A report issued jointly by ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) and IFAC, Is cash still king? Maximising the benefits of accrual information in the public sector not only confirms that a complete public sector transition to accrual accounting will serve the public interest, but also contains 30 specific recommendations to improve accrual implementation.

Good decision-making requires the right information. Given that most government decisions have financial implications, understanding the economic reality of a government’s activities improves the quality of decisions made. The report predicts that by 2023, the number of countries reporting their financial position on an accruals basis is expected to increase from 37 to 98, jumping from 25% to 65% among 150 countries surveyed.

These are human consequences that can result – and do result – when governments don’t have the financial information necessary to make the best long-term decisions for their citizens. Cash accounting, which 75 per cent of governments around the world use in some form, does not present the most accurate picture of a government’s financial health, nor does it enable adequately planning for the development, delivery, and maintenance of the services, programmes, and infrastructure on which people rely.  And that, in turn, leads to a breakdown of trust in governments.

The report’s author, ACCA’s Head of Public Sector Policy, Alex Metcalfe, said: ‘Moving to accruals needs to be more than a compliance exercise, it should be about making the best use of financial information.  The range of benefits highlight in this report demonstrates the clear upside to implementing accruals in the public sector.  We need to ask whether cash is still king, when it comes to financial reporting and budgeting.’

‘The accounting profession’s public interest mandate is nowhere more apparent than in the public sector, where high-quality reporting and budgeting is a prerequisite for government transparency and effective delivery of public services,’ said Kevin Dancey, CEO of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). ‘To the finance professionals and public sector decision makers who are leading the transition from cash to accrual accounting, we commend you and support you.’

The benefits and complexity arising from accruals varies by types of adoption. The report notes that:

·         Cash accounting and budgeting is the simplest basis but provides the least decision-useful information.

·         Accrual accounting combined with cash budgeting is the most complex basis, but it generates information that helps achieve value for money, facilitates public scrutiny, and supports sustainable decision-making.

·         Accrual accounting and accrual budgeting creates a ‘medium level of complexity’ and creates consistency. In addition to realising the benefits from implementing accrual accounting, this environment also puts finance right at the heart of decision making and allows governments to embed effective performance management.

·         New, decision-useful information generated by accrual implementation promotes the achievement of value for money and facilitates effective public scrutiny.

·         To produce decision-useful information, governments must set objectives; plan; engage stakeholders; create effective systems; and develop the right skills, including internal training beyond preparers.

This report recommends that governments implementing accruals should be:

·         Directing independent fiscal policy institutions to assess contingent liabilities and produce recurring fiscal risk reports.

·         Implementing accrual budgeting to put finance at the heart of decision-making, while embedding performance management across government.

·         Planning to produce a fully consolidated balance sheet that provides a full financial picture of the resources and risks for the public sector. This must include State-owned Enterprises at the whole-of-government level.

·         Building political challenges into the implementation roadmap from the beginning (e.g., through a sunset clause requiring the eventual recognition of employee pension liabilities).

·         Including groups that provide a constructive challenge function to the reform, such as auditors and legislative committees (e.g. the UK’s Public Accounts Committee).

·         Deploying experts centrally to control consulting costs and support implementation across government.

Kevin Dancey, CEO IFAC, concluded: ‘IFAC and ACCA are committed to supporting the adoption and implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), which underpin public sector accrual accounting, and to developing a robust profession that implements and manages such systems. With 65 per cent of governments globally set to implement accrual accounting by 2023, we’re encouraged by the positive trend, and strongly support further adoption of accruals and IPSAS.’

- Ends -

For media enquiries, contact:

Nadia Manuelli

E: nadia.manuelli@accaglobal.com
T: +44 (0)20 7059 5661
M: +44 (0)7808 940139
Twitter @ACCANews
www.accaglobal.com

Geena De Rose

E: geenaderose@ifac.org

T: +1 (646) 277 9390

Twitter @IFAC

www.ifac.org

Notes to editors:

The number of countries reporting on the accruals basis represents 40% of the 150 countries included in the 2018 International Public Sector Financial Accountability Report.  The research evidence was gathered in three ways. Roundtable discussions were held in three countries (UK, Canada and Australia).  Semi-structured expert phone interviews were held with 12 experts in seven countries: Austria, Canada, New Zealand, Slovakia, Switzerland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.  The face-to-face and telephone evidence was supported by a desk-based literature review.

About ACCA

ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) is the global body for professional accountants, offering business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management.

ACCA supports its 219,000 members and 527,000 students (including affiliates) in 179 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills required by employers. ACCA works through a network of 110 offices and centres and 7,571 Approved Employers worldwide, and 328 approved learning providers who provide high standards of learning and development. Through its public interest remit, ACCA promotes appropriate regulation of accounting and conducts relevant research to ensure accountancy continues to grow in reputation and influence.

ACCA has introduced major innovations to its flagship qualification to ensure its members and future members continue to be the most valued, up to date and sought-after accountancy professionals globally. Founded in 1904, ACCA has consistently held unique core values: opportunity, diversity, innovation, integrity and accountability. More information is here: www.accaglobal.com

About IFAC

The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) is the global organization for the accountancy profession dedicated to serving the public interest by strengthening the profession and contributing to the development of strong international economies. IFAC is comprised of more than 175 members and associates in more than 130 countries and jurisdictions, representing almost 3 million accountants in public practice, education, government service, industry, and commerce.