Public Sector Financial Management
A Five-Day Course for Public Sector Officers and Public Enterprise Managers
About this course
Financial management across the public sector spans government ministries, departments and agencies as well as state corporations, parastatals and public enterprises — each with different financial management demands, from budget-based accountability to commercial financial sustainability. This programme builds a rounded set of financial management skills applicable across this full range of public sector entities.
Over five days, participants will examine financial planning and budgeting, capital investment appraisal, financial reporting and analysis, revenue and subsidy management, and risk and governance — drawing on practices from both government and commercially-oriented public sector entities. The programme closes with a Public Sector Financial Management Action Plan participants can apply directly within their own institution.
Dates, venues & fees
Dates and fees on request. This programme is scheduled on demand, as open enrolment or in-house for your team.
Request datesBy the end of the course
By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:
- Apply financial management principles suited to their type of public sector entity.
- Align financial planning and budgeting with corporate and strategic plans.
- Appraise capital investment proposals and manage working capital effectively.
- Prepare, analyse and benchmark public sector financial statements.
- Apply costing methods to inform pricing and tariff-setting decisions.
- Manage revenue, subsidies and transfers to strengthen financial sustainability.
- Manage financial risk and design internal controls suited to their entity.
- Apply corporate governance principles to strengthen financial oversight.
Designed for
This programme is designed for finance and oversight officers across the public sector, including:
- Finance Directors and Chief Finance Officers of state corporations, parastatals and public enterprises
- Directors of Finance in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)
- Board Members and Audit Committee Members of public sector entities
- Senior Accountants and Financial Analysts in the public sector
- Chief Executive Officers and Managing Directors with financial oversight responsibility
- Officers in Treasury or Ministries responsible for oversight of state corporations and parastatals
Course outline
Day 1: Foundations of Public Sector Financial Management+
- Session 1: Scope of Financial Management Across the Public Sector
- Distinguishing financial management needs across government MDAs, state corporations, parastatals and public enterprises.
- Session 2: Legal, Regulatory and Corporate Governance Framework
- The legal and regulatory framework governing public sector financial management, including corporate governance codes for state entities.
- Session 3: Financial Management Objectives in the Public Sector
- Balancing solvency, financial sustainability, service delivery and value for money as core financial management objectives.
- Session 4: Roles of Boards, Accounting Officers and Finance Directors
- The respective financial oversight roles of Boards, Chief Executive/Accounting Officers and Finance Directors.
Day 2: Financial Planning, Budgeting and Capital Investment+
- Session 1: Linking Corporate and Financial Planning
- Aligning strategic and corporate plans with financial plans and budgets across public sector entities.
- Session 2: Budgeting Approaches Across the Public Sector
- Comparing budgeting approaches for government MDAs and commercially-oriented public enterprises.
- Session 3: Capital Budgeting and Investment Appraisal
- Appraising and budgeting for capital investment in public sector assets and infrastructure.
- Session 4: Managing Working Capital
- Working capital management principles applied to public sector entities, including cash, receivables and inventory.
Day 3: Financial Reporting, Analysis and Performance+
- Session 1: Preparing and Analysing Public Sector Financial Statements
- Financial statement preparation considerations for public sector entities, including IPSAS and IFRS perspectives.
- Session 2: Financial Ratio Analysis and Performance Benchmarking
- Applying ratio analysis and benchmarking to assess the financial health and performance of public sector entities.
- Session 3: Reporting to Oversight Bodies
- Meeting the reporting expectations of Treasury, Parliament or County/State Assembly, and the Auditor-General.
- Session 4: Costing, Pricing and Tariff-Setting for Public Services
- Applying costing methods to inform pricing and tariff-setting decisions for public services and utilities.
Day 4: Revenue, Subsidy Management and Financial Sustainability+
- Session 1: Managing Own-Source and Commercial Revenue
- Strengthening revenue collection and commercial revenue streams across public sector entities.
- Session 2: Managing Subsidies, Grants and Government Transfers
- Accounting for and managing government subsidies, grants and transfers received by public sector entities.
- Session 3: Assessing and Improving Financial Sustainability
- Diagnosing financial sustainability challenges and reducing dependency on subsidies over time.
- Session 4: Managing Surplus and Dividend Remittance
- Managing the remittance of surpluses or dividends to government while preserving operational financial health.
Day 5: Risk, Governance and Capstone+
- Session 1: Financial Risk Management and Internal Controls
- Identifying and managing financial risk; designing internal controls suited to public sector entities.
- Session 2: Corporate Governance and Financial Oversight
- The role of Boards and Audit Committees in financial oversight and governance of public sector entities.
- Session 3: Accountability, Transparency and Anti-Corruption Safeguards
- Embedding transparency and accountability into financial management practice across the public sector.
- Session 4: Public Sector Financial Management Action Plan
- Participants consolidate the week's tools into a Financial Management Action Plan for their entity, presented for facilitator and peer feedback.
How you will learn
The programme uses adult-learning methods suited to experienced officers: facilitator-led input, case study analysis drawn from both government and public enterprise practice, structured peer discussion, worked financial exercises and practical action planning.
Seya Capital certificate
Participants who complete the full five-day programme and present a Public Sector Financial Management Action Plan will receive a Certificate of Completion in Public Sector Financial Management.
Training designed around your organisation
Every course can be delivered privately for your institution, at your premises or a venue of your choice, with case studies and content adapted to your sector and regulatory environment.