ACCA Scotland: Senior public sector finance professionals look ahead with lessons learned from the pandemic

More action required to recruit the next generation of financial leaders in Scotland.

The realities of senior public sector finance leaders’ management of the COVID-19 pandemic are shared in a new global report from ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and CA ANZ (Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand).

Published in Leading recovery: the evolving role of senior finance leadership in the public sector, senior finance professionals highlight key lessons learned from the pandemic, such as focusing on effective, accountable decision-making, as well the importance of improving data sharing and analysis across the public sector. Attendees at various global roundtables, including a Scottish event, identified three major areas where the public sector faces difficulties in the years ahead: recruiting and retaining staff, managing budget reductions and adapting to major challenges, such as climate change.

Scottish participants highlighted staffing as one of the most acute challenges they faced, whether from intensifying competition to retain qualified staff or lack of training pathways to bring on new staff. This is backed up by figures provided to ACCA by Skills Development Scotland that show that only 9% of accountancy apprentices are training in the public sector.

Setting out a range of recommendations to improve systems, leadership and new ways of working the accountancy bodies recommend that public sector employers need to be more innovative and creative to attract and retain staff, including improving hybrid working with a focus on ‘purpose, then place’ as well as introducing more entry routes for trainees, such as apprenticeships.

Responding to the report’s publication, ACCA Scotland’s Strategic Engagement Lead Susan Love said: ‘Scotland’s finance leaders were pivotal during Covid as public bodies, from councils to health boards, had to implement new processes and systems overnight to ensure public money reached those who needed it. However, the new normal of ‘permacrisis’ means the public sector needs to build in greater resilience through better systems, such as how we use and share data, and attracting more skilled people to support the delivery of public services in Scotland.’

ACCA Scotland Committee Chair, and a director at Audit Scotland, Elaine Boyd said: ‘I know how rewarding a career in public service can be. I have had the privilege of a varied and interesting public sector journey across the NHS and Audit Scotland. Working in the public sector is hugely satisfying because you feel like your contribution is making a difference. As we emerge from the pandemic sharpening our financial skills will be critical in developing future public service delivery models.’

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For media enquiries, contact:

ACCA Newsroom
E: newsroom@accaglobal.com
M: +44 (0)7725 498654
Twitter @ACCANews @ACCAScotland
accaglobal.com

Daniel Webster, CA ANZ Public Affairs Manager AU & NZ
M: +64 27 282 6253E: daniel.webster@charteredaccountantsanz.com

Notes to Editors

Figures provided by Skills Development Scotland in May 2022 analysed the employer organisations supporting apprentices in both Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) and Graduate Apprenticeships (GAs) as follows:

  • Of the 162 MAs currently in training on the accountancy framework, 15 (9%) are identified as being in the public sector
  • Of the 117 GAs currently in training, 10 are in the public sector (8%)

The full report can be accessed here: https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/professional-insights/pro-accountants-the-future/evolving-role-senior-finance-public-sector.html

About ACCA: ACCA is the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. We’re a thriving global community of 233,000 members and 536,000 future members based in 178 countries and regions that upholds the highest professional and ethical values.

We believe that accountancy is a cornerstone profession of society that supports both public and private sectors. That’s why we’re committed to the development of a strong global accountancy profession and the many benefits that this brings to society and individuals.

Since 1904 being a force for public good has been embedded in our purpose. And because we’re a not-for-profit organisation, we build a sustainable global profession by re-investing our surplus to deliver member value and develop the profession for the next generation.

Through our world leading ACCA Qualification, we offer everyone everywhere the opportunity to experience a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management. And using our respected research, we lead the profession by answering today’s questions and preparing us for tomorrow.

ACCA and CA ANZ have formed a strategic alliance for the benefit of members and to help shape the future of the profession. Find out more about us at accaglobal.com

 

About CA ANZ: Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ) represents 131,673 financial professionals, supporting them to make a difference to the businesses, organisations, and communities in which they work and live. Chartered Accountants are known as Difference Makers.  The depth and breadth of their expertise helps them to see the big picture and chart the best course of action.

CA ANZ actively engages with governments, regulators, and standard setters on behalf of members and the profession, to advocate boldly in the public good. Find out more: https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.com/about-us

 

"Scotland’s finance leaders were pivotal during Covid as public bodies, from councils to health boards, had to implement new processes and systems overnight to ensure public money reached those who needed it. However, the new normal of ‘permacrisis’ means the public sector needs to build in greater resilience through better systems, such as how we use and share data, and attracting more skilled people to support the delivery of public services in Scotland."

Susan Love, Strategic Engagement Lead - ACCA Scotland

"I know how rewarding a career in public service can be. I have had the privilege of a varied and interesting public sector journey across the NHS and Audit Scotland. Working in the public sector is hugely satisfying because you feel like your contribution is making a difference. As we emerge from the pandemic sharpening our financial skills will be critical in developing future public service delivery models."

Elaine Boyd - ACCA Scotland Committee Chair, and a director at Audit Scotland