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Student accountants have scored the best ever results in a number of papers in their Summer 2007 exams. Two of the 15 papers sat by CIPFA students achieved record pass rates, while a further eight subjects saw significant increases in the number of successful candidates.
The papers on Taxation and Strategic Business Management achieved pass rates of 78% and 72% respectively, the highest levels attained since the subjects were introduced in their current format. Several groups of students studying with the CIPFA Education & Training Centre (CETC) achieved 100% pass rates in their PAQ exams.
Read more at www.cipfa.org.uk/press or www.cetc.org.uk/students.
Midlands, 7 September 2007
CIPFA, the CIPFA Education & Training Centre (CETC) and Hays Public Services have joined together to hold a free half-day seminar bringing together senior finance and HR professionals working in local government in the Midlands to look at current issues including the shortage of qualified accountants, the high age profile of existing qualified accountants, and falling number of trainees and part-qualified trainees.
The seminar will be held on 7 September at the CETC Midlands training centre in central Birmingham and will feature presentations, discussions on best practice and an opportunity to debate ideas. An agenda and more information on the seminar can be seen by clicking here and to book a place call Julia Knight on 020 7403 4300 or email Julia.knight@cetc.org.uk.
Interaction was the theme for CIPFA’s NSF Conference this year - find out more about how it went at www.cipfa.org.uk/students/nsf/conference07.cfm.
CareandHealth offers a range of quality, certificated Management and Leadership Training programmes, accredited by CIPFA and City and Guilds Senior Awards.
The programmes comprise between eight and ten modules, and focus on building expertise and techniques to achieve tangible advances in your professional practice. All programmes provide attendees with the opportunity to complete a supervised project/service review in the certificated discipline. All the training courses are also available as in house programmes.
- Certificate in Performance Management,
(Sept 07 to June 08, London, & Nov 07 to July 08, Manchester)
- Management & Leadership Skills in Social Care, (Oct 07 to July 08, London & Nov 07 to July 08, Manchester)
- Certificate in Risk Management for Public Sector Professionals (Dates on application)
- Diploma in Performance Management for Social Care Professionals (Sept 2007 to May 2008, in London)
If you would like to enquire about any of the above courses, please contact Lynn Stocks, on 01423 529515 or by email lynn.stocks@careandhealth.com.
The CIPFA in Scotland Autumn/Winter Events Programme has now been launched. Please visit www.cipfascotland.org.uk/events.cfm for more information.
Implementing the Balanced Scorecard in Public Services 28th August 2007, Glasgow
This course provides participants with practical assistance that will help overcome the difficulties of adopting a scorecard approach to performance management and measurement.
Shared Services Seminar 31st August 2007, Edinburgh
This seminar presents the opportunity to hear from the new Scottish Executive about its views and plans for the use of shared services as a business model within the public services.
Raising Standards in Asset Management Seminar 14th September, 2007, Edinburgh
This seminar presents the opportunity to hear from the Scottish Executive about the priorities of the new administration in terms of asset management as well as hearing an assessment of the state of the art asset management within the public services. The remainder of the seminar will focus on sharing good practice.
7 September 2007, The Spires Centre, Belfast
Alan Clarke, Chief Executive of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, will talk about the lessons learned by NITB and how to take steps to avoid an adverse PAC report as well as how to survive a PAC hearing. For further information and booking, click here or contact Nicola Greer at nicola.greer@cipfa.org or on 028 9026 6770.
6 September 2007, The Culloden Hotel, Belfast
This important event will provide delegates with examples of best practice in procurement from across the United Kingdom and Europe. The seminar is aimed at all those officers in the public services with a role in purchasing and supply. For further info visit www.cipfa.org.uk/ni/seminars.cfm.
27 & 28 September 2007, The Slieve Donard Hotel, Newcastle
Money for public services is tight and becoming tighter. Conference 2007 addresses just how much further change can realistically be delivered as the rate of growth in funding and resources slows down. Is the squeeze on public services becoming almost unbearable?
Now in its 16th year, the CIPFA Northern Ireland conference has built a track record for providing a bold, imaginative and highly relevant programme of inspirational speakers who are prominent in their field and who come with national and international reputations.
