Public Sector Certificate Program Level I
Public Sector Certificate Program: Level I | |
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Governance and decision-making process+• know the typical legislative authorities and provisions defining how governments receive, disburse and manage public funds • explain the elements of governance and decision-making in public sector environments, including how government staff work and communicate with elected officials and their staff, federal members of Parliament, members of provincial parliaments and city councillors • understand government stakeholders, including the public, and their expectations of accountability, transparency, value for money and the sustainability of taxpayer-funded spending | |
Planning and budgeting process+• explain the government planning and budgeting process, which culminates in an annual budget • describe the steps in the government planning and budgeting process | |
Government operating and capital budgets+• understand the difference between operating and capital budgets, and between funding for operations versus funding for capital • ability to prepare a budget component for a program, division or other small segment that will be rolled up into the overall budget
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Public sector accounting and reporting+• understand public sector accounting as a basis of government financial reporting and the role of sovereign governments in that process • explain and prepare, or support the preparation of, the statements, notes, schedules and other components of a typical set of public accounts • evaluate which government agencies, government business enterprises and other government organizations are part of the Government Reporting Entity (GRE) • evaluate whether an organization needs to be consolidated with its host ministry or department and perform consolidations where indicated • apply public sector GAAP measures to government transactions. • explain and account for all government revenues, including taxes, transfers and non-tax revenue • describe the different types of government transfer payments | |
Decision support+• use financial analysis of program-specific financial reports and annual financial statements to assess the financial strength of agencies and not-for-profit organizations delivering government programs • compare and contrast performance measurement in government, not-for-profit and for-profit organizations | |
Auditing+• describe the concept of public sector auditing and the accountability relationship with the public • assess financial control and related risks associated with government program delivery, including third- party organizations such as agencies • identify process weaknesses and recommend appropriate financial and internal controls to address identified weaknesses • apply internal audit procedures to assess value for money in government program delivery • understand the types of internal and external audits most frequently encountered in a public sector context • explain the methodology applied in these engagements including value-for-money audits (versus audits that focus on fair presentation) |