Local Government

Local authorities are anchored in their communities and deliver a broad range of vital frontline services. They also face challenges from all sides.

Financial pressures have borne down relentlessly on the sector since the introduction of austerity a decade ago and have only been intensified by the growth in demand for services such as adult and children's social care. In addition, the profound impact of COVID-19 will leave already fragile local budgets stretched in some cases to breaking point.

Despite this, local authorities have shown themselves to be both pioneering and resilient. At its best, the sector can collaborate, partner, innovate and transform to deliver improvements to the lives and livelihoods of citizens.

But local authorities must balance these ambitions with meeting short-term needs and preparing sustainable long-term plans. Good financial management is central to this effort. The local government finance function plays a vital role in developing organisational resilience and supporting innovation and collaboration. Clear financial reporting helps tell that story transparently, building trust with citizens and communities.

How CIPFA can help


CIPFA's roots in local government are deep and we have an unrivalled knowledge of its challenges. We are the local government accounting standard setter in the UK and also provide a range of authoritative technical guidance and support, as well as advisory and consultancy services. As the leading accountancy body for public services, we also provide lifelong education and learning in accountancy and financial management. Best practice in public financial management is at the very heart of what we do and our ambition is to make a real difference to the world we live in.

At CIPFA, we take a long-term strategic view of the local government sector as a whole. Utilising our wide range of knowledge and expertise, we work with local authorities to help them develop robust plans – not only in terms of financial resilience but also in helping them reinvent and transform the way local services are delivered to better serve their communities.

For further information on how we can help please visit:

Micro Modules

Our micro modules are free of charge and offer quick introductions to selected topics. Prepared by CIPFA’s subject matter experts, they deliver key information in an easily digestible, online format.

View our micro modules on [topic]:

For the full list of our available micro modules, visit www.cipfa.org/training/micro-modules

 

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