Continuing Professional Development

Are you the Public Sector FD of the Year?

Real Finance, the largest circulation magazine for UK FDs, is hosting an awards competition for finance directors early next year. They're looking for nominations to go forward to a shortlist for PUBLIC SECTOR FD OF THE YEAR. RF readers will then vote on the FD they think has shown outstanding qualities during the year. "This is a great chance to celebrate excellence in public sector finance," says Steve Freer, CIPFA chief executive. "We'd like to see the role of the FD in the public sector recognised and championed." So get nominating. Simply send the name and organisation of an FD you think has shown outstanding qualities to editor@realfinance.net along with a brief outline of why they deserve recognition. All e-mail will be treated in the strictest confidence, and we are promised, you won't be contacted for any marketing purposes. More information at http://www.realfinance.net.

Consolidation - Regional Meetings

CIPFA is inviting members and students to give their views on the proposed consolidation with CIMA and ICAEW at a series of meetings around the country. The President, Vice President or immediate Past President will attend these events and welcome your comments.

Refreshments will be available and the agenda is deliberately unstructured to encourage a dialogue. We hope as many of you as possible will take this opportunity to attend. We look forward to meeting you and to hearing your thoughts on the proposals.
All meetings are hosted by the region in which the meeting takes place. For more information on any of these events, please contact the relevant region via CIPFA’s website. http://www.cipfa.org.uk/regions/

New updates from TIS TIS Capital has been completely updated and the new content has been published. It takes into account the new prudential regulations and has examples of various types of documentation and plans that local authorities have to produce. The Prudential Code is also available on the Website – www.tisonline.net If anyone is interested in a free trial of tisonline, they should contact Sarah Ellison on 020 7340 1203 or email: Sarah.Ellison@ipf.co.uk. New benchmarking club for insurance IPF Benchmarking are planning to launch a new Benchmarking Club for Insurance. For each Club that is launched, a Steering Committee of volunteers is formed. We had an overwhelming response to our request for volunteers from insurance professionals within local authorities. The meeting will be taking place on 29 September, after which point a pilot exercise will be carried out and the Club will be launched in the New Year. New procurement training now available IPF Training launched its new Procurement Development and Training programme this summer. Our considerable work in public sector finance & procurement has been used to design an offering that will capitalise on organisations internal resources and build development into the future. If you would like a hard-copy/ PDF of the new brochure or to set-up a meeting to discuss your organisation's procurement development then please e-mail; jason.cole@ipf.co.uk or call; 01403 791587. Forthcoming IPF events CIPFA Better Governance Forum - Annual Conference Turning the tide - Good governance in the making 28 and 29 October, Brighton Conference delegates will hear keynote speeches from Sir Alistair Graham, Chair of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Assistant Commissioner Tarique Ghaffur of New Scotland Yard's Specialist Crime Division and Sir Michael Bichard, Rector of the London Institute who recently chaired the inquiry into the data sharing issues surrounding the Soham murders. Delegate numbers for the conference are limited by the size of the venue so early booking is recommended. A copy of the full conference programme and booking form is available at http://www.ipf.co.uk/governance/ events/turningthetide.pdf or by ringing Anita Hawkins on 020 8667 8577

Implementing the Prudential Code - key lessons for local authorities The CIPFA FAN is pleased to announce that this series will update delegates on the latest guidance emerging from CIPFA and beyond on the operation of the Prudential Code and its effects on local authority Capital Investment Planning. Events will take place on 2 Nov (Leeds), 3 Nov (Manchester), 4 Nov (Durham) and 9 Nov (Builth Wells). For more information visit: http://www.ipf.co.uk/bestvalue/BVQ/FAN/Events /keylessons.htm Series 03/04 Construction and Property Services workshops: Risk, a four-letter word or a long sentence? This next series of Construction & Property Forum events will help you challenge your current approaches to risk management. Are you as good at risk management as you think you are? Are there ways of doing it differently to make it more robust? Events will take place on 2 Nov (Blackburn), 3 Nov (Builth Wells), 4 Nov (Taunton), 9 Nov (Peterborough), 10 Nov (Durham), 11 Nov (Burton-On-Trent), 19 Nov (London). For more information visit: http://www.ipf.co.uk/bestvalue/BVQ/construction /Events/series304prog.htm Managing Project Risk, 1-Day interactive workshop, delivered by Ian Meach, Risk Management Associate Managing by project has almost become a truism in public services. But projects can be risky affairs. All too often deadlines slip by, costs over-run or end products fail to live up to initial promise. As such, valuable resource is wasted and public confidence in the organisation can be further eroded. To help you manage projects more effectively within your organisation the CIPFA Better Governance Forum has arranged a series of interactive one day workshops on Managing Project Risk on 8 Nov (London), 16 Nov (York), 6 Dec (Edinburgh) 9 Dec (Chester). For more information visit: http://www.ipf.co.uk/Governance/events/projectrisk.htm Preparing for housing inspections 2004/2006 - A materclass for RSL housing professionals This Masterclass has been specifically designed for housing professionals working in RSLs across England - who want to learn more about the process of inspection and acquire key skills that will support them to manage the process of assessment far more effectively. The masterclasses will take place on 6 Oct and 11 Nov in London. For more information visit: http://www.ipf.co.uk/bestvalue/BVQ/ Housing/Events/inspection.htm

