Professional issues

A call to alms, by Alan Duncan

24 February 2011 | Alan Duncan

International aid is a priority for the new government, but spending must be effectively scrutinised. Improving public financial management  is a vital part of this process Read more...

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Who really gets the cream? By Peter Wilby

24 February 2011 | Peter Wilby

The opprobrium that is now being heaped on public sector ‘fat cats’ is pernicious, small-minded and innumerate 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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We’re all in this together (really), by John Tizard

3 February 2011 | John Tizard

Right or wrong, the coalition’s budget-cutting course is set and local leaders need to work with others to minimise the pain Read more...

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Lessons from Lesotho, by Alan Edwards

1 February 2011 | Alan Edwards

We British love Who Do you Think You Are? the television programme exploring family histories. I tried to explore mine. The Black Country Edwards family tree ran out with my great great grandfather when all I could find was that he was born in Wales – there are lots of Edwards in Wales! But the common characteristic was that all my family were miners. I was the first one to join a profession. Read more...

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Now you see it, by John Thornton

17 December 2010 | John Thornton

This first of a new series – Smart Thinking? – focuses on the challenges for finance teams raised by the Transparency Framework and information management 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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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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Light at the end of the tunnel, by John Maddocks

9 September 2010 | John Maddocks

Organisations are increasingly producing social responsibility or sustainability reports, mostly on a voluntary basis. These vary widely in terms of relevance and quality, largely because there is no global standard for measuring and reporting on environmental, social and governance performance. Read more...

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On a role, by Tim Crowley

30 July 2010 | Tim Crowley

As internal audit becomes ever more vital, CIPFA is consulting on the main requirements for the head of the department Read more...

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