Case study

Developing leaders in the Scottish public sector

In response to the changes and financial challenges facing Scotland’s public sector, we developed the Strategic Finance Leaders Programme in association with the Scottish Government. The programme, now in its third year, supports public sector finance directors who are directly responsible for managing and implementing these changes.

The main objectives of the programme are to provide, guidance, development and enable Scotland’s finance leaders to build a peer network within this sector. We also provide finance leaders with access to some of the most influential executives in the Scottish public sector, including Alyson Stafford, Director General Finance, who heads up our Leaders Panel of five senior finance executives who act as programme sponsors.

Almost 40 finance leaders in Scotland have completed the two-day bespoke workshop, and now continue to form part of the alumni network who meet two to three times each year. This programme has supported the personal and professional development of many of those who are responsible for the improvement and delivery of public services in Scotland.

“At a time when Scotland is going through unprecedented change in the level of devolution and therefore responsibility for public finances, this has been a very welcome and timely programme. Each cohort has been selected to ensure a breadth of sector and geographical spread, which has enabled them to develop valuable connections across the whole of Scotland. The programme has benefited from Deloitte’s extensive network and subject matter expertise, and speakers and topics have been wide ranging, including sessions with senior politicians, senior civil servants and Deloitte specialists. The ‘safe’ space provided by the programme has enabled the participants to test, challenge and debate key and highly current strategic issues, which they have found invaluable in helping them steer their respective organisations through the uncertainties of recent times. It has given public sector leaders confidence that as the management of public sector resources becomes ever more challenging, there is a developing capacity to successfully deliver the strategic finance agenda to support the ambitions for public service delivery in Scotland.”

Alyson Stafford, Director General Finance, Scottish Government

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