Join the AAAG in Accra, Ghana for a landmark gathering of over 2,000 public accountants, thought leaders, innovators, and policymakers from across Africa and beyond!

Event: AAAG Conference
Venue: Accra International Conference Centre
Theme: Africa of Tomorrow: Positioning PFM for Economic Prosperity

This pivotal event will explore how Public Financial Management (PFM) systems can be reimagined to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world. Through innovation, artificial intelligence, digitalization, climate-responsive budgeting, and sound fiscal governance, we aim to build resilient economies, strengthen public trust, and unlock Africa’s vast economic potential.

Be part of the movement shaping the future of #PublicFinancialManagement in #Africa.

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Joint Organisers

Theme: Public Value Creation Through Quality Public Finance Governance

Date: 27 September 2023 – 11 AM GMT to 2.40 PM GMT

Charges: FREE for all registrants

Target Audience: Public Sector Professionals incorporating: Accountants; Auditors; Non-Finance Managers; Policy Leaders; and All People Interested in Public Sector Finance Management

Knowledge Partner: The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board – IPSASB

Guest Panellist: The International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions – INTOSAI

Brand Partners: AFROSAI-E | CREFIAF | AAAG | PAFA

Overview 

Modern public sector professionals: accountants; auditors; and non-finance managers, can tilt the odds in the favour of common citizens in good time by committing to value adding lifelong learning that positively impacts their individual and team productivity. To make others better, you must first make yourself better. This applies to holders of senior governance and leadership roles as do technical ones.

Becoming future ready professionals calls for recognition of the increasing pace of change in the business environment and opportunity dimensions (nature, timing, value and impact of opportunities); accelerated by technological advancements. Furthermore, there is a rise in the rate at which black swans (Unforeseeable events that could have material impact – bad and good) are occurring, even though previously thought to be impossible.

Professionals have a duty to be highly adaptive and agile particularly with regards to committing to a business as “un-usual” posture of checking strategy more often and course correcting to maintain relevance of business through a relentless pragmatic focus on agility and progress rather than perfection.

This event is an opportunity for public sector professionals (See target audience above) to explore timeless insights and ideas for work and life. We believe that this learning event will be useful by making a value adding difference for those involved in the entire Public Finance Management value chain.

Questions to consider 

• Have educators and professional tuition providers done enough to provide / supply adequate number of accountants and auditors suitably qualified trained for the public sector?
• Do you agree that governments do not need to do more to invest in strengthening capacity for addressing PFM reforms? Why so?

Lessons & Benefits of Attending the Conference

• Build core competencies for successful PFM leadership and governance and be the in-top-demand professional.
• Increase productivity by enhancing awareness and capabilities for good public sector planning.
• Appreciate the PFM value chain and address priority challenges and gaps faced.
• Increase knowledge and skills for setting up and operating robust supply chains and mitigate corruption.
• Accelerate commitment to transparent public sector accounting and reporting.
• Increase knowledge and awareness on the role, value and impact of public sector performance audits.
• Recognise the catalysing and enabling role of technology and AI for successful PFM initiatives.

Overview of the Four Conference Sub-Themes

Sub Theme 1 – Public Sector Finance Management Planning and Budgeting

Bad plans lead to poor outcomes. Good planning is an essential ingredient for good utilisation of public funds. This panel session will examine existing challenges and recommend innovative solutions for addressing issues in public sector planning thus enhancing the returns on budgets allocated for various socio economic government investment programs.

• Why is good planning a critical driver of quality results in public sector budgeting?
• Why should governments prioritise investment PFM strategy strengthening and linkage to public sector budgeting?
• What challenges exist in your experience when it comes to optimisation of public value creation through good planning and budgeting?
• Some countries have accelerated their socio-economic development through good planning and budget accountability. What lessons do you recommend for governments in relation to these success stories?
• What innovative proposals do you suggest for improving public sector planning and budgeting?

Sub Theme 2 – Good Finance Governance – Strengthening Public Sector Supply Chains and Prevention of Corruption

Public sector procurement across all government sector is key to delivery of benefits and value for citizens. Theft through corrupt practices has dealt a blow to the success of noble programs in some countries. This panel session will explore how to enhance the design and management of supply chains to enhance realisation of desired outcomes and impact.

• Why is good governance essential for the success of public sector initiatives and programs?
• What measures do you propose for reducing corrupt practices in public procurement?
• What challenges do governments face in addressing illicit financial flows and prevention of corruption in public sector?
• Can you propose some innovative measures that can be adopted to reduce incidences of corruption and theft in the public sector supply chains?
• Can you suggest how good governance can contribute to reduction of money laundering transactions and illicit financial flows?
• How might technological innovations contribute to stronger public sector supply chains?

Sub Theme 3 – Accounting and Reporting in the Public Sector – Towards Enhanced Transparency and Disclosure

Compliance with international public sector accounting and reporting standards (IPSAS) is essential to realisation of accountability and transparency towards a prosperous African continent. The panel session will examine various issues including challenges affecting adoption and implementation of public sector accounting standards; how to improve the quality of public sector financial reports; opportunities available in the E-government strategy, among other issues.

• What do you think are the benefits of good accounting and reporting with particular reference to adoption and compliance with international standards for accounting and reporting as well as national country laws?
• What challenges have governments faced in realising greater compliance with international public sector accounting standards (IPSAS) and what solutions do you suggest for addressing those challenges?
• What is the current and future focus of IPSAS development and related guidance?
• Do you have any projection of how accounting and reporting in public sector will change in future? What role will technology play in that regard?
• How can professional accountants go about making themselves future ready and in demand in a fast-changing world?
• What role should regulators, standards setters and educators play in ensuring professional accountants and auditors are ready for the opportunities that are and can be?

Sub Theme 4 – Public Sector Performance Audits: Impact on Performance, Results & Public Value Creation

This panel session will examine the role of public sector audits in the PFM value chain. The panellists will address the burning issues impacting value creation including legal backing for public sector audits, approaches for special audits, the status of compliance and performance audits in Africa.

• Why is public auditing (Internal and external auditing) essential for the success of PFM initiatives/ programs?
• How do performance audits contribute to productivity and value creation in the public sector?
• Why is the Internal auditors’ work critical to successful internal and external scrutiny of the PFM value chain?
• What challenges do internal auditors and external auditors face in delivering in their roles of scrutiny and validation of compliance or lack thereof?
• What advise do you have for addressing independence of Supreme audit institutions? Is there a place for sustainability, good governance, relevance, responsibility and enforcement of laws and policies when considering a package that defines independence of a SAI? How should SAI’s thus go about achieving independence?
• Do you have innovative suggestions for enhancing the role of audit in advancing more success for PFM programs?

About IPSASB

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board® (IPSASB®) works to improve public sector financial reporting worldwide through the development of IPSAS®, international accrual-based accounting standards, for use by governments and other public sector entities around the world. Learn More

About INTOSAI

The International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) operates as an umbrella organization for the external government audit community. It is a non-governmental organization with special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations. Learn More