CIPFA IT Audit and Security Update 2009: Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC)
8-9 July - Birmingham
2008 will go down as the year for reported security breaches – causing embarrassment to organisations and forcing the Information Commissioner’s Office to name and shame organisations. Therefore, this year’s update will outline what steps you need to take to minimise the opportunity for security
breaches to take place by:

• Ensuring that senior management understand their governance responsibilities
  
• Undertaking effective Information Asset Risk Management
  
• Establishing robust compliance systems and programmes to ensure constant vigilance

As we live in an increasingly mobile/remote environment, effective Governance, Risk & Compliance is essential. Book online now.

Making Better Use of Excel - IT Faculty Spring Road show, 2009

- Using spreadsheets to work smarter not harder
- Using Excel to make the most of your accounting data
- MS Access – the best Excel add-on

This course is designed to show you practical ways to improve your spreadsheets in order to make them quicker to set up, easier to use and more likely to give you the right answer. For more details please click here.

Enterprise Resource Management Systems
The IT Panel is giving consideration to the role of ERM Systems in the Public Sector. One example of such a study for the commercial sector is Accenture's The Return of Enterprise Solutions: The Director's Cut.

Shared Services: Where Now? A Guide to Public Sector Implementation
There are plenty of technical, commercial and cultural pitfalls that can delay or even derail the implementation of shared service projects. ‘Shared Services – where now?’ is a comprehensive ‘how to’ guide through the key steps required for successful implementations. The publication is the essential toolkit for use by leaders and practitioners responsible for turning the shared services concept into a practical and efficient reality. More information is available from the CIPFA Shop.

Performance Improvement Network.
 The CIPFA Performance Improvement (PIN) Network offers timely advice, practical support and know-how to public sector practitioners on all aspects of the strategic performance agenda.  PIN brings a more rounded perspective on improvement issues. Drawing on CIPFA’s experience, this service  focuses on three themes: performance, technology and procurement. More information is available at www.cipfanetworks.net/pin

Volunteer Feedback Survey
We are always eager to hear existing (and potential) panel members' views on how we can help support you better. The Volunteer Survey offers a formal mechanism for you to feed back your views to CIPFA.

Chair of CIPFA's IT Panel
Alan Edwards chairs the CIPFA IT Panel. Alan is Chair of the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.

Currently, Panel work includes a focus on Shared Services, with publications and a course event in preparation (see below for further details of the event and how to book). Other issues of interest for the Panel include:

- IT risks
- Benchmarking for example to support levels in SLAs
- Shared financial systems
- Professionalism in the IT function
- Value for money in IT
- Governance around IT projects
- IT Strategic Partnerships

For more information about the Panel’s work please email matthew.allen@cipfa.org