Getting the basics right

It is disappointing that Philip Green's report about government efficiency shows that central government department's aren't doing the basics but I suppose it is not that much of a surprise since it is only in the last few years that they have hired qualified accountants to manage their finances. And, as a colleague accountant said to me a few weeks ago when I asked him if he felt safe in his (local government) job, "when times are difficult they usually want more finance managers, not less." It looks to me like central government needs to broaden and deepen its financial and commercial management skills.