For details visit www.cipfa.org.uk/ni/annual_conference.cfm
The theme for this year’s CIPFA Wales Annual Conference “Times they are a’ changing” will reflect on the new challenges that a coalition government will pose and provide a quality opportunity for conference delegates to consider the issues as they affect their own organisations and their personal contribution to shaping and delivering services over the foreseeable future.
Please make a note in your diaries of the dates – 15th and 16th November - and join us at Venue Cymru in Llandudno. Set beneath the glorious foothills of Snowdonia and with spectacular views out to sea, Venue Cymru promises to be an ideal location for this year’s Conference. Contact maria.jones@cipfa.org for further details or look out for information on the conference programme and arrangements for the Annual Dinner at www.cipfa.org.uk/wales over the next few weeks.
CIPFA Wales looks forward to welcoming you to Llandudno.
3, 10, 18, 26 September & 1 October
This new series of briefings for members launches with the following events on Project Management in the Autumn. More detailed information about these and other events in the series and a booking form will shortly be available on http://www.cipfa.org.uk/regions. Please get in touch on 020 7543 5781 if you’d like to know more ahead of this.
- 3 September – London (Robert St)
- 10 September – Leeds (Novotel Leeds)
- 18 September – Northamptonshire (Knuston Hall)
- 26 September – Manchester (Flixton House in Trafford)
- 1 October - Bristol (Express by Holiday Inn Bristol North)
The Audit Commission and the IDeA are asking authorities to take part in a competition and submit entries demonstrating how they have gone through the four stages of innovation.
The best will feature on the Improvement Network, and one winning innovation chosen by the judges will be featured in Local Government Chronicle in the Autumn.
Submissions should be sent to alastair-evans@audit-commission.gov.uk by Friday August 24.
Access the Improvement Network for more information: www.improvementnetwork.gov.uk/imp/core/page.do?pageId=1053607
The work of Exeter City Council in developing a systems-based audit approach to the areas of data protection, freedom of information, records management, health and safety and enterprise risk management has been recognised by being awarded the Sir Harry Page Merit Award.
Find out more at www.cipfa.org.uk/press/press_show.cfm?news_id=30734
The ALC provides auditors with the tools required to manage their performance and to organise, record and manage their professional development. For more details visit ALC.
This year’s Annual Conference saw the signing of a mutual recognition agreement with CPA Australia.
Any of the 13,500 CIPFA members holding a degree recognised by CPA Australia and who have completed the CIPFA Final Test of Professional Competence and three years relevant, mentored practical experience will be eligible for membership of CPA Australia. A similar arrangement is in place for the Australian CPAs.
As the sixth largest accounting body in the world and a leading provider of accountancy services to the Australian public sector, CPA Australia Ltd is an ideal partner for CIPFA.
President of CPA Australia, Paul Meiklejohn FCPA, said 'Opportunities for accountants are no longer constrained by national borders. CPA Australia believes that strong international relationships with other significant and influential accounting bodies, benefits the profession and its members, wherever they are in the world.
Steve Freer said ‘This agreement is a very useful and practical way of increasing professional mobility for accountants on two continents. Young people finishing their training now will have choices that were simply not available to past generations.’
You can find out more about the CPA at www.cpaaustralia.com.au.
Use the CIPFA Learning Centre to set a CPD reminder so you can decide how often you are contacted about your CPD e.g. monthly, annually. Visit the My Membership area of the CLC and got to CPD Profile in the left hand menu www.cipfa.org.uk/clc.
HFMA Awards aim to highlight new ideas and best practice and recognise the contribution and achievements of finance and non-finance staff in several areas. They would like to invite nominations for one or several of the following Awards:
- Accounts Team of the Year Award
- Financial Management Award - Efficiency
- Governance Award
- Foundation Trust of the Year Award
- Finance Director of the Year Award
- NHS Charity Reporting Award
- Clinical Engagement Award
- Jon Havelock Award - Significant Contribution Made Throughout the Year
Find out more and how to submit a nomination before the 28th September deadline at www.hfma.org.uk/news_more.cfm?item_id=3267
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Dear Colleague,
