Gasette This issue - Government Finance Profession - HM Treasury

ContentsCELEBRATING GFP’S 30th YEARWelcome to your Spring issue ofGasette. In this edition, wefeature the first of a series ofjoint interviews with aPermanent Secretary and their Director-General Finance to profile the importance offinance in the departmental decision-makingprocess. We’ve started right at the very top ofthe Civil Service with our new Head, Sir BobKerslake, and DCLG’s DG Finance andCorporate Services, Sue Higgins.You will also find coverage of the 2012joint CIPFA/HM Treasury World ClassPerformance Symposium at which ChloeAwards winners, page 19Smith, the Economic Secretary to HM Treasury, recently spoke.Notwithstanding the ongoing austerity and our measured response to it,we shall mark the 30th anniversary of the Government Finance Professionthis year. There will be a single GFP Training Event, at the Hilton Metropolein Brighton, on Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th November. For the firsttime it will be open to all members, both Qualified and Trainee, but therewill be a bespoke programme for our Trainees on the first day. After Easter,CONTENTS04 NewsA round-up of recent newsand events that affect FPs07081012Accountancy newsNews from the UK’s majoraccountancy bodiesCIPFA’s WCPSHighlights fromthe World ClassPerformanceSymposiumEmerging strongerCIPFA launches discussiondocument on making thefinance function fitterCover storyWe spoke to Sir BobKerslake, new Head of theHome Civil Service, and SueHiggins, DGFinance at theDCLG – whereSir Bob isPermanent Secretary15 ApprenticeshipsApprenticeship schemesoffer a land of opportunity161921Send your comments to: Terry Rogers, Gasette Editor, HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road,London, SW1A 2HQ. Telephone: 020 7270 5874 (GTN: 270 5874).Email: TheGFP@hmtreasury.gsi.gov.ukwe’ll start taking bookings for this event at anexcellent ‘Early Bird’ rate. There is limitedavailability so book early to guarantee yourplace. It promises to be our best ever with somevery special guests – so watch this space, as theysay.Last year, we had a record number of entriesfor our GFP Awards, which have now becomerecognised as an excellent way ofacknowledging all the hard work of yourcolleagues or team members. Please note,however, the earlier window for yournominations this year. It opens on 16th April andcloses on 6th July. All details of our 30thanniversary Training Event and the 2012 GFP Awards can be found on theGFP website – go to www.thegfp-treasury.org. You will also find newfeatures there like Richard Douglas’ blog and all the latest information onthe Finance Transformation Programme (FTP). Very soon we will alsoincorporate a feature to enable you to ‘Tweet’ the GFP.Enjoy reading this edition of Gasette. See you in the summer.Terry Rogers, EditorACCA seminarHead of the GFP RichardDouglas outlined his visionfor the futureGFP Awards 2012The Qualifieds’ TrainingEvent is back in Brightonthis year – as are the awardsCIMA surveyWe reveal the findings of asurvey of business leaders222324262830Banking technologySmartphone technology ismaking banking betterLead from the frontWhy leadership skills arevital in these austere timesFTP updateThe Finance TransformationProgramme makes progressWorking overseasHong Kong and one FP’sadventure of a lifetimeIFRS focusWhy governments are loathto embrace changeGasette quiz specialTest your brain power, plusa chance to win an iPod!ABOUT GASETTE ISSUE # 108VIEWS EXPRESSED IN GASETTE ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE OFFICIAL VIEWS OF THEGOVERNMENT FINANCE PROFESSION OR HM TREASURYEditorial services provided by PQ Magazine. Production by Armstrong MediaPrinted by Holbrooks Printers, Portsmouth © HM Treasury 2012ARMstrongMEDIAspring 2012theGASETTE 03