Global Public Sector
Governments around the world are playing an increasingly important role in improving people’s lives. Executives and managers at all levels of government are continually faced with the challenge of maximizing the effectiveness of limited resources to improve performance, demonstrate results and respond effectively to a rapidly changing government environment.
Grant Thornton’s Global Public Sector practice delivers creative business, financial, human capital and information technology solutions to help public sector entities meet the challenges of today’s environment. In the United States federal market, we have served nearly all major departments and agencies. In the international arena, we work with Grant Thornton International Ltd member firms around the world with a focus on international development and finance agencies. In addition, the practice provides advisory services to state and local governments around the country.
Based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, with offices in San Antonio, Texas and Sacramento, California, the Global Public Sector practice is dedicated to providing distinctive client service in the following markets:
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Recovery and the Transparency Imperative (2009 CFO Survey)
The Association of Government Accountants, in partnership with Grant Thornton, has sponsored an annual federal chief financial officer survey since 1996. This year, nearly 500 financial executives and managers took part in the in-person and online survey. In addition to interviews from federal executives in the United States, the survey includes results from interviews with U.S. state financial officers and Government of Canada chief financial officers. Key topics for the 2009 survey include the economic recovery, transparency, advice for new CFOs and a discussion of the annual financial statement process.
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Taking care of business: Managing military dollars
Since 2003, the American Society of Military Comptrollers and Grant Thornton have joined together to survey Department of Defense and Uniformed Services financial executives and managers on their opinions of trends and prospects in financial management. The Annual Survey of Defense and Military Department Financial Management Executives provides important insights into the current state of financial management in and around the defense agencies. For the 2009 survey, more than 1,600 defense financial executives and managers responded to questions on the state of defense financial management, focusing on three key areas: systems, people and audits. The study incorporates results from interviews with more than 40 of the respondents.
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Learning from the past, transitioning to the future
Grant Thornton’s 19th annual survey of chief information officers reports on the top IT challenges in the Federal Government. Based on interviews with federal IT executives, the survey looks at how to address persistent challenges. Sponsoring the survey is TechAmerica, the premier IT industry association working to maintain America’s role as the world’s innovation headquarters. Grant Thornton’s Global Public Sector in Alexandria, Va. funds and operates the survey.
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Financial Management: Providing a Foundation for Transition (Association of Government Accountants Survey 2008)
Grant Thornton and the Association of Government Accountants joined together to produce the 12th annual survey of federal Chief Financial Officers. More than 230 federal financial executives and managers took part in the survey, which focused on the building blocks of a successful future for federal financial management. Among the areas highlighted were: financial reporting, accounting and auditing standards, internal controls, regulatory consolidation and integration, human capital management and the future role of the CFO.
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Elevating Our Federal Workforce (2008 Survey of Federal Human Capital Officers)
You have a few minutes in an elevator with the new president. What do you tell him about federal human capital? This is the opening salvo question that launches the 2008 Survey of Federal Chief Human Capital Officers. Responses ranged from how to cope with the changing demographics of federal employees, to developing bold new systems and processes to support the workforce of tomorrow, to investing in those who are responsible for managing human capital.
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Acquisition in Transition (2008 PSC procurement policy survey)
In this fourth biennial Procurement Policy Survey, the Professional Services Council and Grant Thornton LLP interviewed 28 government acquisition professionals, including senior procurement executives, front-line contracting professionals and congressional staff. The survey focuses on current challenges and successes and advice to the new presidential administration. Respondents identified workforce issues as the number one challenge for the new administration. They also pointed to a more holistic approach to oversight as a critical objective. Many suggested that there be a moratorium on "new initiatives" to give recently implemented ones a chance to demonstrate value.