As Sir Mark Lowcock embarks on the 2025-26 CIPFA presidency, he brings a welcome sense of perspective and emphasises the institute’s capacity to be a voice for the public sector.
CIPFA chief executive Owen Mapley celebrated both Public Finance Live and his own first year in the office by pointing to a variety of initiatives that members can look forward to in the months ahead.
Fixing the English local government audit crisis for good could take “radical” ideas, and those involved in reform are willing to consider them, Public Finance Live heard.
The pressure on democracy is already finding its way to audit in some parts of the world, but audit has always known political pressure, Public Finance Live delegates heard.
The major challenges facing the world will only be overcome with the help of public finance professionals, new CIPFA president Sir Mark Lowcock said as he opened Public Finance Live in Birmingham.
CIPFA chief executive Owen Mapley believes the Spending Review contained positive steps, but worries that some public services still face more questions than answers.
The deadline to pool assets under the Local Government Pension Scheme may be unrealistic, while concerns over potential conflicts of interest under the new arrangements have not been fully addressed...
Government proposals to cut funding for level 7 apprenticeships for all but the youngest learners risk disrupting the pipeline of professionals qualifying as chartered accountants, CIPFA has warned.
The government has missed a chance to commit to the long-term reform needed to secure the future of public services, which are now under “immense strain”, CIPFA has warned.
In the Spring Statement, chancellor Rachel Reeves faced some tough economic news. CIPFA chief economist Jeffrey Matsu explores what it meant, and what the chancellor should do next.
The cost of running libraries remains a “significant challenge” despite income from the service rising by almost a fifth over the past financial year, CIPFA has said.
A record number of councils asked the government for exceptional financial support for 2025-26, and 30 requests have been approved – but CIPFA has expressed serious worries about the system.
Interventions by CIPFA and the Education Policy Institute lay bare the issues facing the English system of support for children with special educational needs and disabilities, and suggest ways to...
Since its inception in February 2020, the CIPFA Financial Resilience Index has been an indispensable tool for evaluating the financial stability of local authorities. Now in its fifth iteration, the...
Top tier councils spend over three-quarters of their net revenue expenditure on social care, according to analysis highlighting the intense strain on authorities in the face of surging demand and...
Local government funding is threatening essential services because of its “chronic short termism and complexity” , according to CIPFA’s chief executive.
Urgent action is needed to tackle a crisis in adult social care brought on by decades of inaction and short-term fixes, the government has been warned.
