News and expert comment on public policy and finance

Professional issues features

How to manage in cyberspaceAs technology advances and pressure mounts on the public sector to cut costs, virtual meetings are a possible solution. But to work effectively in this uncharted territory, leaders will need to adopt skills that may seem alien to them. Ghislaine Caulat advises 01 May 2013
Local tax changes: walk the lineThis month, local authorities face one of their trickiest balancing acts yet. They have to meet the twin challenges of government changes to council tax support and business rates, without losing out on potential benefits for local growth, argues Jonathan Carr-West 01 April 2013
How to survive office politicsDisputes and personality clashes are inevitable in every workplace but can be turned to your advantage. Phil Anderson guides public sector staff through the labyrinth of office politics 01 April 2013
How to negotiate a better way forwardNegotiating is a vital business skill for all public sector managers and increasingly so for finance professionals. But many end up acting as if they're haggling over a used car. Matt Copeland advises 01 March 2013
How to bag that public sector jobHuge spending cuts and radical changes in the public sector are not only shrinking the existing workforce but making it harder for jobseekers to find positions. As more and more people apply for fewer and fewer jobs, candidates need to find ways of standing out from the crowd. Gill Kelly explains how to go about it 01 February 2013
Closing in on the cheatsThe public sector loses billions from fraud each year as criminals exploit technology to further their ends. But IT is also helping the good guys catch up 01 February 2013
Audit: mission internalOn April 1, new internal audit standards come into effect for the whole of the public sector. Creation of this level playing field will bring some changes 01 February 2013
No direction home?Halfway through its term in office, the coalition is still looking for a route map to recovery. The chancellor's Autumn Statement must offer some way out of here, argues Steve Freer 01 November 2012
How to improve your  personal resilienceAs the slings and arrows keep coming, how can the public sector keep calm and carry on? Alex Davda and Vicki Culpin explain ten ways that managers can strengthen themselves and their organisations 01 November 2012
You don't share it wellWhy does Whitehall find it so hard to reap the benefits of shared services? One reason is that departments still put their individual needs first 01 November 2012
There is an alternativeIt is abundantly clear that George Osborne's Plan A has failed. Instead of just waiting for something to turn up, he needs to use the Autumn Statement to launch a radical programme for economic recovery, argue Malcolm Prowle and Roger Latham 01 October 2012
Pulling togetherShared services cannot compensate for 28% cuts to local government grants. But they can help break down silos and deliver more seamless outcomes to the public, the LGA's Peter Fleming says 01 October 2012
How to work with business partnersTo survive and thrive in a harsh climate, public bodies need to nurture a sense of shared purpose with other sectors, which means adopting growth-friendly business practices and ensuring relationships bed in properly, says Phil Copestake 01 October 2012
Games changerGood planning, flexible resourcing, adaptable behind-the-scenes technology and a can-do attitude are a few of the gold-medal lessons to be learned from the success of the first 'Twitter Olympics' 01 October 2012
Back to a smaller future for local auditAs the Audit Commission prepares to bow out, incoming controller Marcine Waterman explains how it is going back to its regulatory roots while continuing to protect public money and audit quality 01 September 2012