Central Finance Group

CFG Aims and Objectives

To secure, plan, manage and monitor public expenditure, including EU Programme expenditure, in line with the priorities set by the Executive
To measure and improve performance and delivery across NICS
To promote proper governance and financial management and to ensure resources deliver value for money and are properly accounted for
To deliveroutcomes of Executive review of the domestic rating system
To ensure all departments comply with the Executive’s pay policy
To ensure all necessary administrative arrangements are in place to support the financial aspects of the devolution of Policing and Justice

Develop the financial planning process to be agreed by the Executive and conduct in-year monitoring rounds, and analysis and challenge departmental outturn forecasts throughout the year;
Challenge and review Departmental resource allocations by undertaking a rolling programme of baseline reviews;
Work with DRD to support their analysis, and development of options, in respect of the future financing of water and sewerage services;
In conjunction with OFMDFM, track and report on Departmental performance against key targets in the Programme for Government (PfG);
Monitor the quantum of efficiencies delivered by Departments through overview monitoring reports;
Ensure resources deliver value for money by scrutinising Departmental business cases and monitoring and reviewing the implementation of projects;
Ensure that Departments comply with all relevant guidelines for the public expenditure process by providing professional economic advice, guidance and support; and
Prepare an annual report on the Use of Consultants.

To provide economic input into policy development relating to the local public sector and economy.
To provide professional economic advice, guidance and support to the Department.
To develop and implement the Executive’s wider public sector pay policy.
To coordinate and facilitate Northern Ireland Civil Service Economist Group recruitment, promotion and development.

For more information go to the Rating Review site.

For more information go to the EU funding section.

For more information go to the AFMD website.

Drive a focus within departments on delivery against the Northern Ireland Executive’s key aims and targets.
Assess how we spend our money at present and what is achieved, in terms of the quality of public services, from that investment.
Through Priority Reviews, identify the scope for service improvement and the options to deliver upon that improvement.
Identify radical options to produce deliverable efficiency savings over and above the 3% level already set by Ministers.
Consider how our public spending programmes might better impact on securing growth in the wider economy.