Skip to 0 minutes and 10 seconds We’re all concerned with where our money goes. We all want good roads, schools, hospitals, thriving industry, personal and national security, but how can we be sure that public monies are managed properly and how to hold those in charge to account? I’m Alberto Asquer, lecturer of Public Policy and Management at SOAS, University of London, and I’d like to welcome you to the world of public financial management.
Skip to 0 minutes and 41 seconds Public financial management is a fundamental component of public sector governance for every country, sub-national government, and public sector entity, right down to the local council in your borough or town. When it works, we see prudent, accountable, and effective use of public monies. When it doesn’t, we see misallocations, misappropriations, and a waste of financial resources. For example, what went wrong in Greece’s handling of their public debt? What happens when a city government like Detroit files for bankruptcy? Just how do institutions and organisations manage our money? What are the key practices and processes used to acquire, spend, and keep our public finances under control?
Skip to 1 minute and 27 seconds This course will provide you with the knowledge and tools to understand and evaluate the management of financial resources in the public sector, wherever you are. Drawing on the expertise of colleagues here in our Centre for Financial and Management Studies, we’ll be taking a look at real examples from recent and not so recent history, from close to our home here in London and further afield in countries like Singapore, Malawi, Brazil, and the United States, to study public financial management and how it affects you. Over the course of four weeks, we’ll be unpicking some basic accounting categories and terms and seeing how they’re used in context. How does the public sector raise revenues? Are all public expenditures necessary?
Skip to 2 minutes and 16 seconds How do public sector organisations report their financial performance to the public? And what’s the relationship between accountability and public governance? Whether you’re a student of economics, political science, or accounting, already working in public sector management, or simply looking for a better understanding of contemporary financial issues at home and around the world, this course has something to offer you. Join us, join in the discussions, and take your learning to a new level.
