Course Introduction
Public Financial Management (PFM) is fundamental to effective governance, fiscal discipline, accountability, and sustainable public service delivery. This course provides participants with an integrated understanding of how governments and public institutions can strengthen the planning, mobilization, allocation, utilization, monitoring, and reporting of public financial resources while maintaining strong governance and control systems.
The programme examines the complete public financial management cycle, including fiscal planning, budgeting, revenue management, expenditure control, treasury operations, procurement oversight, accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, auditing, and legislative accountability. Participants explore how these functions interact and how weaknesses in one area can create financial, operational, governance, and compliance risks across an institution.
A major focus of the course is the integration of Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) into public financial management. Participants learn how to establish effective governance structures, clarify accountability, develop risk-based controls, strengthen compliance monitoring, manage institutional risks, and ensure that financial decisions are consistent with legislation, policies, regulations, ethical standards, and organizational objectives.
The course addresses fraud, corruption, financial misconduct, procurement irregularities, conflicts of interest, revenue leakage, unauthorized expenditure, weak controls, and emerging integrity threats. Participants examine practical approaches for fraud risk assessment, prevention, detection, investigation support, whistleblowing, continuous controls monitoring, audit follow-up, and strengthening institutional cultures of transparency and accountability.
Particular attention is given to emerging developments transforming public finance and GRC, including artificial intelligence, data analytics, digital public financial management systems, continuous auditing, automated compliance monitoring, cybersecurity, digital fraud, climate-responsive budgeting, ESG considerations, beneficial ownership transparency, open contracting, and the growing use of real-time financial and risk intelligence.
Through practical exercises, case studies, simulations, group discussions, and institutional assessment tools, participants translate concepts into actionable improvements for their organizations. By the end of the programme, participants will be better positioned to improve fiscal governance, strengthen controls, anticipate and manage risks, enhance regulatory compliance, protect public resources, and support transparent, accountable, and results-oriented public institutions.
Duration
10 days
Who Should Attend
- Public Financial Management and Public Finance Officers
- Finance Directors, Finance Managers and Accountants
- Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) Professionals
- Internal Auditors and Internal Control Officers
- Government Budget and Planning Officers
- Treasury and Cash Management Professionals
- Public Sector Procurement and Contract Management Officers
- Risk Managers and Enterprise Risk Management Professionals
- Compliance, Ethics and Integrity Officers
- Revenue Administration and Revenue Management Officers
- Anti-Fraud, Anti-Corruption and Investigation Professionals
- Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Performance Officers
- Government Ministry, Department and Agency Officials
- State-Owned Enterprise and Public Authority Managers
- Development Programme and Donor-Funded Project Managers
- Parliamentary, Legislative and Public Accounts Committee Support Officers
- Regulatory Authority and Oversight Institution Professionals
- Senior Managers and Executives responsible for financial governance
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Strengthen public financial management systems by applying sound principles for fiscal planning, budgeting, resource allocation, expenditure control, accounting, reporting, and financial accountability.
- Integrate governance, risk and compliance frameworks into financial management processes to strengthen institutional oversight, accountability, transparency, and responsible decision-making.
- Develop stronger risk management frameworks for systematically identifying, assessing, prioritizing, treating, monitoring, and reporting financial, operational, strategic, compliance, and emerging risks.
- Improve budget credibility and expenditure management by strengthening budget preparation, execution controls, commitment management, variance analysis, and performance-based resource allocation.
- Design and evaluate effective internal control systems that safeguard public assets, reduce financial losses, prevent unauthorized transactions, and strengthen institutional accountability.
- Identify and mitigate fraud and corruption risks through fraud risk assessments, preventive controls, data-driven detection techniques, whistleblowing mechanisms, and effective response protocols.
- Strengthen regulatory and policy compliance by developing structured approaches for identifying obligations, assessing compliance risks, monitoring controls, and addressing identified breaches.
- Enhance public procurement governance by addressing procurement risks, conflicts of interest, supplier integrity, contract oversight, transparency, and value-for-money considerations.
- Apply technology and data analytics to financial oversight for detecting anomalies, identifying emerging risks, monitoring compliance, and supporting evidence-based financial decisions.
- Improve audit, assurance and accountability mechanisms by strengthening internal audit, risk-based assurance, audit follow-up, management accountability, and coordination among assurance providers.
- Respond effectively to emerging public finance risks associated with cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, digital fraud, climate-related fiscal exposure, third parties, and complex financial systems.
- Develop actionable institutional improvement plans that align PFM reforms, governance structures, risk management, compliance, internal controls, and performance monitoring with strategic objectives.
