Skills and Competency Audit of HRM and Finance Senior Managers

This report presents the findings of a skills and competency audit conducted by the Public Service Commission (PSC) on senior managers in Human Resource Management (HRM) and Financial Management (FM) within the Western Cape Provincial Government. The study, employing a 360-degree assessment and focus groups, aimed to identify critical skills and knowledge aspects for high performance. The findings reveal that while senior HR managers are generally well-regarded, there's a need for them to enhance their strategic capabilities, data analytics skills, and understanding of human behavior. For FM managers, the audit highlights the importance of moving beyond nominal compliance to strategic value through expert analysis and guidance, with additional developmental themes including interpersonal and project management competencies. Recommendations include developing enhanced skill sets, fostering closer relationships with service delivery partners, and elevating the competency levels of teams, especially middle managers, to optimize performance and drive enhanced service delivery within the provincial government.