Finance managers need to step up, says PwC
Public sector finance managers in the Midlands need to step up and get more involved in financial decision-making as the spending cuts continue to bite. That's the view of public sector experts at PwC in the Midlands, who said finance managers should begin to act as "business partners" to their organisations.
The accountancy firm's report Stepping Up: The Challenges for Finance in the Public Sector, suggests that more than half of public sector finance functions played a lead role in planning for the upcoming comprehensive spending review in their organisations.
All other respondents reported that they played an advisory or support role.
Michael Kitts, partner and Midlands public sector leader, said: "High quality finance managers are vital to the future of public sector services in the Midlands. At this time of austerity, with the impact of the spending cuts shortly to take hold, the role of the finance function is absolutely vital.
"Financial management must be driven from the very top. Finance directors need to deal with the enormous challenge of managing limited resources, drive through improvement plans and place themselves at the heart of public sector financial decision making."
