Finance competencies for public services: shaping the finance function to meet new and future challenges

Now is the opportunity for the finance function to show that it understands and can illuminate the dilemmas of today’s public services, that it can offer leadership and solutions. Across all societies, the public sector is going through a period of dramatic change. For it to emerge successfully, finance needs to be at the centre, actively involved in and bringing influence to bear on all major business decisions. 

Of course, the finance function itself, like all areas of the public services, is being scrutinised on its cost and performance, and has to prove its worth. So this discussion paper is timely: does your finance function have the vision and capabilities for the challenges of the future? And if not, what more is required?