Public Finance Launches pfjobs.co.uk

pfjobs.co.uk, a brand new recruitment website for finance professionals, is now live. It is set to become the most important single forum for finance, administration and management jobs in the public sector.

Hundreds of jobs ranging from junior roles through to the most senior finance director positions will be available on the site, which has been launched by Public Finance magazine.

pfjobs.co.uk will be the first port of call for finance staff working in government departments, local authorities, NHS trusts, housing associations and other not-for-profit organisations.

The site has a sophisticated job search function, a CV database and a facility for online applications. Once registered on the site, jobseekers will be alerted by email when positions arise that match their stated criteria.

Education Panel – New Member Sought

The Education Panel is seeking new members. The panel meets 3 to 4 times a year and is responsible for all financial management and policy issues that affect local education authorities and schools. In particular, the panel:

• develops Institute responses to Government, professional and other bodies' consultation/ discussion papers and exposure drafts
• develops, promotes and maintains best practice, standards and guidelines,
  produces and disseminates relevant advice and material for members and employers in local authority education
• establishes positive and productive professional relationships with government departments and agencies, the national audit bodies, professional regulators and other bodies falling within the panel's defined areas of responsibility.

For more information about the panel, visit www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/education

CIPFA Response to the draft Capital Finance Amendments Regulations issued by DCLG

The draft 2007 SORP includes proposals for the adoption of FRS 24 and 25 which deal with Accounting for Financial Instruments.

The changes to Accounting for Financial Instruments had potential impacts on the budget requirements of local authorities. The SORP consultation highlights the need for legislation to mitigate the most severe of these effects and in December 2006 DCLG consulted on draft Capital Finance Amendments Regulations.

CIPFA’s response to the consultation can be found on the CIPFA website at: http://www.cipfa.org.uk/pt

Treasury Management Panel E-Newsletter

CIPFA’s Treasury Management Panel is shortly to launch a quarterly e-newsletter. If you would like to receive a copy please contact Alison Scott on alison.scott@cipfa.org.

For more information about the panel, visit www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/treasury_management

Charities Panel - New Members

The Charities Panel is also seeking new members, it meets four times a year and its areas of interest and activity include:

• finance and policy issues relating to charities and the wider voluntary and community sector
• policy formulation and implementation within strategies and business plans approved by the Public Finance & Management Board
• responding to Government, professional bodies' and other bodies' consultation/ discussion papers and exposure drafts.

For more information about the panel, visit www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/charity

Readers interested in being considered for membership of the CIPFA Charities Panel are invited to contact Julian Smith, Policy Support Officer by email julian.smith@cipfa.org or by post at, CIPFA, 3 Robert Street, London, WC2N 6RL. Please provide a short statement explaining your interest in joining the panel, including any experience you feel is relevant.

Business Continuity Planning

Peter Morley has prepared a short study for the Treasury Management Panel on Business Continuity Planning.

The impetus for this short study came from a discussion at a regular meeting of the London Treasury Officers' Forum – a convention of treasury management practitioners working mainly in London local government and in surrounding county and district councils, who meet frequently to discuss matters of mutual concern and interest. It emerged at one such meeting that only a small number of members had considered and taken action to address the possible implications of a major disruption in their treasury management activities. This study describes the action taken jointly by 2 authorities - the London Boroughs of Camden and Islington - and their bankers, The Co-operative Bank, to mitigate the effects of such a disruption.

A copy of the paper can be downloaded from the Treasury Management Panel website.

SORP 2007 Invitation to Comment

The deadline of 14 February is approaching for comments on proposed changes to the local authority SORP. Read the proposed changes and how to submit comments at: www.cipfa.org.uk/pt/consultations.cfm

CIPFA Certificate in Investigative Practice

CIPFA has launched a new qualification for investigators across public services. CCIP is available now and is delivered by Bond Solon, the leading legal training consultancy for non-lawyers. CCIP is:

• offered in central London or on an in-house basis anywhere in the UK
• modular, candidates can choose the most appropriate units for their job
• aimed primarily at those who have some experience of investigations, but no investigative qualification
• 12 days, plus an assessment day, plus pre and post course study
• established in response to expressed demand
• practical – taking a skills based approach
• flexible – can be completed in six months or up to three years. Each of the modules (e.g. interviewing) can also be taken individually on a stand-alone basis.

Download the course prospectus PDF (667kb)
Download the course booking form Word (37kb) | PDF (44kb)

Find out more from Julie LeMasurier 020 8667 8598/Julie.leMasurier@ipf.co.uk. Alternatively, visit the CIPFA Better Governance website: www.cipfanetworks.net/governance.

