Managing and Reforming Modern Public Services: The Financial Management Dimension

Description

As government borrowing and debt reaches record levels, public services, for the first time in over 30 years of unprecedented growth in spending, face the prospect of real cuts in their funding In these challenging times, Managing and Reforming Modern Public Services; The Financial Management Dimension shows you how to manage the financial resources of public services most effectively drawing on best practice from both public and private sectors Managing and Reforming Modern Public Services;The Financial Management Dimension considers all public service organisations from central government and local government to trusts and charities with a particular focus on health and education   Cover Managing and Reforming Modern Public Services Contents About the author Foreword Preface List of figures List of tables List of case studies List of terms and acronyms Acknowledgements Part 1 The organisation and development of public services Introduction: public services and the public sector Learning objectives Introduction Public sector and public services: provision and financing Growth and development of UK public sector Configuration of the public sector and public services The importance of financial management in public service organisations Structure of this book Conclusions Questions for discussion Financing public services Learning objectives Introduction Patterns of public spending International perspectives on public spending Sources of finance for public services Taxation User charges for public services Borrowing Other sources of public finance International perspectives on public service finance The role of the Private Finance Initiative Framework of public expenditure Planning and financing of public services Allocating resources to public services Conclusions Questions for discussion Public service reforms and their impact on financial management practices Learning objectives Introduction A brief history of public service reform in the UK Forces for change: causal factors of public service reform Aims of public service reform The public service reform agenda The impact of public service reform on financial management practices Conclusions Questions for discussion Part 2 Financial management of public services: key aspects Costing and costing systems in public service organisations Learning objectives Introduction Using cost information in PSOs Basic principles of costing Obtaining cost information in PSOs Future public service trends and their impact on costing systems Developing costing systems: the way forward Developing costing systems: the stages Conclusions Questions for discussion Managing strategic change in public services: the financial management contribution Learning objectives Introduction Major strategic changes in public services The management of strategic change in public services Strategic planning in public services – commissioners and providers Implementing strategy Monitoring strategy implementation and outcomes The key roles of financial management in strategic management Strategic Financial Planning: some relevant techniques Cost and income benchmarking Activity-based costing and management Financial modelling Capital investment appraisal techniques Conclusion Questions for discussion Budgeting systems and budget management in public service organisations Learning objectives Introduction The roles and purposes of a budgeting system Types of PSO budget Main elements of a budget system Budget framework Budget-setting process Budget-reporting system Resource allocation models and the budgeting process Programme analysis and budgeting Variations in PSO budgeting arrangements Conclusion Questions for discussion Pricing public services Learning objectives Introduction The distinction between costs and prices Business pricing and economic pricing Why pricing is important in relation to public services The nature and structure of pricing decisions Key strategic pricing factors Cost inputs into pricing decisions Pricing strategy and the marketing mix Special factors related to pricing in PSOs Individual pricing decisions: tactical considerations The financial management roles in pricing in PSOs Conclusions Questions for discussion Improving performance in public services: the financial management contribution Learning objectives Introduction Systems of performance management in PSOs What constitutes performance in PSOs Using performance information The role of benchmarking Improving performance in public services Performance management and improvement: financial management roles Conclusions Questions for discussion Financial accounting and reporting in public service organisations Learning objectives Introduction The purpose of producing statutory financial accounts for PSOs Basic principles of financial accounting The regulatory framework for financial accounting in UK public service organisations Financial accounting practices in public service organisations The relevance of financial accounting in PSOs Conclusions Questions for discussion Part 3 The operation of financial management in public service organisations Information systems and financial management in public service organisations Learning objectives Introduction The general structure of information systems Management information systems within PSOs Financial information systems in PSOs Key characteristics of financial information systems in PSOs Developing financial information systems in PSOs The financial management involvement in the acquisition of IS/IT Key management challenges in relation to IS/IT in PSOs Conclusions Questions for discussion Financial control and governance in public service organisations Learning objectives Introduction Financial control frameworks in PSOs Audit arrangements in PSOs Internal audit arrangements External audit arrangements Internal and external audit compared Other audit bodies Specialist audit activities Corporate governance arrangements Audit implications of PSO governance requirements Conclusions Questions for discussion Appendix 11.1 Model content of a PSO’s financial regulations The organisation and staffing of the public service finance function Learning objectives Introduction The configuration of the PSO finance function The roles and responsibilities of the PSO Director of Finance Staffing of PSO finance departments Strategic trends in the PSO finance function Organisational change in the PSO finance function Conclusions Questions for discussion Part 4 The way ahead The future of public services: the implications for financial management Learning objectives Introduction Forces for change Implications for public services Financial management challenges Conclusions Questions for discussion References Relevant websites Further reading Index