Public sector: finance essentials
Build confidence in public finance with this practical course designed for non-finance professionals involved in decision-making and budget responsibility.
Course Type
E-learning
Length
60 minutes
What you’ll achieve
- Understand public sector funding, governance and financial management principles
- Interpret financial reports and recognise key public sector financial terminology
- Identify indicators of financial health, sustainability and risk
- Apply Best Value principles and support accountable use of public funds
- Contribute confidently to financial discussions and decision-making
About this course
Public sector professionals are increasingly required to engage with financial information, influence decisions and manage budgets – often without formal finance training. This flexible, expert-led e-learning course provides a clear and practical foundation in public finance, helping you confidently interpret financial reports, identify risks and contribute to decision-making.
Designed specifically for non-finance professionals, it equips you with the knowledge to support accountability, transparency and effective financial stewardship across public sector organisations.
This course is ideal for non-finance professionals working across the public sector, including:
- Professionals moving into roles with budget responsibility
- Managers, heads of service and operational managers
- Policy, programme and project leads
- Elected members, non-executive directors and board members
Overview
E-learning |
|
60 minutes |
|
Financial Management |
Syllabus
Why public finance matters
- Why every leader and manager in a public sector organisation has a financial responsibility
- Public money as a stewardship duty, not just a resource
- How financial decisions affect services, citizens, communities, and organisational reputation
- The link between financial decisions, ethics, and accountability
- Overview of statutory responsibilities, governance arrangements, and scrutiny expectations across the public sector
How public sector finance works
- Where public sector funding comes from (e.g. government funding, grants, income, and other funding sources)
- Revenue vs capital expenditure explained simply
- The budget setting and financial planning cycle at a high level
- Roles and responsibilities for financial management, scrutiny, and assurance
Reading financial information and identifying risk
- What key public sector financial reports show — and what they do not
- Core financial terms demystified
- Understanding overspends, underspends, and in‑year financial pressures
- Common indicators of financial risk and sustainability challenges
Financial stewardship, ethics, and best value in practice
- Financial stewardship as a leadership and governance responsibility
- Best Value and value‑for‑money considerations in public sector decision‑making
- Asking the right financial questions before decisions are made
- Communicating financial decisions clearly, transparently, and honestly
How to access
Once purchased you will be able to access the AAT Learning Portal where you'll have 12 months from the date you access the learning materials. AAT Learning Portal allows you to view all the courses you’ve purchased in one place, monitor your latest training activity and create goals to help you achieve your training aims.