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How can benchmarking help you?

In the current economic environment there’s more pressure on you than ever to deliver greater value for money. And that’s exactly what our Financial Assessments Benchmarking Club is designed to enable you to do. We have the technical expertise and experience to help you:

� Understand costs and identify efficiencies

� Measure performance and identify improvements

� Gather key management information and provide assurance

� Network and exchange good practice

‘Once again, we found the opportunity to network and share information with our peers at other local authorities invaluable...’

Jane George, Leeds City Council

Why choose CIPFA?

CIPFA is the only accountancy institute dedicated to helping deliver and support public services. We are the leaders in Social Care Benchmarking and 2012 represented a record membership year with engagement from more than two thirds of local authorities. Make sure you aren’t part of the third that are missing out by signing up in 2013.

financial assessments benchmarking

Benchmarking Clubs 2013

‘The AD found this useful when using this information to prove to the Board, Leaders and other meetings that Wandsworth does offer “value for money” especially in these time when saving are being sort. The Bar charts are particularly useful as non-financial managers can identify with them more and find them easier to understand than the figures.’ Coral Miller, London Borough of Wandsworth

Why choose the Financial Assessments Benchmarking Club?Aimed at managers of the financial assessments function, the Financial Assessments Benchmarking Club has been running for over 10 years. It gives you the comparisons you need to manage all aspects of your service by examining these key areas:

� The cost of the assessment process

� Workload measures

� Staffing levels and grades Type of staff involved in the process

� Location of the staff in the organisational structure

� Charging policies and methods

� Collection and payment methods

� Performance indicators, e.g. speed of assessment

� IT systems

� Self-directed payments

� Re-assessment procedures

� Income recovery

‘The meetings enable best practice and consistency to be discussed across the Council’s returns and is a good platform for support and networking.’Christina Marshall, Senior Accountant, Surrey

What do you get?Join and you’ll benefit from:

� Clearly defined and well-presented questionnaires

� Helpline and e-mail service

� Detailed comparative reports

� Club database, interactive report, collated text questions

� Review meeting

‘The analysis provided as part of the CIPFA Benchmarking Club has proved extremely valuable over the past few years. The unit cost and composition analysis has directly contributed to the way we commission services, and the ongoing monitoring reports support our value for money assurance arrangements. The team are always on hand to provide support wherever needed and have been responsive to considering and implementing developments with the dataset.’ Andrew McLean, Commissioning & Partnerships, Lincolnshire

‘At a glance you can see from the report where improvement can be made and this aids decision making in these areas’Coral Miller, London Borough of Wandsworth

‘CIPFA Benchmarking… has given members the information required to approve additional income and substantial efficiencies for the Council.’Peter George, Cumbria County Council

How do the clubs work?The Financial Assessments Benchmarking Club follows a proven formula to ensure you get the most from the process. Help is available whenever you need it, and the process is managed by CIPFA Benchmarking to ensure the highest standards. Here’s how it works:

� Each year, a steering committee decides what to benchmark.

� Data is then collected through user-friendly questionnaires.

� Draft reports are sent out allowing quick feedback and for you to check and amend figures if needed.

� The data is validated and sent to you as the final and interactive reports and club database.

� The review meeting gives you the opportunity to discuss issues in detail with members from other authorities.

Find out more nowTo view timetable and prices visit www.cipfa.org/benchmarking to see example questionnaires and reports.

Or get in touch with Benchmarking Team with any questions on 020 3117 1840 or at benchmarking@cipfa.org

CIPFA Business Limited is the trading subsidiary of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy. Registered in England and Wales no. 2376684. Registered office: 3 Robert Street, London WC2N 6RL