Scottish News Latest Edition

The latest edition of Scottish News, the newsletter of CIPFA in Scotland is now live online. In this edition you will find articles on the proposed merger of CIPFA with CIMA and ICAEW, a feature on the 2004 Weekend School as well as details of the new CIPFA Financial Management Model and policy and technical updates in Local Government, Health and Housing.

UPCOMING EVENTS & COURSES

Local Government Practitioners Technical Update – 2 November 2004 – Edinburgh

Due to demand, CIPFA in Scotland are providing Local Government Practitioners with the second Technical Update for 2004. The programme will include 2005 SORP – An Overview of the Proposed Amendments; Trading Accounts - The Practitioners Perspective; Trading Accounts - Audit Issues; Toward Group Accounts; Preparing for the Euro in Local Government in Scotland. Read more

Audit Committee Principles Conference – 8 November 2004 - Edinburgh

Managing Under Pressure – 18 November 2004 – Edinburgh

Risk Management Workshop: Backing The Future – 22 November 2004 – Edinburgh

Other courses in Scotland

02-12-2004 VAT: External Funding Seminar, Edinburgh
09-12-2004 Introduction to Local Government Finance in Scotland: Workshop Edinburgh
10 & 11 March 2005 CIPFA in Scotland Annual Conference & Exhibition, Glasgow

CIPFA in Wales Annual Conference - 18th & 19th November 2004

This year, the CIPFA in Wales Conference takes the theme of “Striving for Excellence”, setting out to answer the key question: ‘how are we doing?’ The event - now in its 4th year - attracts very senior figures from throughout the public services in Wales and beyond. This year's speakers include:

• Dr Dafydd Iwan, President and Leader of Plaid Cymru
• Kim Ryley, Chief Executive, Rhondda Cynon Taff CBC
• Sheila Drury, Chair, Education & Learning in Wales
• Roger Jones, Chairman, Welsh Development Agency
• Julian Kingzett, Project Manager, Wales Audit Office Integration Programme
• Dr Emyr Roberts, Chief Executive, Welsh European Funding Office
• Sir Jon Shortridge, Permanent Secretary, National Assembly for Wales

This is also the second year that the event has been residential, incorporating the CIPFA in Wales Annual Dinner at which the pre-dinner speaker will be David Cornock, BBC Wales Westminster Correspondent.

If you would like further information regarding this event please click here.

Public Training Course Programme

These newly introduced courses focus on improving effectiveness, broadening knowledge and professional development. Some courses are also appropriate for those with little formal training in public sector finance who nevertheless are responsible for the effective and efficient management of public funds. A comprehensive list of courses is provided via www.cipfa.org.uk/wales/events.cfm or a brochure may be requested by contacting wales@cipfa.org

IPA / CIPFA RoI ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2004

This year's Annual Conference will take place at Croke Park, Dublin on 30 November.

The Conference fee is €495. A discount of 10% will apply to group bookings from organisations registering 3 delegates or more. The closing date for bookings is 23 November. Read more

Federation des Experts Comptables Europeens Public (FEE PSC)

The joint Conference with the European Commission on Implementing Accruals Accounting was held on 27 September in Brussels and attracted around 200 delegates. CIPFA assisted prominently in the formulation of the programme and administrative arrangements for the Conference and Caroline Mawhood, chair of CIPFA's Public Finance & Management Board, chaired the morning session. Presenters and Panel Members were from both academe and central government and included accession states, Latvia and the Czech Republic, as well as the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the Commission itself. Presentations will shortly be available on the FEE website www.fee.be

PMPA Autumn 2004 Lecture Series and Publications

Two further Public Management and Policy Association (PMPA) lectures have been confirmed for autumn 2004

10 November Jane Martin
Public Accountability in Practice

30 November Ed Straw
Are we ready? Civil Service reform

The latest PMPA publication ‘Public Accountability in Practice – The Need for Public Scrutiny’ authored by Jane Martin of The Centre for Public Scrutiny – is now available.

For further information on PMPA events, publications and membership rates, please see http://www.cipfa.org.uk/pmpa.

IFAC Employment Opportunities

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is seeking candidates for the following positions to be based in its New York offices.

• Technical Manager, Regulation and Public Policy
• Assistant Technical Manager, Compliance and Developing Nations

More information about IFAC may be found online at www.ifac.org.

