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Managing Public Money

Gary Bandy, Henry Lahr, Stephen Henderson, Paul Corner, and Jeremy Roebuck

Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course provides a practical introduction for anyone drawn to working in public financial management, as well as essential continuous professional development for early career public finance professionals. It is also suitable for managers in public bodies and charities, whose roles involve public financial management - for example, doctors, librarians, social workers, police officers, engineers or civil servants.

Topics Covered

The differences between financial management in the public and private sectors.
The basics of taxation, including different types of taxes and their features.
Different approaches to budgeting and their strengths and weaknesses.
The key internal controls for managing the finances of any organisation.
The prevention of fraud and corruption.
The five Es of value for money: effectiveness, economy, efficiency, equity, ethics.
How to put a value on the costs and benefits of public services.
The importance of accountability and transparency in the management of public money.
The role of external and internal auditors and what an audit opinion means.

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Reviews summary

Public financial management essentials

According to students, 'Managing Public Money' is a highly recommended course, particularly for those new to or working in the public and non-profit sectors. Learners consistently praise its clear, concise, and easy-to-follow content, which provides an excellent foundational understanding of public financial management. Its well-structured modules make complex topics accessible and are highly relevant to practical roles. While the course is lauded for its comprehensiveness for beginners, a few suggest that some topics could benefit from more in-depth exploration and specific real-world case studies for advanced learners. Overall, it's seen as an essential and insightful overview.

Key areas like accountability, transparency, and value for money are highlighted.

"I particularly appreciated the modules on accountability and transparency."

"The focus on value for money was particularly enlightening."

"The emphasis on ethics and accountability resonated deeply."

"It covered relevant areas."

Provides a solid, comprehensive introduction to public financial management.

"Provided an excellent insight on public financial management."

"The content is highly informative, providing a solid foundation in public finance."

"Very good overview for those who want to enter or work in public finance."

"It provides an excellent framework and highlights the unique aspects of public money management."

"Comprehensive introduction to public financial management."

Practical and essential for professionals in public/non-profit sectors.

"A really informative course, I recommend it for all people working in the public and non-profit sector..."

"Perfect for me, good and comprehensive, but not too demanding. For a public manager, it's very useful."

"Highly relevant for my role in a local government."

"An essential course for anyone in public administration."

"This course is a must for anyone managing public funds."

Explanations are easy to understand, making complex topics digestible.

"Excellent course, easy to understand & follow lessons."

"The content was clear, concise, and easy to follow."

"The clear explanations and practical examples made complex topics accessible."

"The explanations were spot on and easy to grasp. I learned a lot."

"It demystifies complex topics with clarity and provides practical insights."

Could benefit from more specific case studies and interactive elements.

"I found some of the examples a bit generic and could benefit from more specific, real-world case studies."

"The course covered a wide range of topics, but I sometimes wished for more interactive elements beyond the readings."

Excellent for beginners but may lack depth for advanced practitioners.

"Good foundation, but felt some topics could have been explored in more depth. It's a great start, but not comprehensive enough for advanced practitioners."

"Overall good course. Some parts felt a bit rushed, but the core concepts were well explained. Useful for foundational knowledge."

"The course offers a good overview of public finance, but I expected more advanced discussion on policy implications."

Career center

Learners who complete Managing Public Money will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Managing Public Money.

The Age of Surveillance Capitalism

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A seminal work exploring how personal data is harvested and used for profit, often without transparency or consent. is crucial for understanding the economic and societal implications of data practices and the challenges to individual autonomy. It provides essential context for contemporary discussions on data ethics and privacy.

Managing Public Money

Topics Covered

Topics Covered

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Reviews summary

Public financial management essentials

Career center

Reading list

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