Digital PFM Transformation: Digital PFM Transformation: Strategy, Implementation and IFMIS Management

Dates:

• 07 - 11 June 2027

Workshop Overview

The implementation of an Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) is often the most significant and complex reform a government can undertake. When successful, it acts as a catalyst for transparency, efficiency, and real-time decision-making; when poorly managed, it can become a costly burden.

This one-week course explores the critical intersection of technology, people, and processes. Participants will move beyond the technical architecture to master the strategic leadership required for a successful digital rollout.

From designing a robust Chart of Accounts (COA) to managing the massive "Change Management" effort and securing the system against modern cyber threats, this course provides a comprehensive toolkit for leading a digital PFM revolution.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Lead Digital Strategy: Define the architecture and strategic roadmap for an IFMIS that supports electronic governance and PFM reform.
• Manage Complex Implementation: Navigate the political, legal, and institutional challenges of system acquisition, customisation, and rollout.
• Optimise Data Integrity: Design and implement a modern Chart of Accounts (COA) that supports strategic budgeting and ESG reporting.
• Strengthen Fiduciary Trust: Utilise IFMIS to enhance internal controls, minimise operational risks, and automate "Value for Money" tracking.
• Secure the Digital Environment: Identify and mitigate cybersecurity threats and implement robust IT audit procedures.
• Harness Real-Time Analytics: Leverage the system for automated monitoring, evaluation, and transparent reporting to stakeholders.

Key Topics

• The Digital Roadmap – IFMIS Architecture and Strategy
  • Defining IFMIS: More than just software—a pillar of Digital Governance.
  • Strategic planning: Phased vs. "Big Bang" implementation approaches.
  • System acquisition: Choosing between "Off-the-Shelf" (COTS) and bespoke development.
• The Foundation – Process Re-engineering and the COA
  • Business Process Re-engineering (BPR): Aligning PFM processes with digital best practices.
  • The Strategic Chart of Accounts: Designing for transparency, MTEF alignment, and ESG tagging.
  • Integrating sub-systems: Linking Payroll, Procurement, and Revenue to the core Treasury system.
• The Human Element – Change Management and Institutional Reform
  • The "People" factor: Identifying and overcoming resistance to digital change.
  • Capacity Building: Developing the technical and functional skills for a digital workforce.
  • Legal and Institutional Frameworks: Updating laws to support digital signatures and paperless processing.
• Security, Risk, and the Digital Audit
  • Securing the IFMIS: Protecting against internet threats and internal data breaches.
  • IT Auditing: Modernising audit procedures for a paperless environment.
  • Governance and internal controls: Automated segregation of duties and expenditure tracking.
• The Innovation Frontier – AI, Cloud, and Sustainability
  • The future of IFMIS: Moving to the Cloud and the role of Artificial Intelligence in automated fraud detection.
  • Digital Reporting: Communicating results effectively to management and citizens.
  • Sustainability: Using IFMIS for real-time tracking of Green PFM and Climate Finance.

Who Should Attend

• IFMIS Project Managers and Digital Transformation Leads.
• Accountants General and Directors of Treasury/Finance.
• IT Directors and Systems Architects in the Public Sector.
• Internal and External Auditors involved in IT and Systems Audit.
• Senior Reform Officers and Change Management Specialists.
• Policy Makers responsible for e-Government strategies.