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Budget and Financial Essentials Training

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Driven by the increasing complexity of the Australian Governments financial management framework, Department of Finance and Deregulation identified a need for better financial management skills and capabilities within the APS. During the years 2005 - 2012, the BFE training program aimed to address those needs.

The Australian Capital Training Group now continues to provide a series of courses for APS staff covering the Australian Government Financial Management Framework.

Course 1 - Australian Government Financial Management Framework (2 days)

Course Aim This course has been developed to provide APS staff with a common understanding of their responsibility as public servants. Information and concepts are introduced that will assist participants to better understand the foundation from which the rules and guidelines are derived that govern the APS, key legislation and principles which guide what the APS do, key prioritising and decision making stages of the Budget process, and the processes that ensure sound management practices. The course is beneficiel to APS staff that may be new to the Public Sector or for those that require a refresher.

Section 1 - Corporate Governance and the Financial Framework

Key Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this section of the course participants should have an appreciation of the financial framework, including:

the role of the Australian Constitution, the Executive Government, and the Parliament
the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act), and related FMA Regulations and FMA Orders and their practical application by FMA Act agencies
the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 (CAC Act) and related CAC Regulations, CAC Orders and CAC Directions and their practical application by CAC Act bodies
the Charter of Budget Honesty Act 1998 (Charter of Budget Honesty) and the processes and documentation that are required as a result of this Act
the Auditor-General Act 1997 (Auditor-General Act) and the powers of the Auditor-General and the role of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO)
the Public Service Act 1999 (Public Service Act) and the impact it has on the rights and responsibilities of APS employees under the Act including the Australian Public Service (APS) values and the APS Code of Conduct
the Administrative Arrangements Order (AAO) and how it applies to agencies

Section 2 - Australian Government Appropriations

Appropriations are the process of obtaining Parliamentary approval for the executive government to spend funds. This section of the course is designed to provide participants with a basic understanding of where appropriations fit into the financial framework and the legislation and conventions that affect them.

Key Learning Objectives At the conclusion of the course participants should have an appreciation of the appropriations arrangements, including:

some of the key technical and process issues Australian Government entities should be aware of
The different types of appropriations that are used to allocate funding to Australian Government entities, including:

Annual departmental appropriations
Annual administered appropriations
Special & standing appropriations: departmental and administered
Operating appropriations versus non-operating appropriations
Special accounts

Specific sections of the FMA Act including s28, s30, s31 & s32, Special Accounts, Drawing Rights & Advance to the Finance Minister (AFM's)

Section 3 - Overview of the Australian Government Budget Process

This section of the course is designed to provide participants with a general understanding of the key elements of the Australian Governments Budget process, and an awareness of why we budget and the key timeframes of the Budget.

Key Learning Objectives At the conclusion of the course participants should have an understanding of the stages of the present Australian Government budget process, including:

Priority setting, which includes the Strategic Priorities and Budget Committee (SPBC) meeting
Budget decisions, which includes preparation and lodgement of Portfolio Budget Submissions for consideration by the Expenditure Review Committee (ERC)
Budget management, which includes the half-yearly update of the Budget and estimates through the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook report (MYEFO) and additional Annual Appropriation Bills (or Additional Estimates)
Reporting and reviewing, which includes monthly financial statements, agency annual reports, the Final Budget Outcome (FBO) and the Consolidated Financial Statements (CFS).

Course 2 - Management, Commitment & Spending Public Money (1 day)

This course is relevant to officials who develop, authorise or approve spending proposals, enter into contracts, agreements or arrangements under which public money is, or may become payable or are involved in making payments, managing appropriations and issuing or updating drawing rights instruments or delegations.

This course also covers two distinct but related policy frameworks, providing participants with a more detailed understanding of both the Australian Government's procurement and grants policy frameworks.

Key Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this course participants should have an understanding of the legislative and policy frameworks covering the management, commitment and spending of public money by FMA Act Agencies, including::

Why good procurement processes are important, what procurement is and what it doesn't include
The procurement policy framework
the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines
procurement advertising and reporting obligations
different procurement methods, including panels and multi-use lists

It will also provide:

an awareness of the various components of the grants policy framework
elements of a grant in contrast to other financial arrangements
the approval and reporting requirements associated with grants
the key principles of grants administration

Course 3 - External Reporting Frameworks and the Budget Balances (1/2 day)

Key Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this course participants should have an understanding of:

the external reporting standards used in Australian Government financial reporting: the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ Government Finance Statistics Framework (GFS) & the Australian Accounting Standards (AAS)
the basic similarities and differences between AEIFRS and GFS.
how different transactions impact on the key Budget balances and how these balances are derived, including Fiscal Balance, Underlying Cash Balance (GFS), Net Operating Balance (GFS) and Operating Profit (AAS).

Course 4 - Australian Government Charging Policies - Cost Recovery and Competitive Neutrality (1/2 day)

Key Learning Objectives At the conclusion of this course participants should:

have an understanding of the cost recovery policy and the key principles and components that establishes the policy and how it is applied
understand the responsibilities as an officer within an agency that applies to cost recovery
have gained an understanding of the competitive neutrality policy and the key principles underpinning the policy
be familiar with the Government's Competitive Neutrality Guidelines for Managers and how the policy is applied.