Alberta FMI MeetingEdmonton, Alberta

Charles-Antoine St-JeanComptroller General of Canada

September 13, 2007

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Federal Accountability Act

A New Culture in Financial Management

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Overview of Presentation

New Policy on Internal Audit

Renewal of financial management

policies

Public Service Renewal

and Capacity Building

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Taking Stock

The government re-established the Office of the Comptroller General 3 years ago This was partly in response to public cynicism of public and private institutions

The government put a heightened emphasis on accountability

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Internal Audit

In 2005, the government introduced the new internal audit policy to:• reorganize and bolster the internal audit function

• strengthen public-sector accountability

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Internal Audit

Internal auditors will fill an enhanced role We are developing core training for the IA community

The task will take time

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Internal Audit

Internal auditors and departmental audit committees will have more independence

Audit committees will include members from outside the public service

Understanding between the public and private sectors will improve

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The revamp of financial management policies

The entire suite of Treasury Board policies is being renewed

The new government mandated a senior committee to assist our review of financial management policies

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The revamp of financial management policies

The proposed financial management policy framework will reduce existing policies and other guidance documents

We will reduce nearly 150 policies to just five core policies and 30 related directives.

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Public-sector financial management

Public-sector financial management has unique demands

We spend a lot of time “putting dollars in the right buckets”

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Public-sector financial management

We need to develop the capacity to answer questions such as: do we have the right delivery model for programs, or the right business model?

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Public-service renewal and capacity building

Demographic changes are underway in the public service

By 2009, 16% of financial officers will be eligible for retirement

New people are needed

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Treasury Board recruitment campaignwww.tbs-sct.gc.ca

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Public Service Renewal and Capacity Building

Must hire people at a younger age

We must emphasize that an enormous variety of challenging career opportunities exist in the public service

The need for financial officers will only grow

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Hiring the best people

Attracting employees from every region

Being open to new ideas

Public Service Renewal and Capacity Building

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Public Service Renewal and Capacity Building

Must offer a rewarding career path

We are raising the financial function to the top of federal government departments

This means much room for advancement to the highest levels of accountants

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Public Service Renewal and Capacity Building

Need to balance work and life

Public servants need to be given training

The Canada School of Public Service is identifying core training programs

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We are emphasizing certifications and training.

We have re-evaluated the eligibility criteria for our professional development program.

We are creating a federal public service of unrivalled opportunities.

Public Service Renewal and Capacity Building

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QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION

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