Recruitment

CIPFA in Scotland is currently recruiting for two posts; a Policy & Technical Officer and a Business Development Manager. The closing date for applications is 2 February 2007. For further information about these and other CIPFA vacancies visit www.cipfa.org.uk/job.cfm.

Training Courses and Events in Scotland

2007 CIPFA in Scotland Annual Conference and Exhibition

1 & 2 March 2007, Glasgow
Driving Public Value is the theme of the 2007 CIPFA in Scotland Annual Conference and Exhibition on 1st and 2nd March, 2007 in Glasgow. Speakers include:

• Prof. Mark Moore, Hauser Professor of Non-Profit Organisations and Faculty Director of the Hauser Center, John F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
• Will Hutton, Chief Executive, The Work Foundation
• Dr David Levy, Controller, Public Policy BBC Strategy
• Mark Serwotka, General Secretary, Public and Commercial Services Union

For full programme details or to book online visit www.cipfascotland.org.uk/conference

Local Government Finance Practitioners Technical Update

23 March 2007, Edinburgh
This seminar is the key event for finance practitioners and auditors working in or with local government who wish to ensure they are up-to-date with the latest developments. The programme includes 2006 SORP; group accounts; new financial instrument standards and future development in local authority capital finance. Read more at www.cipfascotland.org.uk/events_details.cfm?events_ID=1741

For the full Training & Events programme for Spring/Summer 2007 go to http://www.cipfa.org.uk/scotland/events.cfm.

AAT NVQ in Payroll Administration

Level 2 and Level 3 – February 2007
The AAT Payroll qualification will help you to develop the skills and knowledge required for payroll preparation and administration. This qualification is aimed particularily at payroll administrators and managers who wish to develop their knowledge in this area.

The qualification enables you to achieve a qualification based on nationally recognised standards and competencies at both NVQ Level 2 and NVQ Level 3.

For further information and to book go to www.cipfa.org.uk/ni/professional_development.cfm

Forthcoming Training Courses

Introduction to Payroll - 6 February 2007, Belfast

Process Mapping and Process Benchmarking - 19 February 2007, Belfast

Best Practice in Performance Management - 20 Feb/13 Mar/16 Apr 2007 , Belfast

Resource Budgeting through Estimates to Accounts - 22 & 23 February 2007, Belfast

Effective Change Management in the Workplace - 26 & 27 February 2007, Belfast

PMPA LECTURE

Sir Gus O’Donnell, Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service
The Civil Service: The Way Forward

6th February 2007
All CIPFA Members are invited to the February PMPA lecture, to be given by Sir Gus O’Donnell. With Capability Reviews, Professional Skills for Government and the prospect of a change of Prime Minister during 2007, there can be no better time to hear what the head of the civil service has to say about the way forward.

The venue is Kings College London, B.5. Auditorium, Waterloo Campus, Franklin-Wilkins Building, Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH. The event will start at 5.45 with a reception at 7pm. To register your interest for this free lecture please visit www.pmpa.co.uk or email sandra.harper@cipfa.org.

Tools to Manage Improvement

There have been a number of additions to the Improvement Tools resource. Local authority managers and practitioners can now access new information on the themes of: Change Management, Communication, Performance Management, Personal Performance, Project Management, Recruitment and Induction, and Work-Life Balance:

www.improvementnetwork.gov.uk/imp/core/page.do?pageId=1900000006

CIPFA members can also access these tools directly from the CIPFA Learning Centre where they are positioned as the Management and Leadership resources. Access the tools at: http://learning.cipfa.org.uk/default_content.asp?explore=1 (members will be required to register).

CIPFA Joins Forces With Investors in People

CIPFA has joined forces with Investors In People to provide employers with a fast track route to best practice accreditation.

Following a new agreement, employers with Investors In People status can now be awarded CIPFA accredited employer status without having to be formerly assessed by the institute. Parallels between CIPFA and Investors In People’s business improvement and employee development philosophies make the partnership a natural step forward for both organisations. Read more

Find out how your employer can apply for automatic CIPFA accreditation for CPD purposes on the Cipfa Learning Centre website at http://learning.cipfa.org.uk.

Partnerships and Other Alliances: Case Studies from the Further and Higher Education Sectors (2007) (Available 30 January 2007)

CIPFA’s Further and Higher Education Panel believes that the sectors’ institutions could benefit from sharing the experiences of successful partnerships that also highlight issues to be aware of, including potential pitfalls and risks. Accordingly, the Panel has developed this publication. It delivers in-depth descriptions of four very different partnerships and alliances in place in four very different institutions. It also contains an introductory section which develops key themes and provides guidance and advice for institutions that are considering entering into partnerships or alliances. more

Best Value Accounting Code of Practice 2006 more

Code of Practice for Internal Audit in Local Government in the United Kingdom 2006 more

Systems Based Auditing Control Matrices: Series 5 more

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