Governance & Compliance

Public Sector Governance and Accountability

Public bodies must use public money and power responsibly and transparently. This course covers public sector governance: legal and constitutional frameworks, roles of ministers, boards and accounting officers, financial accountability, performance reporting, transparency and freedom of information, audit and oversight, and ethics in public office.

5 days Classroom or live online English

Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants

Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

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Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Public trust depends on visible accountability. You will learn governance practices that strengthen public institutions.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

Public sector case studies, accountability mapping exercises, oversight simulations and peer discussion.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Explain governance frameworks for public bodies
Clarify roles of ministers, boards and senior officials
Strengthen financial accountability
Report public performance transparently
Work effectively with audit and oversight bodies
Uphold ethics in public office

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

Senior public officials
Board members of public bodies
Governance and planning officers
Internal auditors in government
Policy advisers

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Accountability design
Financial oversight
Performance reporting
Transparency
Public ethics

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Public Governance

09:00–10:08Principles
10:08–11:00Legal frameworks
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Legal frameworks (continued)
11:45–12:53Public value
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 2Roles

09:00–10:08Ministers and boards
10:08–11:00Accounting officers
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Accounting officers (continued)
11:45–12:53Delegations
12:53–14:00Workshop

Day 3Financial Accountability

09:00–10:08Budgets and controls
10:08–11:00Value for money
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Value for money (continued)
11:45–12:53Audit
12:53–14:00Case study

Day 4Transparency

09:00–10:08Performance reporting
10:08–11:00Freedom of information
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Freedom of information (continued)
11:45–12:53Citizen engagement
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 5Ethics and Oversight

09:00–10:08Codes of conduct
10:08–11:00Oversight bodies
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Oversight bodies (continued)
11:45–12:53Improvement
12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

Keep exploring

Your next horizon awaits.

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The full course agenda and dates are available above. Use the session links in Dates & venues to choose a session. Registration and quotation forms require JavaScript; you can also contact our learning team directly.