted widespread reporting failures and must lead to extensive reform Read more

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Global warning

19 December 2011 | Alan Edwards

Putting the gloom of the Autumn Statement behind him, CIPFA’s international director set off to Washington to take CIPFA’s Fixing the Foundations campaign to the next level Read more

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Take your partners

19 December 2011 | Alan Finch

Many accountants want to get out from behind their spreadsheets and add more value. A good way to do this is through the use of business partners in the finance function 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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In praise of creative accounting

11 November 2011 | Alan Finch

Creativity is a bit of a dirty word in financial circles, but it does have a role to play especially in the current environment where novel solutions are to be welcomed Read more

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In the money?

11 October 2011 | Alan Finch

It seems that money is used more and more as a way of keeping score, of comparing income, wealth or influence. Perhaps accountants should bear this in mind when presenting financial information to decision makers Read more

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Public sector talent: don’t waste it

20 September 2011 | John Tizard

Smart ‘talent management’ needs strategic leaders to drive it – rather than process-driven, competency-obsessed functionaries Read more

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Cracking the code

19 August 2011 | Sarah Sheen

It may be the summer, but public sector accountants still have work to do in updating the code of practice governing local government accounting Read more

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Yeah but, no but, on public service reforms

16 August 2011 | Helen Cleary

A new survey of public sector leaders shows they are worried  about the speed and scale of service cuts, but cautiously welcome some of the government’s decentralising reforms Read more

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Financial futures

18 July 2011 | Alan Finch

Why do senior finance managers frequently struggle to make the step up to director level? Perhaps we should be doing more to develop financial leadership skills Read more

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