CIPFA spotlight What does

Onwards and upwards

With the uncertainty of the last year still resonating, what does the future hold for our public sector? Anna Howard shares some thoughts

Cancelled social plans and increased anxiety about the continuing spread of the Omicron variant undoubtedly affect millions of people’s Christmas and New Year plans. It’s easy to feel a sense of déjà vu – like we’re back to pandemic square one.

At this time people tend to look forward to what the new year will bring, and also reflect on the year just gone. So to keep that time-honoured tradition, I thought I would do the same.

The public services have been the guiding light throughout this lengthy pandemic storm, as well as many key workers in the private sector. Local authorities have continued to provide essential services in what have been very challenging conditions, and often with drastically reduced budgets.

The pandemic has fundamentally changed so many things. What I am certain of it has shown the need for talented and passionate finance professionals who are committed to making a difference in the public sector. The role of the finance professional was, and still is, central in our fight against the pandemic. They are tasked with making sure vital funds reach the appropriate resource or resident, ensuring council budgets are balanced and that operations happen lawfully, efficiently and deliver value for money. If this is where we have been, where are we going? Early in 2022 will see the launch of CIPFA’s Professional Accountancy Qualification, which marks an important milestone in our core training offering. The Professional Qualification has always embodied everything that CIPFA stands for, and now this new and updated version will continue that legacy well into the next generation. It will continue to be the only accountancy qualification designed specifically for working in the public services.

Throughout 2022, CIPFA and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales (ICAEW) will be holding talks on developing a relationship where we work much closer together. We are looking forward to exploring what our future relationship might look like, and how closer working could benefit our students and members.

Sustainability, social value and levelling up are likely to feature heavily throughout the next year or so. Taking an integrated approach to measuring value, and not just looking at returns on investment through the lens of financial profit, is an exciting economic viewpoint, and one which has real potential to improve the lives of millions.

Other than that, what is certain is that the following year will be full of uncertainty once again. The world is still working out how to live alongside the virus as it moves from pandemic to endemic. Likewise, our fight against climate change will (and should) be accelerated and global political movements will continue to create a cloud of disruption and unknowing.

Whatever the future may bring, CIPFA will continue to fight for improved public services, increased funding for local authorities and to champion the role of the public finance professional. • Anna Howard, Head of Qualifications and Membership, CIPFA

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