South Australian Local Government Financial Management Manual

Councils face increasing financial management complexities due to long-lived assets and infrastructure, and evolving accounting standards and legislative compliance. There's also a shortage of skilled finance staff with local government experience.

A financial management manual will be developed to address these issues. It will provide councils with a comprehensive, user-friendly resource that brings together legislative requirements and best-practice tools.

Who this is for

This project is designed for:

• council finance professionals
• chief executive officers and senior managers
• elected members and audit or risk committee members
• sector bodies and regulators supporting financial governance.

What's being delivered

A financial management manual to strengthen financial capability, consistency and long-term sustainability across South Australian councils.

The manual will cover the following topics which are due for delivery in:

Delivery in 2026:

• Module 1 - Local Government Act and Regulations for Financial Management
• Module 2 – Long-Term Financial Planning
• Module 3 – Budget and Accountability
• Module 4 – Treasury Management

Delivery in 2027:

• Module 5 – Statutory Financial Report
• Module 6 – Financial Asset Management
• Module 7 – Internal Controls
• Module 8 – Rating

About the project

The project responds to a critical need for accessible and practical financial management guidance across the local government sector.

Councils face increasing complexity in meeting community expectations, managing infrastructure, and complying with evolving accounting and legislative requirements.

There's currently no single, user-friendly resource that brings together legislative requirements and best-practice tools. The manual will address this gap through eight interlinked modules covering key financial management areas including budgeting, asset management, treasury management, and internal controls.

Each module will help finance professionals, particularly in regional and rural councils, navigate the unique challenges of local government, improving financial literacy, internal control and sector confidence.

Project delivery

The project is being delivered through a collaborative, sector-led approach.

A dedicated Advisory Committee, with representatives from the South Australian Local Government Financial Management Group, Local Government Association, Local Government Finance Authority, and LGiQ, will oversee delivery and quality assurance.

Each module will be developed by experienced financial management experts Annette Martin and Michele Bennetts, supported by working groups drawn from regional and rural councils.

Partnerships

• Local Government Finance Authority (co-funding $40,000).
• South Australian Local Government Financial Managers Network (co-funding $20,000).

Project funding

This project is funded through the Local Government Research and Development Scheme.

This scheme allocates funding to projects that support the development of SA local government. Successful applicants are decided through an annual grant round.