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 With
two decades of continued success behind them the CIPFA
Education and Training Centre (CETC) celebrated its
20 year anniversary with a lunch reception on Friday
1st September.
CETC began providing courses for CIPFA qualifications
in 1986 and now supports many hundreds of students each
year through the courses offered at its locations in
London, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Cardiff.
Attending the event which marked the 20 year anniversary
to the day, were 100 guests comprising former students;
current and previous members of staff; employers and
past and present Governors.
Speaking at the event, Caroline Gardner CIPFA President
said: “CIPFA is at the heart of the public sector,
influencing change and driving forward high standards
of practice in financial management. As a key part of
the CIPFA family, CETC is influential in ensuring that
future CIPFA members are equipped to become effective
financial managers. CETC’s strengths lie in its
enthusiasm, commitment, and dedication. These are the
reasons that CIPFA students choose CETC and the reasons
they will continue to do so.”
Reflecting on the occasion, Gary Gilbert, Head of CETC
and member of staff since CETC began, said: “I
am proud to have been part of the past 20 years of CETC’s
history and am very much looking forward to a future
of continued growth and sustained high quality in our
course provision for CIPFA students.”
CETC’s programme of revision courses leading
to the CIPFA Professional Accountancy Qualification
December 2006 exams begins in November at all locations
– London, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and for
the first time Cardiff. Open to all CIPFA students the
courses are intensive and module-specific with a focus
on improving exam technique.
Courses are popular and so early booking is recommended
which can be done by downloading the enrolment form
from the CETC website: www.cetc.org.uk or calling 020 7403 4300.
For further information on revision courses please contact
Julia Knight at CETC on Julia.knight@cetc.org.uk.
CIPFA has submitted a response to the Scottish Executive's
consultation paper which sets out a national strategy
for shared services. The response was prepared in partnership
with the CIPFA Scotland Local Government Directors of
Finance Section. Download
the PDF here.
Good
Governance in Partnerships Seminar - 6 October,
Edinburgh
This seminar will examine how a partnership is to be
directed and controlled, the stage in the life cycle
which the partnership is at, as well as the structure
of the partnership itself.
Asset
Management Planning Seminar - 9 October, Edinburgh
This one day seminar is designed specifically to provide
both a strategic and practical context for asset management.
A range of public bodies from throughout the UK will
contribute to this key event.
Annual
Performance Management Seminar - 12 October, Edinburgh
CIPFA
in Scotland Development Weekend: Transforming Teams
- 27 October, Cumbernauld
 17
November 2006, Stormont Hotel, Belfast
All modern-day organisations require robust financial
and administrative policies, procedures and systems.
However, of more importance is the team of people who
are responsible for managing and operating the application
of sound financial processing and financial management.
Development of the finance team is essential to ensure
professional, technical and general skills are constantly
kept up to date with best practice.
CIPFA recognises these needs and, with advice from
leading practitioners, is pleased to offer an innovative
and unique conference that provides a line-up of high
calibre speakers who will address a range of topical
issues effecting staff working in finance and finance-related
functions.
Keynote speakers include Saira Khan,
runner-up on BBC 2’s ‘The Apprentice’
season one and leading motivational speaker and Nathan
Elvery, Britain’s youngest Finance Director
from Croydon Council.
To book a place on this exciting seminar please contact
Emily Brown via e-mail at emily.brown@cipfa.org
Alternatively, please call Emily on 028 9026 6774.
Making
Shared Services Happen
12 October 2006
The sixth in the series of the CIPFA Branch lunchtime
events, Making Shared Services Happen, will be held
on 12 October 2006 in Grosvenor House, Belfast.
Two practical shared services case studies at different
stages of development are discussed in this session.
First, the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern
Ireland is leading an ambitious programme to create
a shared service centre by March 2008 that will centralise
the payment and transaction processing function for
all central government departments. Second, the NHS
Shared Services Financial Services was piloted in 2004
and is now reaping the benefits.
If you are interested in attending, please register
on-line at www.cipfa.org.uk/ni/event_booking_form.cfm
Alternatively, please complete and return the branch
booking form. For further information, please contact
Anna Egner via e-mail at anna.egner@cipfa.org.
Best
Practice in Audit Committees - 1 November 2006
Audit Committees are a key element of good governance.
The course outlines best practice for audit committee
members. This course is part of the 2006 Audit Training
Programme.
Train
the Trainer - 2 & 3 November 2006
This course will help you plan, prepare and deliver
effective training. It will provide you with a toolkit
of training methods and techniques.
How good is your Governance? - 6 November 2006
Part of the Ensuring Board Effectiveness programme,
this workshop is designed to help Boards and senior
managers assess how well they are operating against
the standards identified in the Good Governance Standard
produced by the Independent Commission on Good Governance
in the Public Services in 2005.
