CPD Requirements for Public Sector Finance Teams: What Finance Managers Need to Know

CPD Requirements for Public Sector Finance Teams: What Finance Managers Need to Know

Public sector finance teams face a distinctive set of CPD obligations — shaped by the professional bodies their staff belong to, the audit and accountability frameworks that govern public money, and the particular challenges of delivering cost-effective training in an environment of constrained budgets and headcount pressures.

This guide sets out the CPD requirements that apply to finance professionals in local authorities, NHS bodies, central government departments, and other public sector organisations — and provides practical guidance on how finance managers can meet those requirements efficiently and cost-effectively.

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Why CPD Matters in Public Sector Finance

The public sector finance function carries a unique combination of responsibilities: maintaining financial controls over public money, preparing accounts in accordance with public sector accounting standards, supporting governance and audit, and providing financial analysis and advice that underpins decisions affecting public services.

These responsibilities require finance professionals who are genuinely current — on accounting standards, on regulatory requirements, on governance frameworks, and on the evolving tools and techniques of financial management. CPD is the mechanism by which this currency is maintained.

The consequences of a non-current or under-trained finance function are not merely operational. Where public accounts contain material errors, or where audit findings suggest inadequate financial controls, the political and reputational consequences are significant — and the personal accountability of finance officers under frameworks such as the Chief Finance Officer responsibility under the Local Government Finance Act 1988 is real.

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CIPFA CPD Requirements

The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) is the primary professional body for public sector finance in the UK, with the majority of senior finance professionals in local authorities, NHS bodies, and central government holding CIPFA qualifications.

CIPFA's CPD Framework

CIPFA requires all members to undertake relevant CPD as part of their professional obligations. Under CIPFA's CPD policy, members must:

• Reflect on their development needs and plan CPD activity accordingly
• Undertake CPD that is relevant to their current role and responsibilities
• Record their CPD activities and maintain a portfolio of evidence
• Declare compliance with CPD requirements as part of their annual membership renewal

CIPFA does not set a prescribed minimum number of CPD hours, instead adopting an outcomes-based approach that focuses on relevance and impact rather than hours completed. However, in practice, most CIPFA members working in public sector finance complete between 30 and 40 hours of structured CPD annually to maintain their knowledge of public sector accounting standards, governance developments, and technical updates.

CIPFA's Technical Updates

A significant component of CPD for CIPFA members relates to the ongoing evolution of public sector accounting standards. The Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the United Kingdom (the CIPFA/LASAAC Code) is updated annually and introduces changes that finance teams must understand and implement. Similarly, the Government Financial Reporting Manual (FReM) is updated annually for central government and arm's length bodies. Staying current with these updates is a core CPD obligation for public sector finance professionals.

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CIMA CPD Requirements for Public Sector Members

While CIPFA is the primary body for public sector finance in the UK, a significant number of finance professionals working in public sector organisations — particularly in NHS trusts, housing associations, and government-owned enterprises — hold CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) qualifications.

CIMA's CPD policy requires members to undertake a minimum of 120 units of CPD over a rolling three-year period, with a minimum of 20 units in any one year. One unit equates to approximately one hour of learning activity. CIMA's approach allows a broad range of activities to count as CPD, including formal training, online learning, work-based learning, and professional reading.

CIMA members in public sector roles should ensure their CPD reflects the specific technical requirements of their context — including public sector accounting standards, governance frameworks, and the analytical and advisory skills required in public finance roles.

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NHS Finance Teams: Specific Requirements

The NHS finance community in England operates within a framework set by NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care. The NHS Finance Function Strategy sets out expectations for the capability and deuelopment of NHS finance staff, with a particular emphasis on the NHS Finance Leadership Development programme and the Aspiring FDs programme for senior finance professionals.

The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) provides CPD resources and accreditation specifically tailored to NHS finance, and many NHS finance professionals maintain HFMA membership alongside their CIPFA or CIMA qualifications. HFMA accreditation requires ongoing CPD engagement, with a focus on NHS-specific financial management, governance, and accounting topics.

NHS finance teams also face specific CPD requirements arising from the NHS Counter Fraud Authority (NHSCFA) and the CQC regulatory framework, particularly in relation to financial controls, fraud awareness, and governance.

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Local Authority Finance: Obligations and Frameworks

Local authority finance officers operate under a combination of statutory duties and professional obligations. The Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of a local authority — the Section 151 Officer under the Local Government Finance Act 1988 — has personal statutory responsibility for the proper administration of the authority's financial affairs. This creates a powerful incentive for finance function competency that goes beyond professional body requirements.

CIPFA's guidance for Section 151 Officers and their teams emphasises that CPD should cover: the CIPFA/LASAAC accounting Code updates, public audit requirements (including those set by the National Audit Office and the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority — ARGA, which is taking over the local audit function from the FRC), governance frameworks, and financial sustainability analysis tools including CIPFA's Financial Resilience Index.

