FINANCIAL TRAINING WITH THE PARKINSON PARTNERSHIP LLP

NEW DATES AND NEW COURSES FOR 2026

In addition to VAT support Northumberland ALC has an agreement with The Parkinson Partnership to provide specialist on-line financial training via Zoom. Available courses for 2026 are priced at £35 + VAT each.

Instructions

This is an interactive session, you will need a device with a reasonable screen size such as a PC, laptop or tablet to be able to participate fully.

Your booking confirmation will contain a link to the online event. Please ensure that you log in to Zoom before the session starts, make sure that your screen name includes your first and last names. If you are using a council Zoom account, you may need to update the name on the account.

if you would like to book on a course please contact: info@northumberlandalc.uk 

COURSES

New Clerks Finance

Details

This introductory session is for inexperienced clerks, deputy/assistant clerks and finance officers in their first few months and is designed to give them an overview of a council's year, along with a basic understanding of the RFO's role.

If you have 9 month's experience or more, this session is unlikely to cover anything you don't already know. You may find it more helpful to book yourself onto the more detailed sessions on Budgeting, Internal Control, The Role of internal audit, Procurement, Year-end and VAT instead.

Bookings for experienced clerks, or anyone that is not eligible for this course, may be removed without notice.

Topics include:
• Roles and responsibilities
• Setting a budget and precept
• Internal control
• The Annual Governance & Accountability Return
• Internal and external audit

By the end of the session you will:
• Be aware of relevant legislation and sources of guidance
• Be able to describe the key financial activities in a year
• Be aware of how the council's accounts must be prepared and audited
• Recognise the importance and purpose of internal controls

Session leader: Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP
Steve is a former Town Clerk & an accountant with over 30 years’ experience in public sector finance, who specialises in advice & training for the local council sector.

Dates

24 November

28 January

Finance for Councillors

Details

This session is for councillors only and is designed to give them a greater understanding of their duties with regard to the council’s finances.

Topics include:
• Roles and responsibilities
• setting a budget and precept
• Financial control
• The Annual Governance & Accountability Return
• Internal and external audit
• How VAT applies to local councils

By the end of the session you will:
• Understand the council's duties regarding financial management
• Be aware of relevant legislation and sources of guidance
• Be aware of how the council's accounts are prepared and audited
• Recognise the importance of internal controls
• Understand how VAT law applies to your council

Session leader: Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP
Steve is a former Town Clerk & an accountant with 30 years’ experience in public sector finance, who specialises in advice & training for the local council sector.

Courses are 1. 30 mins long

Dates

29th October 

3 November

10 December

9 February

Procurement

Details

For anyone involved in procuring goods and services, preparing tenders, or entering into contracts on behalf of local councils.

This session introduces the new rules of the Procurement Act 2023, which came into force on 24 February 2025 and replace the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The session covers the basics of procurement for local councils – inviting quotes, producing specifications and tender documentation, achieving competition and value for money.

Topics include:

• Overview and purpose of the Procurement Act 2023
• Procurement principles and objectives
• Procurement lifecycle
• Conflicts of Interest
• Roles and responsibilities
• Thresholds
• Below threshold contracts
• Excluded contracts
• Direct Awards
• Estimating the contract value
• Scope/Specification
• Frameworks
• Procurement procedures
• Timescales
• Publication of your procurement
• Assessment summaries
• Contract Award Notice & Standstill
• Contracting authorities' requirements (mandatory or voluntary).

Session benefits:

By the end of the Procurement Act 2023 course you will:

• Have a deeper knowledge of the procurement regulations
• Understand the council's duties regarding procurement
• Understand the Do’ and Don’ts of procurement
• Be aware of relevant legislation and sources of guidance

Session leader: Iain M Alexander BSc FCIPS, Director of ISPS Associates Limited

Iain is a chartered procurement professional, a fellow and member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply. Iain has over 30 years’ experience within private & public sector organisations specialising in procurement, supply chain management and commercial operations, predominantly in construction and infrastructure sectors using PA23, UCR and PCR procurement legislation. Iain has held the position of Chairman of Parish Council and currently resides as a Parish Councillor.

Dates

20 October

26 November

26 January

4 March

Internal Controls

Details

This session gives councillors and officers an understanding of the need for internal controls and how they work, with practical examples and case studies.

Topics include:
• Roles and responsibilities
• Financial risks
• Purpose of internal controls
• Case studies
• Examples of controls
• Review of internal controls

By the end of this session you will:
• Understand the council's and RFO's duties regarding internal control
• Be aware of the purpose of internal controls
• Be able to identify examples of internal controls
• Know when to review internal controls

Session leader:
Tim Light, Lightatouch
Tim has 29 years experience of internal audit with Hampshire County Council. A past President of the Association of Accounting Technicians, he has undertaken internal audits at parish councils for the last twelve years and delivers training on related topics.

Dates

18th November

27 January

10 March

Budgeting

Details

This session is aimed at officers of parish & town councils, who are involved in preparing and monitoring their council's budgets.

