What you will learn
- explain the approaches, activities and roles relevant to each stage of the PFM cycle and why every part of the cycle matters for good PFM
- describe good PFM practices and recognise how good PFM enables better decision-making for the public good
- explain how PFM reform can help improve public outcomes
- describe how good PFM practices differ around the world according to different countries’ needs
- recognise and evaluate ethical dilemmas in PFM situations and apply ethical principles to decision-making to ensure fair and equitable practices in public finance
- apply best PFM practices in your day-to-day work
About this Certificate
The Certificate in Public Financial Management (PFM) gives learners a clear and complete understanding of how public finance works – and how to strengthen it. Developed by ACCA’s public sector specialists, it reflects the challenges governments face today and the skills organisations need to manage public money responsibly. The Certificate builds practical capability across budgeting, reporting, governance, operations and ethical decision making. It shows how public finance connects to real world service delivery and scrutiny, helping learners work confidently in complex public sector environments. Backed by ACCA’s global expertise and more than a century of public sector leadership, the Certificate offers a breadth and depth of capability building that goes beyond programmes focused only on accounting standards or technical reporting. It equips learners to support PFM reform, make better decisions and contribute to improved outcomes for citizens.Certificate structure
The Certificate is made up of five interconnected courses, including an exclusive capstone course and assessment. The full Certificate builds whole system insight and the capstone accreditation recognises your end to end PFM expertise.1. Public Financial Management Essentials
Learners will be able to:
1. explain the role of public finance and PFM for governments, the economy and the public
2. describe how governments create and enact policies, including PFM policies
3. explain how public sector goods and services are financed
4. describe the objectives, benefits and challenges of PFM reform
5. explain the importance of ethical practices and apply ethical decision making throughout PFM work.
Available now.
2. Public Sector Budgeting
Learners will be able to:
1. compare different types of budget and how they are formulated
2. explain the processes involved in the different stages of the budget cycle
3. compare different approaches to budget execution
4. explain the role of the budget holder in budget execution
5. explain the importance of budget execution controls for reducing the risk of budget variance and fraud.
Available now.
3. Public Sector Accounting and Reporting
Learners will be able to:
1. describe the unique needs and processes in public sector accounting
2. identify the accounting standards that apply to public finance
3. explain the benefits and challenges in moving from cash to accrual accounting
4. explain how governments prepare financial statements for external scrutiny
5. explain the role of internal audit in PFM.
Releasing October 2026.
4. Public Sector Audit
Learners will be able to:
1. explain the importance of governance in PFM
2. describe the role of external audit in public finance
3. describe the international standards that underpin public sector audits
4. explain how external audits are planned and executed
5. describe the role of compliance and performance audits.
Releasing October 2026.
5. Public Financial Management in Action (Certificate Exclusive)
Learners will be able to:
1. explain how good PFM practices apply to cash planning, debt management, revenue administration, procurement, public investment management and public asset management
2. explain the impact of good PFM in these activities on public services and outcomes
3. describe how these key PFM activities intersect with the PFM cycle
4. evaluate how their own work engages with core public finance activities and how they can contribute positively.
Certificate exclusive. Releasing October 2026.
Key information
- This Certificate is:
- On‑demand learning — start anytime and study when it suits you
- Self‑paced — move through each course at your own speed
- Virtual access — learn from anywhere, no fixed schedule
- Interactive content — engage with practical tasks and real‑world scenarios
- There are five course level assessments and one final captone assessment. Each is a 1-hour, 25-question multiple-choice exam.
- There are 28 modules.
- Complete all modules and pass the assessment of each course to gain your CPD certificate and digital badge.
- Complete the capstone assessment to gain your ACCA Certificate in Public Financial Management.
