Scotland Public Finance Live
CIPFA’s annual conference, Public Finance Live Scotland, is aimed at professionals working in public finance and accountancy, bringing together attendees from across Scotland's public sector.
This year’s conference was hosted at the Technology & Innovation Centre at the University of Strathclyde with the CIPFA Scotland Awards and Dinner taking place later that day at Glasgow City Chambers.
Bringing together leading public sector figures, innovators, finance professionals, analysts and more, this year’s conference was hosted by broadcast journalist and presenter Laura Miller. The focus was on the value of closer collaboration to deliver better services for better lives within a constrained system.
Our morning sessions asked; how can we unlock change in Scotland’s public sector?
With the current system of local government in Scotland outdated and failing to serve local or economic needs, Chair of Our Scottish Future Professor Jim Gallagher addressed how and why we need to rewire Scotland’s public finances.
He outlined three key priorities:
✔ Decentralising power
✔ Revaluating taxation
✔ Sharing best practices across sectors
Our panel discussion then tackled the current challenge of delivering quality services with limited budgets.
CIPFA Chief Executive Owen Mapley stressed the need for a clear understanding of our fiscal position, while Martin Booth, Executive Director of Finance at Glasgow City Council, highlighted the need to “do less with less, but do it really well.” Greg Stride from Local Government Information Unit (LGIU) reinforced the importance of embedding local government into decision-making processes if we are to achieve these goals.
Richard Robinson from Audit Scotland highlighted the critical need to understand workforce costs when developing future-ready reform plans.
Jyoti Banerjee, CEO and Co-founder of North Star Transition, raised a key question: "Will we be ready, or will we be transitioned anyway?"
Jyoti introduced the Scotland Transition Lab, a North Star initiative aimed at accelerating systemic change across Scotland by uniting stakeholders in food, land, health, and environmental sectors to collaborate for a regenerative system.
Lord Holmes MBE, Paralympian and passionate advocate for the potential of technology, closed the event with an inspirational session on being human in the digital age. Chris stressed the need to shift the AI narrative from extreme views to meaningful debate. By fostering public engagement and inclusivity, Chris argued AI has the potential to reshape public consultations and strengthen democracy.
Drawing on his experience building the London 2012 Paralympic Games, Chris underscored the importance of creating an inclusive culture.
This leaves us asking: how do you think public finance professionals can harness inclusion for innovation to deliver better services for better lives?
We are thrilled to celebrate the winners of the CIPFA Scotland Awards 2024, announced at the CIPFA Scotland Dinner at the iconic Glasgow City Chambers.
Recognising outstanding achievements, innovation and excellence in public finance, the 2024 Scotland award recipients are:
Finance Professional of the Year:
Martin Booth Executive Director of Finance at Glasgow City Council
Martin’s leadership in delivering balanced budgets amid significant funding gaps, guiding projects like the UCI World Cycling Championships, and pioneering innovative public finance strategies makes him a standout. His work on historic equal pay claims and supporting CIPFA Scotland’s initiatives underscores his commitment to public service and the finance profession.
Team of the Year:
Strathclyde Pension Fund Office
The team delivered an actuarial valuation three months ahead of schedule, achieving a remarkable 147% funding level and a £8.9bn surplus. They crafted a forward-looking funding strategy, balancing employer contribution rate reductions and de-risking investments, delivering immediate financial relief while ensuring future sustainability.
Emerging Talent:
Graham Daniels at Social Security Scotland
Graham’s work in cashflow forecasting with a demand-led budget of over £5 billion has been invaluable. He has developed a complex forecasting model that ensures clients receive payments on time, even amidst the challenging case transfer from DWP. His efforts contributed to outstanding financial results, with a final outturn 0.18% from budget, showcasing his talent and dedication.
Congratulations to all our winners and thank you to our guests for an unforgettable evening.
Thank you to all our speakers, exhibitors, delegates and public finance professionals for attending.
Next year’s conference will be held on 3 September 2025 and will return to the Royal College of Physicians in Edinburgh.
The conference dinner and awards will return next year on 2 September 2025.
Details coming soon.
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