20 January – Ask ICAS: Managing COVID-19: insights from CAs in the public sector
Event summary
In the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the public sector has faced unprecedented challenges to deliver services and help support the economy. These efforts are supported by a huge increase in funding for the NHS, social care and business, mostly from UK Government borrowing. In Scotland, this amounts to an extra £9.7 billion for the Scottish budget of over £40 billion in 2020/21, with over 170 spending announcements adding complexity.
Demonstrating appropriate stewardship, maintaining accountability and transparency of the public finances, whilst ensuring funding gets to where it is needed, are essential yet challenging requirements.
Catch up on what CAs working in the public sector across the NHS, local government and audit shared of their insights and professional experiences of managing these challenges and what they revealed about how their CA skills were put to good use throughout the pandemic.
As we move towards a post-COVID world, our speakers considered the learning points, future opportunities and challenges for the public sector and its finances.
(Duration 1 hour. Originally recorded on January 20, 2022.)
Key themes and topics
- Public sector management and audit
- Accountability and transparency of the public finances
- How CA skills are relevant to the challenge
- Post-COVID recovery – the consequences, future opportunities and challenges.
Speakers
- Alan Gray CA – Director of Finance, NHS Grampian
- Alasdair Pinkerton CA - Associate Director, NHS Scotland
- Lorna Meahan CA - Director Economy & Resources, Dumfries & Galloway Council
- Gordon Smail CA – Audit Director, Audit Scotland
- Russell Frith (chair) – Board member and chair of the Audit Committee at Social Security Scotland and the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, and former Assistant Auditor General.
(Please note that views and opinions expressed by speakers at ICAS webinars are their own and not necessarily reflective of ICAS’ views.)
Who’s this for?
- CAs employed in practice and the public sector
- Any interested Members.
- Anyone interested in public-sector finance
Counts as CPD activity
Depending upon your individual role and training and development needs, watching this webinar can count towards your annual Continuing Professional Development (CPD) requirement.
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