The Scottish Government

The Finance Directorate headed by Alyson Stafford works to secure the best possible services from the Scottish Government budget.

Primary aims of Finance Directorate are:

• to work corporately across the Scottish Government to secure sustainable outcomes within the budget authorised by the Scottish Parliament.
• lead the Government's financial strategy, reporting, accounting processes, and internal audit service.
• lead the development and modernisation of procurement policy and activity across the Government and the wider public sector.
• support the Government's infrastructure investment programme, securing quality and value for money - within a Best Value regime - and, where appropriate, utilising innovative partnering solutions.
• to continuously improve our service to and working relationships with Ministers, Parliament, Scottish Government colleagues, auditors and other stakeholders.

Main objectives of Finance Directorate for 2007-08 are:

Financial Management & Reporting

• work with the Portfolio Accountable Officers (Directors-General) to ensure the Scottish Government stays within its overall Parliamentary budget control totals and to minimise unplanned underspends.
• prepare clear and timely budget monitoring information for budget holders to effectively manage their budgets.
• support and challenge Portfolios on all financial matters to ensure proposals are tested for regularity, propriety, value for money and affordability.
• complete annual financial statements accurately and on time.
• embed Combined On-line Information System (COINS) to meet new reporting requirements to HM Treasury.
• Continue to develop a programme of activity to support Financial Management in response to the Employee Survey 2006 and the priority aim under The Big Picture.

Financial Strategy

• to support and successfully conclude the 2007 Spending Review.
• obtain Ministerial agreement to public sector pay policy and ensure the control of public sector pay by the consistent and robust assessment of pay proposals against need criteria.
• maintain active liaison with HM Treasury in assessing financial prospects and UK fiscal regime.

Financial Systems

• develop a strategic plan for ongoing financial (IT) system solutions to meet the needs of the Government.

• review and develop the SEAS Chart of Accounts to meet future business requirements in light of the Portfolio structure and Ministerial aims.

Parliamentary Business

• produce Budget Bill/revisions and associated documents accurately and on time, in a form to meet the needs of Scottish Parliament Finance Committee in line with agreed legislative timetable.

Procurement

• implement the recommendations in the McClelland report on the review of public procurement in Scotland.
• ensure Ministers' policy procurements and key corporate projects are always delivered under robust and legally sound agreements.
• support all mission critical projects through the Gateway Review process.

Infrastructure Investment

• improve the public sector infrastructure in a way that delivers value for money within a regime of Best Value, continuing to develop a range of funding options, where appropriate, and other innovative and workable models.
• support plans and delivery of partnering solutions working with Portfolios and industry.

Audit and governance issues

• provide an effective internal audit service delivered in accordance with Government Internal Audit Standards (GIAS).
• provide support for corporate government arrangements - in particular the performance and risk management regime across the Government - to provide sufficient assurances to underpin the statement on internal control which forms part of the Scottish Government's Consolidated Accounts.

Topics

Topics contain more information about the policies and initiatives undertaken by the Scottish Government. They act as a background to the work of directorates.

• Finance