Comprehensive Course Outline
Module 1: Foundations of Public Financial Management and GRC
- Understanding the Modern PFM Ecosystem
- Principles of Sound Financial Governance
- Integrating Governance, Risk and Compliance
- Diagnosing Institutional PFM Weaknesses
Module 2: Public Sector Governance and Accountability Frameworks
- Governance Structures and Accountability Relationships
- Delegation of Financial Authority and Responsibility
- Ethics, Integrity and Conflicts of Interest
- Transparency and Public Accountability Mechanisms
Module 3: Fiscal Planning and Medium-Term Financial Management
- Macroeconomic and Fiscal Planning Fundamentals
- Medium-Term Expenditure and Fiscal Frameworks
- Fiscal Risk Identification and Management
- Scenario Planning and Fiscal Stress Testing
Module 4: Public Budgeting, Allocation and Budget Credibility
- Strategic and Policy-Based Budget Formulation
- Programme and Performance-Based Budgeting
- Budget Execution and Expenditure Controls
- Budget Variance and Credibility Analysis
Module 5: Public Revenue Management and Revenue Assurance
- Revenue Forecasting and Planning Approaches
- Revenue Administration and Control Systems
- Revenue Leakage and Fraud Risk Management
- Digital Revenue Systems and Analytics
Module 6: Treasury, Cash and Expenditure Management
- Government Cash Planning and Forecasting
- Treasury Single Account and Cash Consolidation
- Commitment and Expenditure Control Frameworks
- Payment Controls and Financial Reconciliations
Module 7: Public Procurement Governance and Contract Risk
- Procurement Planning and Financial Alignment
- Procurement Integrity and Corruption Risk Controls
- Supplier Due Diligence and Beneficial Ownership
- Contract Performance and Value-for-Money Monitoring
Module 8: Internal Controls and Financial Control Environment
- Designing Effective Internal Control Frameworks
- Segregation of Duties and Authorization Controls
- Control Testing and Effectiveness Assessment
- Continuous Controls Monitoring
Module 9: Enterprise Risk Management in Public Institutions
- Establishing Enterprise Risk Management Frameworks
- Risk Identification and Assessment Techniques
- Risk Appetite, Tolerance and Prioritization
- Risk Treatment and Monitoring Strategies
Module 10: Regulatory Compliance and Compliance Risk Management
- Building Institutional Compliance Frameworks
- Compliance Risk Assessment Methodologies
- Compliance Monitoring and Testing Programmes
- Regulatory Change Management
Module 11: Fraud, Corruption and Financial Misconduct Risk
- Fraud and Corruption Risk Assessment
- Fraud Prevention and Detection Controls
- Financial Red Flags and Anomaly Analytics
- Incident Response and Investigation Support
Module 12: Public Sector Accounting and Financial Reporting
- Public Sector Accounting and Reporting Principles
- Financial Statement Preparation and Interpretation
- Accrual Accounting and Public Sector Reforms
- Financial Reporting Quality Assurance
Module 13: Internal Audit, Assurance and Oversight
- Risk-Based Internal Audit Planning
- Audit Execution and Evidence-Based Reporting
- Combined Assurance and GRC Coordination
- Audit Recommendation Tracking and Accountability
Module 14: Digital PFM, Integrated Systems and Data Governance
- Integrated Financial Management Information Systems
- Financial Data Governance and Data Quality
- Interoperability and Digital Public Infrastructure
- Digital Transformation Governance and Implementation Risk
Module 15: AI, Advanced Analytics and Emerging GRC Technologies
- Artificial Intelligence in Public Financial Management
- Continuous Auditing and Real-Time Assurance
- Generative AI Governance in Finance Functions
- Predictive Risk Intelligence and GRC Automation
Module 16: Cybersecurity, Digital Fraud and Third-Party Risk
- Cyber Risks Affecting Financial Management Systems
- Digital Payment and Identity Fraud Risks
- Third-Party and Technology Supplier Risk
- Cyber Resilience and Financial Continuity Planning
Module 17: Emerging Public Finance Issues and GRC Action Planning
- Climate-Responsive Budgeting and Fiscal Risk
- Open Contracting and Beneficial Ownership Transparency
- ESG, Sustainability and Public Financial Governance
- Institutional GRC Improvement Action Planning
Training Approach
This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.
Tailor-Made Course
This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808
Training Venue
The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group at requested location all over the world. The course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, and buffet lunch.
Visa application, travel expenses, airport transfers, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant
Certification
Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.
Airport Pickup and Accommodation
Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808
Terms of Payment
Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better
