To support finance directors in meeting the professional development needs of all their finance staff, the CIPFA Finance Advisory Network is pleased to announce the launch of a new Professional Development Programme (PDP).

Designed for those working in local government finance, it offers a structured programme of technical briefings that will provide an understanding of current and critical local government finance issues, strengthening the organisation's capacity as well as supporting individual development.

Delivered on site, Councils will be able to tailor their own programme to best meet their needs by selecting from a menu of carefully chosen and current topics. The flexible approach to the programme will enable finance staff at various levels of experience to keep up to date and see how their current role fits within the broader context of the council's resource management issues.

There will be two separate options to maximise the range and experience of staff that can potentially benefit.

A full day providing an overview of 4 or 5 current topics selected from the PDP menu. This option will be most suitable for more senior finance staff who require a comprehensive overview of current finance issues. To enable delegates to gain the maximum benefit from the day, the sessions will be designed to be as interactive as possible (maximum of 25 delegates).

A full day providing two half-day sessions each covering a summary of 4 or 5 topics from the PDP menu in 30 - 40 minute presentations. This option will be suitable for all levels of finance related staff who would benefit from a summary of the current financial issues facing local government (morning session repeated after lunch, maximum of 30 delegates per session).

The cost of each day is £1,500 plus expenses (discounted price of £1,400 plus expenses for FAN subscribers).

The PDP menu will be refreshed throughout the year to ensure the topics remain current and relevant. The menu for early 2006/07 includes:

• Breaking Issues: A round up of the emerging legislative and regulatory issues relating to financial management in local government;
• Financial Reporting: Financial Reporting issues will be examined in the context of CPA 2005 and the main messages from the Audit Commission;
• Implications of Three-year settlements: Understanding the implications of 3 year settlements. What will it mean for authorities and how could it improve the planning and performance agenda?
• SORP /BVACOP: SORP 2006 and other future accounting developments. This session will examine the pressures on local authorities to move towards the adoption of UK GAAP.
• Efficiency Planning: How have authorities approached the efficiency agenda? What is the latest guidance from the task force and how will the outcomes be used to assess value for money arrangements by external auditors?
• Improving Internal Control: What are authorities doing in light of the new statement on internal control? How are they identifying key control issues and what is their risk management approach to mitigating their risks?
• World Class Financial Management: The agenda for improving financial management arrangements and how this fits with the drive for improvement in public services.

In common with the schemes of other professional bodies, CIPFA’s CPD scheme is based upon individual’s needs and objectives. However, the content of the PDP programme may well contribute towards delegates’ CPD requirements.

For further information about PDP please contact:

Ian Fifield

Tel: 01708 221 078