Job descriptions for these positions and information concerning preferred background and experience are posted at: www.ifac.org/Downloads/2004_09_07_Assistant_Manager-ComplianceDevelpment.pdf and www.ifac.org/Downloads/2004_09_07_TechMgr-PublicPolicy.pdf

Prudential Code

Preparations are underway for a one day CIPFA conference Strategic Financial Planning and Capital Investment. This will be held in London on Wednesday 15 December. The morning will feature an intensive look at examples drawn from local authorities that have used the new prudential framework in innovative and creative ways. The afternoon will feature expert speakers on how capital investment decisions inter-relate to strategic planning, asset management planning and the legislative framework.

Could you chair CIPFA’s Financial Management Panel

Tom Taylor of Birmingham and the Black Country SHA is stepping down as chair of CIPFA’s Financial Management Panel (FMP). During his chairmanship, CIPFA has introduced the Financial Management Model, and is now looking to continue its work on the improvement agenda.
The Financial Management Panel oversees CIPFA’s work on financial management issues applying across all the public services - central government, local government, social housing, health, police and other regulated industries. It produces and disseminates relevant advice and material on best practice for members and employers on financial management issues, and looks at the developing role of the financial manager and the management of information in today's organisations.
Expressions of interest are invited from CIPFA members who would like to be considered for the role of FMP chair. The position will be on a fixed term of between two and four years. That term is renewable.
More details are available on the FMP website at http://www.cipfa.org.uk/panels/financial_management/about.cfm
To discuss the role, please contact Tom Lewis on 020 7543 5619 .
Expressions of interest should include a brief CV, together with a summary of how candidates would contribute to the role, and their plans for taking forward the work of the Panel.
Please send these to Tom Lewis at thomas.lewis@cipfa.org by Friday 10 December 2004.

Continuing Professional Development

Were you elected to membership in or after January 1994? If so, participation in CIPFA's Continuing Professional Development Scheme becomes mandatory for you from 1 January 2005. Participation in the scheme enables you to maintain and develop skills and knowledge relevant to your career now and in the future. To register in the scheme please visit http://www.cipfa.org.uk/cpd/howtojoin.cfm or for more information please contact Carla Rockson on 020 7543 5706.

Current Developments in Further and Higher Education Finance 2 November 2004, London More... NHS Finance: The Financing of Chronic Disease Management 3 November 2004, London More... Local Authority Accounting: Technical Update Days 17 November 2004, York More... CIPFA in Wales Annual Conference 18-19 November 2004, Cardiff More... Current Developments in RSL Finance 24 November 2004, London More... CJC Annual Conference - The Future of LA Housing 25 November 2004, London More... Social Services Finance Current Budget Issues 26 November 2004, London More... Inspiring confidence – can internal audit deliver the feel good factor? 26 November 2004, London More... Current Developments in Police Finance 29 November 2004, London More... Local Authority Accounting: Technical Update Days 29 November 2004, London More... Changes to Housing Benefit 7 December 2004, London More... Local Government Finance: Strategic Financial Planning and Capital Investment 15 December 2004, London More...		Systems Based Auditing - Control Matrices for IT (Available 13 December 2004) More... Best Value Accounting: Code of Practice 2004 - CD-ROM version (Available 4 November 2004) More... Best Value Accounting: Code of Practice 2004 - binder/loose-leaf version (Scotland) (Available 1 November 2004) (new purchasers) More... Best Value Accounting: Code of Practice 2004 - binder/loose-leaf version (Northern Ireland) (Available 2 November 2004) (new purchasers) More... Guidance for Smaller Public Service Organisations on the Application of the CIPFA Code of Practice for Treasury Management in the Public Services More...

Training and Conference Centre Rooms for Hire The CIPFA group has a number of training and conference rooms which are available for hire in various central London locations: CIPFA, Robert Street (WC2N). Charing Cross/Embankment stations. For further information, visit http://www.cipfa.org.uk conference_centre.cfm CETC, Borough High Street (SE1). Borough station. Contact marilyn.clarke@cetc.org.uk for details. IPF, Queen Anne's Gate (SW1H). St James Park station. Contact Conf.Centre@ipf.co.uk for details. CETC, 154 Great Charles Street, Birmingham (B3). New Street Station. Contact emma.pearson@cetc.org.uk for details.

Out and About The President and Chief Executive attended a lunch on 19th October which was hosted by the Australian High Commission, for the President and Chief Executive of the Chartered Accountants Association of Australia. The President has been invited to join the ICAS 150th Anniversary Conference on 22th October in Edinburgh. The Chief Executive addressed the Association of Council Secretaries and Solicitors Conference on 20th October on Delivering Results. He has also been invited to give a presentation to the Society of County Treasurers Deputies Seminar on 28th October at Warwick on Leadership in Finance. The President and Chief Executive will be attending the first annual seminar of the CIPFA European Group in Brussels on 29th October.

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