Colleges Finance Directors Group (CFDG)

CFDG was established in the 990s and has helped develop high standards of financial management in a difficult and changing climate for colleges. Among other things, CFDG members have:

• provided a voice for finance professionals working in colleges with meetings running regionally and nationally organised by AoC. The national group has 2 members elected from each region.
• worked with Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) staff to improve the way in which financial data is collected on colleges and to remove unnecessary obstacles in the funding rules
• helped secure the successful buyout of the Crescent Purchasing Consortium from Salford University and its continued success as the only purchasing organisation focused solely on colleges;
• worked over the years with the British Universities Finance Directors' Group (BUFDG) to develop accounting standards for post-16 education (the Further and Higher Education SORP) and with the funding agencies and AoC to develop college-specific guidance.

CFDG's current work includes:

• engagement with ESFA officials on funding and accounting issues, including those arising from the reclassification of colleges to the public sector;
• monitoring the progress of the Crescent Purchasing Consortium;
• supporting financial leadership and management in colleges;
• working with AoC on the annual finance directors conference.

The national CFDG chair is Graeme Lavery from Reaseheath College