Online Courses

Understanding Local Government Finance is a specialist-led online one-day course that is designed to provide participants with a basic understanding of how an Irish Local Authority sources their income to fund day to day expenditure and capital expenditure. The course will also provide participants with an appreciation of how the budget process works in a Local Authority and an understanding of the Income and Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet of a Local Authority. Finally, the course will examine the role of internal and external audit in a local government context.

Published accounts are the backbone of the accountability and reporting system used in the public, semi-state and private sectors. The information contained in these reports is critical for those charged with the responsibility of monitoring agency performance. However, this information is only useful where it can be interpreted accurately and in the correct context.  Understanding the Financial Reports of Public Bodies is a one-day online course that is designed for those who need a basic knowledge of the principles of the financial reporting system, from the nature of the information that goes into published accounts, to understanding what it is the statements actually report. 

Public Servants are faced with increasing expectations, shifting priorities as well as an increasingly complex, ambiguous and uncertain environment. Delivering government and organisational strategy requires a capability in project, programme and portfolio management.

This two-day Programme Management Fundamentals course focuses on the unique challenges and opportunities of delivering complex programmes in the public sector and private sector alike. It concentrates on providing a firm understanding and grounding in programme management, so that participants are better equipped to further develop their skills in transformational change.

As well as covering the principles and practices of programme management, participants are also introduced to the main programme management methodologies, helping individuals and organisations wishing to develop their own in-house programme management practices.

PMI Agile Certified Practitioner is a highly-interactive, three-day, instructor-led course prepares participants for the PMI-ACP (Project Management Institute-Agile Certified Practitioner) Accreditation; a world-wide recognition of knowledge of Agile principles, practices and tools and techniques across Agile methodologies. If you already use Agile practices or your organisation is adopting Agile methods, earning the PMI-ACP® certification will demonstrate your knowledge of and commitment to this rapidly growing approach to project management. This course covers the topics required for the PMI-ACP certification and includes practical activities related to the Agile Lifecycle. The course is very interactive with real activities related to the Agile Lifecycle activities. The course qualifies for 21 contact hours as required by the PMI for this certification. Price does not include cost of exam and students must book their exam slot with recognised providers.

Participants may choose not to take the exam in which case they will receive an IPA Certificate of Attendance.

This Introduction to Fraud and Control in Organisations webinar will provide an introduction to the concept of fraud and key controls in organisations.  The session will consider the concept of the fraud triangle, the characteristics of fraud and the opportunities that may exist in organisations as well as key elements of an anti fraud policy. The nature and extent of the control environment and control procedures and the role internal control plays in prevention and detection of fraudulent behaviour.

The expectations and obligations on audit committees continue to evolve in response to governance developments and the need for Boards and governing bodies to demonstrate that they are adhering to relevant audit, assurance and risk management requirements. The Audit committee charter will set out the duties of the Audit Committee in areas such as internal control, internal audit, external audit, financial reporting, risk management, reporting relationships within the organisation and its interaction with other committees. 

This event will be of benefit to new Audit (and Risk) Committee Members and those who wish to benchmark how their audit committee is functioning.

The updated revised Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies applies from 1 September 2016. This is the key guidance document on the corporate governance expectations of State Bodies and other organisations operating to state body and public sector norms. The Code updates and expands on the previous code with additional guidance on several areas.

State Bodies were given two options in relation to adoption of the provisions of the Code.  For those organisations who chose to adopt for the 2017 year-end, this session provides State Bodies with an ideal opportunity to revisit the key provisions of the Code.  

Public bodies and many other organisations in receipt of public support must insure that their corporate governance frameworks are of a best practice standard and that they are in compliance with specified corporate governance codes. This Corporate Governance For State And Public Sector Bodies course will give insights into the principles on which codes are based, provide an overview of the key issues for the different stakeholders and discuss the implications of how governance practices can be assessed.

Oversight of State Bodies: Oversight Agreements, Performance Delivery Agreements and Key Performance Indicators

The two-hour Specialist-Led online course aims to provide concrete guidance to assist staff of both parent Departments and State Bodies in the development of formal Oversight Agreements and Performance Delivery Agreements, with a strong emphasis on performance, including KPIs and monitoring. This course follows a strong practical approach, with class exercises and live samples used throughout the session to facilitate the transfer of operational know-how and of relevant lessons learned across the public sector system.

Effective management of risk is now recognised as a critical element of good governance and assurance arrangements in public service organisations and state agencies. Handling uncertainties and agreeing priorities has implications for strategic and business planning objectives, the relationship with stakeholders and also the resourcing, management and control of work programmes and activities.  Utilising the ISO risk management standard and building on our practical experience with client organisations, this specialist-led online course will give attendees a comprehensive introduction to this important governance and management process.