CIPFA Training and Development

Finance Training Academy

Cost effective blended learning for Local Authorities

The new Finance Training Academy, unveiled in October 2011, is an innovative training programme for employees of Local Authorities in England and Wales providing key financial management, performance and governance skills.

It can be tailored for each organisation’s needs and the blended learning approach provides a cost-effective and high quality approach to training for today’s public services.

CIPFA’s Finance Training Academy will get your staff financially competent, up-to-date and contributing toward achieving organisational objectives.

Effective online and classroom-based learning

Drawing on our in-depth knowledge of financial management and local government, the Finance Training Academy will allow you to:

  • Create a tailored, blended learning package that meets you and your organisation’s needs and budget
  • Access the expertise, guidance and insight from the leading public finance body in the UK
  • Reward those passing the Academy through accreditation from the UK’s leading training bodies
  • Ensure learning outcomes are easily measurable in terms of the benefits to the organisation
  • Avoid travel and accommodation costs and long journeys with staff time away from the office
  • Gain greater flexibility through a blend of on-line materials and face-to-face training

Identify your organisation’s training needs

If you are unsure of your organisation’s skills and development needs CIPFA can work with you to identify any gaps through a Training Needs Analysis (based upon our Financial Management Model).

Individuals can complete standalone modules or complete the full Academy programme. Those completing the necessary modules receive a certified accreditation in financial skills, endorsed by CIPFA and certified to NQF Level 3. Attendance on all courses counts towards CPD.

'We are committed to improving financial capability across the organisation and with CIPFA’s innovative programme of blended learning, Lambeth is able to move forward with confidence.'

Georgia Nicolaou, Head of Learning and Development, Finance and Resources, London Borough of Lambeth

Who benefits from the Finance Training Academy?

  • Local government non-finance staff with budget responsibility
  • Employees in public bodies aspiring to management roles
  • Non-finance professionals in all Local Authorities
  • Public sector organisations who have identified gaps in financial management competencies

Content and structure

CIPFA’s online learning platform allows participants access to simple, effective and engaging online elements that provide added value to the training programme.

The programme of training is customised to meet the needs of each organisation. The materials, both on the learning platform and during the actual training, provide a unique mix of best practice, guidance and interactive case studies taken from across the public sector.

View some of the themes and modules delivered so far in 2011

CIPFA will work with your organisation to identify skills gaps through a Training Needs Analysis, based upon our Financial Management Competency Framework.

From this, we will provide specific topic-based or organisational themes that will form the core training offering. The following modules and themes have been delivered through our Finance Academy in 2011:


  • – Achieving Value for Money
  • – Introduction to Local Government Finance and Public Sector Accounting
  • – Essential Financial Regulations
  • – Effective Budget Management
  • – Countering the Risk of Fraud
  • – Bidding for Grants
  • – Procure to Pay
  • – Closing Accounts and IFRS
  • – Structures, Governance and Scrutiny
  • – Risk Management
  • – Economic Appraisal and the Business Case
  • – Communication and Presentation of Figures
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