Chief Financial Officer skills audit and training needs assessment report

This skills audit was conducted within the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Branch of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI). It supports the Department's commitment to developing a skilled and capable workforce, aligning with national directives outlined in the 2023 State of the Nation Address (SONA) regarding the professionalization of the public service and achieving the goals of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2030. It also directly supports DPWI's strategic goal of building a resilient, ethical, and capable organization (Strategic Outcome 1). The primary objective of this skills audit was to assess the current skills profile of officials within the CFO Branch, identify key skills gaps and training needs relative to the Branch's critical mandate (ensuring sound financial management, compliant Supply Chain Management [SCM], effective internal controls, and reliable reporting for DPWI and the Property Management Trading Entity [PMTE]), and provide evidence-based recommendations for targeted skills development interventions. This audit focused on staff at the Middle Management Service (MMS - Salary Levels 11-12) and Senior Management Service (SMS - Salary Levels 13-15) levels within the CFO Branch. Data was collected using a comprehensive survey administered via an online platform, in partnership with the National School of Government (NSG) and the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), between February and March 2025. An exceptionally high participation rate of 89% (55 out of 62 targeted officials) was achieved, ensuring the findings are highly representative of the surveyed cohort. It is important to note that this executive summary provides a high-level overview; the full report contains more detailed analysis and nuances.