Careers:COURSES

A set of self‐development materials has been published by the Local Government Training Board to help local authority managers' understanding of financial terminology and techniques. It could also be useful to managers in public utilities and other organisations who have an involvement with local government finance. Accounting for Local Government Managers is based on the highly successful package developed by Henley Distance Learning, and has been expanded for the LGTB to increase its relevance to local government. The package is aimed at managers with little or no formal training in the financial aspects of their work. It should help them communicate better with their own financial personnel, and improve their abilities to make decisions with a financial perspective. The material can be worked through by individual managers at their own pace — an average of 100 hours study time is involved — or can be incorporated into in‐house training programmes. The programme is divided into four parts, each contained within a separate workbook. Other components include a case study with a supporting video, two audio cassettes, and a resource pack of additional material and examples of local authority financial reports.