CIPFA Thinks- What's next for public finance?
Welcome back to CIPFA Thinks – the policy voice of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). From tackling NHS funding gaps to rebuilding trust in audit and unlocking regional growth, we’re diving into what matters now - and what’s coming next. In just a few minutes, you’ll be up to speed on the latest insights shaping the future of public finance.
What’s working in social care finance?
This month marks the launch of CIPFA’s Social Care Finance in Focus hub – a growing collection of case studies from councils across the UK.
With social care challenges front and centre for local authorities, the hub offers finance leaders, commissioners and policymakers practical tools to improve financial oversight, strengthen accountability and manage budget pressures.
Does your council have an approach that works? Share your story with CIPFA Social Care Policy Advisor William Burns : william.burns@cipfa.org.
A bold NHS vision – but is it deliverable?
The 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future paints a bold, even dazzling vision for the NHS – one that promises innovation, empowerment and financial sustainability.
But how viable is this ambition? CIPFA Policy Manager on Health & Integration Dr Eleanor Roy digs beneath the headlines, raising critical questions about the plan’s vague savings claims, unclear delivery structures and whether financial reforms can truly be self-funding.
Explore what NHS finance professionals need to watch, and where the real risks lie, here.
Rebuilding trust in local audit: what good is a watchdog if no one hears it bark?
At our recent CIPFA - CEF (Center of Excellence in Finance) Trust in Public Finance: Perceptions vs. Practice conference, the message was clear: trust is a strategic asset - not a soft concept - and right now, its under threat.
As public finance grows ever more complex and public expectations rise, audit is being asked to do more, say more and matter more - often with the same tools and assumptions that shaped it decades ago.
But how can audit move from looking in the rear-view mirror to guiding the road ahead? CIPFA Director of International Khalid Hamid explores how audit can reclaim its critical role in shaping the future of public finance.
Unlocking growth beyond the capital
CIPFA and City-REDI, University of Birmingham 's Enabling Regional Growth: Institutional and Fiscal Lessons from England and Japan report explores how regional leadership, devolution and place-specific strategies can drive inclusive growth in second cities and their regions.
Through comparative case studies of Birmingham in the West Midlands and Osaka in the Kansai region of Japan, the research provides a practical framework for implementing devolution effectively.
From flexible regional groupings to sustainable funding models, watch our report trailer and explore the full report to discover what second cities need to thrive.
Purpose, not just policy: building a public finance career
Public finance isn’t just about the numbers – it’s about people. Two powerful perspectives from within the CIPFA community show how careers in the sector can be both impactful and meaningful.
💬 Carol Culley OBE , CIPFA Outgoing President (2024/25), shares her journey in PQ Magazine , reflecting on how a life in public finance allows her to make real change – from the frontline to strategic leadership. Find out why Carol chose public finance- and why you should too.
💬 Lindie Engelbrecht CA(SA) , CIPFA’s Director of Education and Membership, shares 10 powerful ways today's finance professionals can grow and lead with purpose to achieve career goals. Read her tips in the July edition of PQ Magazine (page 27).
🗞️ Hot off the press:
🤝 Get involved:
CIPFA Apprenticeship programmes: CIPFA’s Level 7 Accountancy Professional and Level 4 Counter Fraud Investigator Apprenticeships are open for the Autumn 2025 intake. Apply by 31 July 2025.
Land and Non-DRC Buildings Indexation Survey: Does your authority hold non-investment assets? Would centrally procured indices help to make the valuation process more effective and efficient? Complete the survey by 1 August.
Ride the Wave: Growth and Infrastructure Survey: How should local authorities shape decisions to support the government’s growth agenda? Have your say in Ride the Wave – a Localis research project supported by CIPFA and Core Cities UK. Complete the survey by 22 August.
🌍 Out & about:
Achieving Finance Excellence in Policing (AFEP) Summit: This year's AFEP Summit brought together police finance leaders from across the UK to explore what meaningful reform really looks like. Catch the highlights here, here and here.
Trust in Public Finance: Perceptions vs. Practice: Across Europe and beyond, trust in public finance is under pressure. This year's CEF - Center of Excellence in Finance - CIPFA conference examined how stronger public financial management (PFM) systems can help restore it. From integrity and transparency to collaborative leadership, discover the insights here.
Public Finance Live 2025: At our flagship conference, the sector came together to explore what comes next. The conversations were candid, the challenges complex - but ambition was clear. From audit and devolution to prevention and place-based investment, speakers made the case for rethinking how finance can lead.
📅 What's next?
The CIPFA Communications team prepared this newsletter. Subscribe to receive further editions.
Head of Praxis CometOjiabor & Co. Chartered Accountants
3moThanks for sharing
Helping you be the best you can be!
3moIs this Happisburgh lighthouse @steve blatch? 😊