Finance Skills for Public Sector Managers

This DIXONTECH course equips public sector professionals with essential financial management, budgeting, and cost-control capabilities needed to ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in managing public resources. Participants will gain a solid understanding of financial principles, performance-based budgeting, and policy compliance within governmental and non-profit frameworks to enhance decision-making and resource allocation.

TRAINING TOPICS

• Foundations of Public Financial Management
• Budgeting Techniques and Fiscal Responsibility
• Financial Reporting and Accountability Frameworks
• Cost Control and Value-for-Money Analysis
• Performance and Risk-Based Budgeting

BY THE END OF THIS TRAINING COURSE, DELEGATES WILL BE ABLE TO:

• Apply core financial principles in public management
• Prepare and manage government budgets effectively
• Implement transparent reporting and auditing practices
• Strengthen fiscal accountability and compliance
• Optimize resource allocation and expenditure efficiency
• Interpret key financial indicators in public finance

TRAINING IS TAILORED TO:

• Public sector managers and administrators
• Finance and accounting officers
• Budgeting and planning professionals
• Auditors and compliance officers
• Project and program managers
• Policy advisors and analysts

TRAINING METHODOLOGY

This course blends expert-led discussions, case studies, and hands-on exercises based on real public sector scenarios. Participants engage in interactive group work and role-play simulations to apply budgeting, reporting, and decision-making techniques, ensuring immediate workplace relevance and measurable learning outcomes.

DAY 1

FOUNDATIONS OF PUBLIC FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Understanding public finance principles and systems
• Distinction between private and public financial management
• Overview of fiscal policies and public expenditure control
• Key financial management objectives in public institutions
• Importance of transparency and accountability in governance
• Overview of government financial regulations
• Understanding national and local budget structures

DAY 2

BUDGETING TECHNIQUES AND FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Stages of public sector budgeting and approval
• Budget classification and chart of accounts
• Zero-based and performance-based budgeting approaches
• Managing multi-year and capital budgets
• Linking budgets to national development plans
• Tools for forecasting and financial planning
• Handling budget variances and adjustments

DAY 3

FINANCIAL REPORTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY FRAMEWORKS

• Public financial reporting standards (IPSAS & IFRS)
• Components of financial statements in government entities
• Audit trails and accountability mechanisms
• Role of internal control and financial compliance
• Cash versus accrual accounting in public institutions
• Integrating financial information systems (IFMIS)
• Enhancing transparency through public disclosures

DAY 4

COST CONTROL AND VALUE-FOR-MONEY ANALYSIS

• Identifying and classifying public sector costs
• Cost allocation and cost-benefit analysis techniques
• Evaluating efficiency and effectiveness in spending
• Benchmarking financial performance in the public sector
• Managing operating and capital expenditure
• Financial decision support for resource allocation
• Assessing value-for-money in service delivery
• Reducing waste and optimizing cost efficiency

DAY 5

PERFORMANCE AND RISK-BASED BUDGETING

• Linking budget allocation to key performance indicators
• Using financial data for performance evaluation
• Managing fiscal risks and contingency planning
• Aligning budgets with strategic and operational goals
• Developing accountability scorecards for departments
• Financial risk management frameworks in government
• Building a sustainable public financial culture