Directors of finance have been all-powerful in most sectors for hundreds of years, frequently first in line for a vacant chief executive position. But in the public sector that influence has waned over the last 20 years with the rise of technology.

Technology has automated many finance and audit functions and given non-finance managers access to powerful tools to undertake financial planning and analysis and presentation. At the same time, finance teams have gradually lost responsibility for IT as it became too important to be treated as a cost centre, controlled by the accountants.