Public Accounts Committees Online Training Course

As part of the expansion of the CPA Parliamentary Academy, CPA UK, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), has developed an online training course on Public Accounts Committees for Commonwealth parliamentarians and clerks.

CPA UK is delighted to be contributing to the well-established CPA Parliamentary Academy with an online training course on Public Accounts Committees, one of our five key strategic themes. The CPA Academy offers a curriculum of online and in-person courses for MPs and parliamentary staff which are free for CPA members.  

What are Public Accounts Committees?

Public Accounts Committees (PACs) scrutinise the financial expenditure of government and taxpayer’s money, ensuring transparency and accountability within government, and making recommendations to ensure taxpayer's receive best value for money on government spending.

Working with oversight committees such as Public Accounts Committees is one of the key ways CPA UK supports financial scrutiny, ensuring members have the technical expertise and knowledge to hold governments to account on behalf of their citizens. 

What to expect from the course?

This online training course aims to increase members and clerks’ understanding and knowledge of the role, remit and work of the Public Accounts Committee. It is an online self-paced course intended to be as flexible as possible to fit into a busy parliamentary schedule. 

CPA UK’s extensive work in the area of public financial oversight complements the work of CPA HQ, which utilises over decades of expertise and professional development training for parliamentarians and clerks. Together, we have brought together a range of serving and former Commonwealth parliamentarians, including current committee chairs, plus contributions from committee clerks and experts in the field of public financial oversight, who share practical advice, good practice case studies and insights through written and video lessons all in one online course.

Who can take the course?

The course has been specifically designed for new PAC members and clerks. However, the course would also be beneficial for more experienced members and clerks as a refresher, or more generally for anyone with an interest in the work of PACs.

When and where will the course be published?

The course is now LIVE on the CPA Parliamentary Academy. Register here.

Watch this introductory video for more information on the course.

For more information, please contact Rebekah Northall at northallr@parliament.uk.