Preparing
for the Next Step in your Career - 7 & 8 November
2006
This highly interactive workshop will build the confidence
and skills needed to present yourself successfully at
your next job interview.
Managing
Quality, Risk and Communication Projects - 8 November
2006
Part of the Best Practice and Project Management, this
module considers these three key components of project
management. It reviews quality from two complementary
perspectives: the ‘process’ and the ‘products’
associated with a project's delivery. It also addresses
the identification, analysis and response to project
risk and considers communication requirements. The module
is aimed at new and experienced Project Managers who
wish to build on their project quality, risk and communication
management skills. The module is particularly helpful
for new project managers and those working in multi-stakeholder
environments.
Value
for Money Audit - 9 November 2006
Part of the 2006 Audit Training Programme, this workshop
aims to provide delegates with the knowledge required
to complete a value for money study. The course will
focus on the methodologies and techniques used to complete
such a study.
Fundamentals
of Public Sector Marketing - 9 & 10 November
2006
This course will introduce you to the major concepts
of marketing for the public sector. You will emerge
with an invaluable template that will allow you to introduce
these concepts within your area of responsibility.
Finance
for Non-Financial Managers - 14 & 15 November
2006
This course will help you undertake financial management
activities and, in particular, will assist you in the
planning, monitoring and control of budgets.
Grant-Funding
in the Public Sector - 16 & 17 November 2006
Giving money away is a challenging business! This course
provides an overview of the public sector grant-funding
environment and includes practical tips and good practice
advice for each key stage of the grants process.
Finance
for Board Members - 17 November 2006
Part of the Ensuring Board Effectiveness programme,
the purpose of this workshop is to provide Board members
with a clear understanding of their role in financial
management and the relationship between finance and
strategy.
Surviving
an Audit - 21 November 2006
This course will provide you with an insight into the
work of auditors and provide tips for building a good
working relationship with auditors.
Creating
Successful Promotional Materials - 23 & 24 November
2006
This two-day course focuses on both the macro (strategic)
and micro (tactical) issues. To be successful, delegates
must be able to create marketing and promotional strategies
that motivate their constituencies to act - they must
execute those strategies flawlessly. The objective of
the course is to provide up-to-the-minute, research-based
and practical information to make smart decisions.
Accounting
Standards Update - 24 November 2006
This seminar will update you on the latest changes in
accounting standards and provide and insight into likely
future developments.
Project
Management Tools - 27 November 2006
Part of the Best Practice in Project Management Award,
this workshop introduces delegates to use Mircosoft
Excel and Mircosoft Project to plan a project, manage
progress and control a project budget. This module is
aimed at staff who will either manage projects or play
a significant role in the project team.
Accruals
Accounting - 28 & 29 November 2006
This in-depth course will provide you with an understanding
of the concepts and principles underpinning financial
accounting in the public services and a working knowledge
of accounting techniques.
Fraud
Investigation in the Public Sector - 30 November
& 1 December 2006
This in-depth course will provide you with an understanding
of the fraud investigation process and the procedural
legislation governing investigations in the public sector.
Strategy,
Risk and Performance Management for Board Members
- 30 November 2006
Part of the Ensuring Board Effectiveness programme,
it is essential that Board members understand the political
and economic environment their organisations are operating
in, think and act strategically and are able to develop
clear policies for longer-term development.
 Following
the success of the 2005 event, the Wales conference
will return to the Holland House Hotel in Cardiff on
the 16th and 17th November 2006. With a number of new
and exciting developments emerging within the public
services agenda for Wales the conference programme will
be packed with opportunities for delegates to listen
to a number of eminent speakers, participate in workshops
and network with fellow colleagues over the two days.
Sessions will include:
- Strengthening Government in Wales
- Beyond Boundaries – the Beecham review
- Sustainability issues
- Impact of third sector partnerships
- Economic development policy issues
- Creating an effective life—care environment
- Service delivery – models for change
- Prioritising change and sustaining improvement
The conference will be supported by a substantial exhibition
area and delegates will be joined by a number of invited
guests at the Annual Dinner on the evening of the 16th.
An online booking form is now available via the CIPFA
Wales website www.cipfa.org.uk/wales
and full and comprehensive details are now being distributed
to potential delegates.
Details for a new one day session 'An Introduction
to Accounting Standards' are now available. The sessions
will provide an opportunity for those involved in the
preparation, closure and signing-off of the annual accounts
to achieve a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory
framework for Accounting in Wales and the Accounting
Standards that underpin the framework.
Click on one of the dates below to find out more and
to book:
Other events in the final planning stage include:
28th September – Local Government Accounting
Technical Update – 2006 SORP and other developments
Nov/Dec – Local Government Accounting Technical
Update – 2007 SORP and other developments
Nov – Local Government service specific developments
in Education and Social Services
Full details of these events will be posted on www.cipfa.org.uk/wales/events.cfm
as soon as they become available.
