This course is an introduction to financial management in the APS aimed at both accountants and non-accountants.

The contents of the course include:

• Objectives of sound public sector management and accountability (eg. public money can only be spent if there is an appropriation made by Parliament);
• Legislative and policy framework including key sections of the Constitution (S81 and 83), PGPA Act, fiscal policy – charter of budget honesty;
• Government reporting – public sector accounting standards, agency and WoG accounts;
• Appropriation framework (including Bills/Acts, CRF, special accounts, advance to Finance Minister, departmental vs administered);
• Australian Government Budget process;
• Australian Government – overview of government sector (including central agencies and portfolio level analysis – major revenue and expenditure flows) and standard government processes (research, policy development and advice, program management, and evaluation); and
• Finance value chain and standard agency business model.