Topics include:
• setting a budget and precept
• Contingencies and reserves
• how the council tax base affects the budget
• Inflation
• budget monitoring

By the end of this session you will:
• Understand how and when to prepare a budget
• Know how to approve and issue a precept
• Be aware of the factors that affect a budget
• Understand how to manage a budget

Session leader: Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP
Steve is a former Town Clerk & an accountant with 30 years’ experience in public sector finance, who specialises in advice & training for the local council sector.

Dates

21 October

5 November

 

Year end & Transparency - Councils under £25,000

Details

For officers of councils that spend and receive less than £25,000 a year, who want to understand how to prepare and publish their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return to comply with the Accounts & Audit Regulations, as well as publishing the information required by the Transparency Code for Smaller authorities.

There are alternative sessions for Councils over £25,000 that submit their accounts for audit.
You do not need to attend more than one of these sessions, as the content is similar.

This session introduces the Annual Governance & Accountability Return and the stages of the approval process, enabling you to complete all the relevant steps correctly. It includes additional information on exemption from audit and transparency, only applicable to councils with annual receipts and payments of less than £25,000.

Topics include:
• Closing the accounts
• Exemption from external audit
• Internal audit
• Reviewing internal control
• The Annual Return
• Electors rights
• Transparency and publication requirements

By the end of this session you will:
• Be able to identify the steps needed as part of the year-end process
• Understand how to close the council’s accounts
• Understand how to complete the Annual Return
• Be able to correctly allow the exercise of electors’ rights
• Be able to identify the information a small council must publish

Session leader: Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP
Steve is a former Town Clerk and an accountant with 30 years’ experience in public and voluntary sector finance. He now specialises in delivering training and advice on VAT and finance matters for the local council sector.

Dates

23 February

2 March

Tear end & Audit - Councils over £25,000

Details

For officers who want to understand how to prepare their council’s Annual Governance & Accountability Return and comply with the requirements of the audit process.

This session is aimed at councils that spend between £25,000 and £200,000 a year and prepare simple accounts on a receipts and payments basis. It is also relevant for councils under £25,000 that choose not to exempt themselves from external audit, as well as for and councils that regularly spend over £200,000 and are already comfortable with preparing income and expenditure accounts.

There are alternative sessions in our programme for:
Councils under £25,000 that intend to exempt themselves from audit
Councils that need to understand how to prepare Income and Expenditure accounts

This session introduces the Annual Return and the stages of the audit process, enabling you to complete all the relevant steps correctly and at the right time.

Topics include:
• Closing the accounts
• Assets and borrowing
• Reviewing internal control
• Internal audit
• The Annual Return
• Electors rights
• Audit
• Publication requirements

By the end of this session you will:
• Be able to identify the steps needed as part of the audit process
• Understand how to close the council’s accounts
• Understand how to complete the Annual Return
• Be able to correctly allow the exercise of electors’ rights
• Recognise the need to review internal controls

Session leader: Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP
Steve is a former Town Clerk and an accountant with 30 years’ experience in public and voluntary sector finance. He now specialises in delivering training and advice on VAT and finance matters for the local council sector.

Dates

23 February

11 March

Introduction to VAT

Details

This session is for clerks, finance staff and councillors. It explains how VAT rules affects local councils, focussing on those that are not VAT registered, but reclaim VAT using Form VAT126.

Essential for any council contemplating major building projects.

Alternative sessions are available in our programme for councils that are registered for VAT and submit VAT returns directly from their accounting software.

Topics include:
• how VAT law applies to local councils
• where to find the law and guidance
• what are business and non-business activities
• understanding whether sales are taxable or exempt from VAT
• when a council must register for VAT
• when VAT can be reclaimed
• partial exemption
• reclaiming VAT when using grants and donations

By the end of this session you will:
• Know where to find the relevant legislation and guidance
• Understand the key concepts of VAT
• Know when a council can or can’t reclaim VAT
• Recognise when a council must register for VAT
• Be aware of activities that require special attention

Session leader: Debra Smith or Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP

Steve is a former Town Clerk & an accountant with 30 years’ experience in public sector finance, who specialises in advice & training for the local council sector.

Debra is an experienced consultant and former VAT inspector, as well as being a parish councillor.

Dates

12 November

8 December

2 February

18 March

Role of Internal Audit

Details

For councillors and officers who want to understand the role of the internal auditor, what to expect from them and how to appoint one.

(Please note, this is NOT a training session for people who want to undertake internal audits)

This session explains the role of the internal auditor in providing assurance to the council that it has sound financial controls.

Topics include:
• legislation and guidance
• Roles and responsibilities
• Internal controls
• how the council appoints an internal auditor
• Scope of internal audit
• Reviewing internal control
• Internal audit reports

Session benefits:
By the end of this session you will:
• Understand the purpose of internal audit
• Be aware of relevant legislation and sources of guidance
• Understand how a council should appoint an internal auditor
• Recognise the importance of internal controls
• Be aware of the need to review effectiveness

Session leaders:
Steve Parkinson, The Parkinson Partnership LLP
Steve is a former Town Clerk & an accountant with 30 years’ experience in public sector finance, who specialises in advice & training for the local council sector.

Tim Light, Lightatouch
Tim has 29 years experience of internal audit with Hampshire County Council. A past President of the Association of Accounting Technicians, he has undertaken internal audits at parish councils for the last ten years and delivers training on related topics.

Dates

14th October

24 February