Modern transformational changes occurring in the socio-economic life of countries are conditioned by the evolution of information and communication technologies, the deployment of globalization, decentralization, the strengthening of the openness policy and the increase of efficiency of use and hence the transition from a bureaucratic model of government to a consensus model, a built model. implementation of entrepreneurial management mechanisms in providing social services to the population actualize the need for rethinking and justification the structure of public finance in the new environment. On the basis of systematic analysis, the theoretical aspects of «public finances» are revealed in the article, their structure is substantiated and the necessity of application in scientific circulation as an important dominant of civil society is proved. It is emphasized that the essential characteristics of this definition are revealed by the existence of financial and economic relations between the population, the state, other public institutions and economic entities regarding the formation, distribution, and use of public funds to meet the public needs of the population. It is shown that the structure of public finances is formed by state and local finances, finances of communal enterprises and state corporations, finances of enterprises and organizations of communal ownership, extrabudgetary trust funds and public funds. Among the dominant features of public finances in the context of modern transformations are transparency and imperative character. It has been argued that the vector of public finance reform must continue to be decentralization, which, in addition to the redistribution of resources and powers, should promote the extension of the financial powers of local governments, increase the transparency of both public and local finances, and raise public accountability. the public sector and improving the quality of life of the population.