 This
event will take place at the De Vere Whites Hotel, Bolton
(Reebok Stadium) in the Lion of Vienna Suite on Friday
13 October 2006.
The conference programme will include the following
presentations:
- Shared Services - Michael Kitts, PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP
- Achieving a radical change through systems thinking
- Mark Smith, Ellesmere Port & Neston BC
- CPA – lessons from the past, thoughts
for the future - Tim Watkinson, Audit Commission
- Open All Hours - Lesley Courtney, Flintshire
County Council & Sam Kelly, Manchester City Council
- Change Blindness and How it Inhibits Development
- John Lee, Cheshire County Council
- Sustainability and Ethics - Thomas Lewis,
CIPFA
- Beecham Review – Prevention, Cure or
still a headache? - John Newton, Deloittes
For further information and to book please contact
Shaer Halewood on 01824 706267 or shaer.halewood@denbighshire.gov.uk.
You can also visit the NW&NW
Regions section of the website for details.
The Lyons Inquiry is due to present its final report
in December 2006. Amongst its tasks, the Inquiry has
been charged with assessing the case for shifting to
a more locally-based balance of funding and analysing
options for raising supplementary revenue. Possible
options for reform include re-localisation of the business
rates and greater use of charging for services.
The purpose of this seminar, organised by INLOGOV at
Birmingham University, is to debate possible reforms
to the finance system in the run up to the production
of the final report. Sir Michael Lyons will provide
an introductory overview and delegates will hear from
leading experts in local finance including Steve Freer,
Tony Travers, Stephen Bailey, Iain McLean and Sally
Burlington, Head of Secretariat of the Lyons Inquiry.
Attendance at this seminar, which will be held under
Chatham House rules, represents a key opportunity to
influence this critically important debate.
Contact 0121-414 4999, e-mail f.e.wilson@bham.ac.uk
Click
here for further details and to book or you can
download
a pdf of the seminar ad/booking form.
 A
new strategy tool from the Improvement Network will
enable managers to understand the influences on an organisation,
develop strategic focus, and support strategy implementation.
You will need to subscribe to this service.
Find out more at www.improvementnetwork.gov.uk.
Members with an interest in International Development,
particularly CIPFA’s work in this area, will welcome
the launch of a CIPFA International Development e-newsletter
this month.
The newsletter will include topical information, news,
resources, case studies and technical commentary on
issues that impact on CIPFA members and students working
in both the UK and developing countries.
All recipients of the CIPFA e-newsletter will also
receive the first edition of the new International Development
e-newsletter in September.
If you are aware of anybody who would benefit from
receiving the newsletter please send their details direct
to marc.teiman@cipfa.org.
Effective Inspection and Regulation in Education,
Training and Children's Services
3 October 2006, 27 Queen Anne’s Gate, London
David Bell (Permanent Secretary, Department for
Education and Skills)
Chairman: Sir Brian Bender (Permanent Secretary, Department
of Trade and Industry)
David Bell will talk about the role of an effective
inspection and regulation system in modern education,
training and children's services. He will examine developments
in inspection and regulation practice in recent years,
and will look ahead to the creation of a new, enlarged
Ofsted, comprising education and children's services.
Delivering Respect: Why Strengthening Communities
and Making Public Services More Accountable is at the
Heart of Success
7 November 2006, Robert Street, London
Louise Casey (The Government's Co-ordinator for
Respect)
Louise Casey will explain how increasing the accountability
and responsiveness of public services to local communities
is central to the Government's Respect programme. She
will set out the measures being implemented to achieve
this, and show how communicating with both practitioners
and local communities is vital to securing real change
to tackle and prevent anti-social behaviour on the ground.
Leading and Measuring Improvement in Local
Government
6 December 2006, Middlesbrough
Colin Moore (Chief Executive of Redcar & Cleveland
Council)
John Wilson (Dean, Teesside Business School, University
of Teesside)
Chair: Barbara Roche (former MP for Hornsey and Wood
Green)
Since 1997 the Labour Government has emphasised the
need to improve public services, not least those provided
by local government. Considerable efforts have been
made to put in place external assessment arrangements
which encourage and measure improvements, particularly
Comprehensive Performance Assessment. This seminar considers
the success of these efforts by focusing on the experiences
of one local authority and placing them into the wider
context of leadership and service improvement in local
government.
The Civil Service—The Way Forward
6 February 2007, London
Sir Gus O’Donnell (Cabinet Secretary and Head
of the Home Civil Service)
Details TBA.
For more information visit www.pmpa.co.uk,
ring Sandra Harper on 0207 543 5679 or email info.pmpa@cipfa.org.
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The
CIPFA 2007 conference and exhibition will be held in
Bournemouth, 12-14 June 2007.
