Public Financial Management is the management of funds used by government to execute public services. These services include water and sewage, health, waste removal, law enforcement, road improvement, emergency rescue services and education, to name a few.  The effective management of public funds focuses on delivering services as effectively and efficiently as possible, so as to maximize the customer-client service experience of all citizens. 

In its role as public service provider, the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) is responsible to ensure that the services provided to the citizens improves the quality of life, communities and the function of society. Billions of dollars each year is spent  in managing these service activities. Government therefore, must ensure that funds are available to enable the continuation of service delivery to the greatest number of its citizens.

Strong public financial management systems document needs, and expenditures for the menu of public services that are offered through government organisations. Jamaica has already begun to modernise its public financial management system, which is part of the wider Reforms being undertaken  through the Economic Reform Programme. The government relies on performance analysis of service within the sectors, and consequently, is better able to identify areas with greater or lesser efficiency. With that information and analysis, GOJ is better able to make decisions in ranking the importance of programmes and as such prioritise spending. For instance, the government may decide based on the analysis to allocate more funds to law enforcement and social programmes as a high priority; particularly with attendant industries that could be negatively impacted by underfunding those areas. Members of the public therefore expect the government to account for the funds collected and show how those funds are spent.