Public Sector Audit Obligations

The Comptroller and Auditor General (NAO) and the PSAA (Public Sector Audit Appointments) framework create specific obligations around the quality of public accounts. Finance teams preparing accounts that are subject to statutory external audit are expected to maintain staff who understand public sector accounting standards in depth — and audit findings that cite technical errors in accounts are a direct signal of CPD gaps.

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Delivering CPD Cost-Effectively in Constrained Budgets

One of the most significant challenges facing public sector finance managers is delivering meaningful CPD within budgets that are under sustained pressure. Travel budgets have been cut, conference attendance has been reduced, and the case for spending public money on external training must be justified carefully.

Online learning has become the practical solution for most public sector finance teams. It offers several advantages that are particularly relevant to the public sector context:

• Cost efficiency: Online CPD is significantly cheaper than equivalent classroom training, particularly when travel and accommodation costs are factored in. For geographically dispersed public sector organisations — county councils, NHS trusts covering large areas — the savings can be substantial.
• No travel required: Staff can complete CPD at their desk, reducing the time cost of development activity and making it feasible to fit CPD into busy reporting periods.
• Scalable delivery: Online programmes can be rolled out to an entire finance team simultaneously, ensuring consistent knowledge and a shared frame of reference — particularly valuable when implementing accounting standard changes.
• Evidenced completion: Online platforms generate completion records and certificates that satisfy professional body CPD documentation requirements, reducing the administrative burden of CPD record-keeping.

Maximising the Value of Limited Training Budgets

Public sector finance managers seeking to maximise training value within constrained budgets should consider: prioritising CPD that directly addresses upcoming accounting standard or regulatory changes (the highest-return activity for the function); using online platforms to deliver accredited CPD at scale across the team; and leveraging free CPD resources from CIPFA, CIMA, and HFMA to supplement paid programmes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are CIPFA's CPD requirements for public sector finance professionals?

CIPFA requires all members to undertake relevant CPD, maintain records, and declare compliance on annual membership renewal. CIPFA takes an outcomes-based approach rather than prescribing minimum hours, though in practice most active members in public sector roles complete 30–40 hours of structured CPD annually. CPD should cover technical updates (including annual changes to the CIPFA/LASAAC Code and FReM), governance and audit developments, and skills relevant to the member's current role.

What are CIMA's CPD requirements?

CIMA requires members to complete a minimum of 120 units of CPD over a rolling three-year period, with a minimum of 20 units in any one year (approximately one unit per hour of learning). CIMA's approach is flexible, allowing a range of activities to count towards CPD, including online learning, formal training, work-based learning, and professional reading. Members must maintain records and declare CPD compliance annually.

What training do NHS finance teams need?

NHS finance teams need CPD covering: NHS-specific accounting standards and the Department of Health group reporting requirements; the NHS Finance Function Strategy capabilities framework; Counter Fraud Authority requirements and awareness; CQC governance obligations; and leadership and analytical skills for finance business partnering. HFMA membership and accreditation provides a structured CPD framework specifically designed for NHS finance professionals.

What is the Section 151 Officer's responsibility for staff training?

The Section 151 Officer (Chief Finance Officer) has statutory responsibility for the proper administration of a local authority's financial affairs under the Local Government Finance Act 1988. This creates an implicit obligation to ensure that the finance team has the skills and knowledge required to meet that standard. In practice, this means maintaining staff currency on the CIPFA/LASAAC Code, public audit requirements, and governance frameworks, and ensuring that CPD is embedded in the function's operating model rather than treated as discretionary.

Does online learning count for CIPFA and CIMA CPD?

Yes. Both CIPFA and CIMA recognise online learning as valid CPD. The key requirement is that the activity is relevant to the member's professional role, planned deliberately, and reflected upon. Online programmes that generate verifiable completion records and include structured assessment provide strong evidence of CPD compliance and are readily accepted by both bodies.

How can public sector finance teams deliver CPD on constrained budgets?

Online learning is the most cost-effective solution for most public sector finance teams. It eliminates travel and accommodation costs, can be deployed at scale across teams, fits into busy reporting periods, and generates verifiable completion evidence. Prioritising CPD on high-impact topics — particularly upcoming accounting standard changes and governance updates — and supplementing paid programmes with free resources from CIPFA, CIMA, and HFMA maximises value within limited budgets.

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Affordable, Accredited CPD for Public Sector Finance Teams

Learnsignal's online CPD programmes provide accredited, expert-led training that satisfies CIPFA, CIMA, and HFMA CPD requirements — at a cost that works within public sector training budgets. Our programmes cover accounting standards, governance, risk management, and the technical skills public sector finance professionals need.

Download the Public Sector Finance Training Whitepaper (WP-14) for a detailed guide to CPD obligations, budget-efficient delivery models, and a framework for building a sustainable CPD programme in your public sector finance team.

Download the Public Sector Finance Training Whitepaper at learnsignal.com/resources/