Financial Management and Reporting skill development in south africa

Financial Management and Reporting

Course Description

This Garvey Africa Institute training course is designed to deepen participants’ understanding of public sector financial management techniques. It strengthens skills and gives insight into financial management and reporting tools. It covers financial management; record keeping; budgeting; and budget planning, monitoring and control. The course provides the knowledge and skills to enable participants to exercise good financial management and reporting. It will help our delegates not only in meeting the highest standards of financial management and reporting, but also to secure the benefits of improved financial management to help secure organisational objectives and goals in their work place.

The course covers various topics required for sound financial management in order to comply with national regulations, to execute effective reporting and to apply the necessary performance requirements for strategic planning and budgeting, as well as internal control for financial accountability. It addresses accepted financial and accounting principles including IFRS and IPSAS.

The course is designed for professionals in the private and public sector and will benefit anyone who requires an understanding of financial management and international financial reporting standards mainly within the public sector. It is suitable for:

  • Accountants and finance staff
  • IFRS and IPSAS implementation and maintenance teams
  • Internal auditors and consultants dealing with financial reporting
  • Financial executives
  • Financial analysts
  • Bankers
  • Investment bankers

After completion of this short course, delegates will be able to:

  • understand the concepts and principles necessary for sound financial management and reporting
  • comply with the requirements of relevant statutes and regulations
  • apply the principals of financial management approach to managing for results
  • apply the performance requirements for financial management
  • apply the principles of effective financial reporting
  • design ways to manage and control use of financial resources in the public sector
  • link the institutional budget to strategic and performance plans
  • Financial management and reporting definitions, concepts and principles
  • Financial framework applicable to public officials
  • Importance of good financial management
  • Benefits of effective financial management practices
  • Financial and strategic planning
  • Expenditure classification
  • Performance measurement
  • Internal control
  • Payment processes
  • In-year management, monitoring and reporting
  • Financial reporting and accountability
  • Public sector accounting standards
  • Improving public sector financial reporting: national international standards
  • IFRS and IPSAS
  • Impact of IPSAS on auditors and internal control system
  • Impact of IFRS on financial statement interpretations
  • Impact on financial processes and systems
  • Links and implications to and for broader strategies: financial management, taxation, asset management, governance and accountability
  • The transition process to IFRS or IPSAS
  • Exceptions relating to the financial statements of a transitioning organisation
  • Record keeping for improved financial information
  • How to satisfy stakeholder requirements and implications for internal and external audit
  • Implementation
  • Managing substantial financial resources
  • Risk management
  • How to develop skills to aid implementation, capacity development, benefits realisation and risk management plans
  • How to reduce risk of qualified accounts
  • Formulating a documented action plan

The training approach is highly interactive. It uses a mixture of presentations by the facilitator and by participant(s), group or individual exercises, use of case studies and role plays. These proven learning techniques enhance understanding and retention of covered issues.