There are signs of recovery all around, from GDP growth figures to rising house prices. So has the chancellor, as he claims, won the austerity debate, or is short-termism and poor policy-making...
Difficult conversations are a common aspect of working life – particularly in the current belt-tightening environment. But rather than dreading these, managers can view them positively as stepping...
More for less has got to be the watchword if public services are to shape up in the years ahead. Mobile technology and improved data analytics are key ways to raise productivity
Erick Pickles has upstaged Iain Duncan Smith when it comes to pushing through radical benefit reforms. Peter Kenway explains how Council Tax Support, not Universal Credit, became the big welfare...
The coalition's infrastructure plan is said to be the biggest programme of public works since the Victorian era. The only issue is getting it off the drawing board, says Mark Hellowell
Sophisticated forecasting techniques, such as the Monte Carlo method, can help predict future income and demand for services. But which approach is best?
Security and privacy can be conflicting needs, both on the international stage and at work. Employers must ensure their staff monitoring is legal and ethical
Public finance teams are under more pressure than ever before. There are more challenges from around the organisation, as everyone needs to absorb increased workloads in the face of reduced staff....
Rob Whiteman likes to pump up the volume, whether it’s belting out operatic arias or singing the praises of accountants. CIPFA’s new chief executive tells PF he intends to be a vocal presence in the...
Public Finance talked to Owen Jones at the CIPFA Conference 2013 about why he rejects the premise of austerity and why council borrowing rules should be relaxed.
Public Finance talked to Tony Travers in advance of his speech at the CIPFA Conference 2013. He discusses reaction to the London Finance Commission report and whether or not a local authority could...
As the June Spending Review extends austerity cuts across government, ‘smart skills’ will be essential for Whitehall finance staff to address the challenges
Facebook, Twitter and other social media provide powerful communication tools – but they need to be used intelligently and with a clear corporate purpose
Although times are hard in the public sector, finance staff don’t have to abandon their career aspirations. There are still jobs out there and there is still room on the next rung of the ladder....
Pressure on public sector budgets has led to a rise in zero-hours contracts, particularly in the care sector. The biggest losers are vulnerable service-users and staff on poor pay and insecure hours...
CIPFA’s new president, Jaki Salisbury, has built a ‘can-do’ reputation, and won the loyalty of her colleagues for her hands-on tackling of local government problems. The ‘treasurer who likes to say...
Those who take the risks reap the rewards. Or do they? The truth is that from Silicon Valley to Singapore, innovation relies heavily on state funding. It’s time for the private sector to give...
The man who promised to 'intervene before breakfast, lunch and dinner' is back, and demanding a new local growth plan. Lord Heseltine talked to Judy Hirst ahead of the Spending Review
A year on from the start of housing self-financing and most elements are working well. But the move to full depreciation accounting needs a bit more time
