Understanding Finance

Every public servant has a responsibility to make sound financial decisions for their organisation and to use public resources – funds – appropriately. All decisions have a financial impact, from hiring staff to buying equipment. For team leaders and managers who have accountability for organisational decision-making, or for managing budgets, understanding government finance is a critical skill.

Finance and accounting teams are expected to have in-depth understanding of accounting policies and procedures. Non-finance managers and leaders are spared some of this responsibility but are still expected to know how to read and interpret the financial information provided by those teams and make sound financial decisions based on this data.

This two-day program presents the nuances and complexity of managing budgets, reading financial statements and the PGPA Act in a clear and concise format, filled with practical work-based activities.

Is this course right for you?

Understanding Government Finance is ideal for those who are relatively new to the public service or are a non-finance manager looking to refresh and renew your knowledge and skills around government finance and governance processes.

Learning Outcomes:

At the completion of this program, participants will be able to:

• Describe financial concepts and processes in the APS
• Apply financial frameworks in using and managing resources
• Read financial statements to identify assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses
• Describe the “big” picture of financial accountabilities and responsibilities
• Recognise what resource management includes and the impact on agency performance