Financial Management Essentials Series: Understanding the Expenditure Management Cycle
Disclaimer: The summaries and interpretations provided on this page are unofficial and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS).
Summary
- The Canada School of Public Service partnered with the Office of the Comptroller General to deliver foundational financial management training for Government of Canada employees
- The session targets a diverse audience including financial management professionals, auditors, business owners, department managers, and anyone wanting to learn about government finance
- The expenditure management cycle is described as a cornerstone process that governs how money flows into the federal government and how it gets reported to Canadians for transparency
- The cycle encompasses planning, allocating, and reporting on public funds from initial funding requests through final accountability reporting to Parliament
- Understanding this cycle helps public servants provide stronger advice, make evidence-based decisions, and serve as responsible stewards of public money
- Karine Paré, Executive Director of Expenditure Strategies and Estimates Divisions at Treasury Board, serves as the subject matter expert presenter
- The competency compass for financial management emphasizes situational awareness, strategic thinking, and financial literacy as key skills
- Financial officers need to understand these foundations to provide strategic advice to program managers, CFOs, and during Treasury Board submissions
- The expenditure management cycle becomes more complex during unusual circumstances like government prorogation or Governor General warrants
- The session covers decision-making processes, federal budget processes, differences between Cabinet memoranda and Treasury Board submissions, and participants’ roles
- This particular year presented unique challenges that required adaptations to the normal expenditure management cycle processes
- The audience includes primarily Financial Management Advisors (FMAs) who serve as liaisons between program clients and corporate finance functions
- Participants have varying levels of familiarity with the expenditure management cycle, from no knowledge to moderate understanding
- Most attendees have experience with estimates and Treasury Board processes, with fewer having worked on Cabinet memoranda or federal budget development
Actionable Advice
- Develop competencies in situational awareness, strategic thinking, and financial literacy as outlined in the Financial Management Competency Compass
- Understand the expenditure management cycle fundamentals to provide better strategic advice to program managers, CFOs, and senior executives
- Master the basics of financial processes since they become critical during complex situations like government prorogation
- Participate in Treasury Board submissions by understanding how estimates and supplementary estimates work through the system
- Build knowledge across all phases of the expenditure management cycle from planning through reporting for comprehensive understanding
- Engage with central agencies by understanding their role in authorizing departmental spending requests
- Prepare for unusual circumstances by having solid foundation knowledge that can adapt to changes like prorogation or special warrants
- Take advantage of bilingual learning opportunities and simultaneous translation services for professional development