The incentives on government Accounting Officers to prioritise value for money are weak compared to those associated with the day-to-day job of satisfying Ministers.
Since 2010 there has been an increase in the number of companies in government at the same time as a reduction in the number of public bodies which raises issues of transparency, accountability, governance and review.
HM Treasury is improving the content of the Whole of Government Accounts, which shows the overall financial position of the UK public sector, and the document has been produced faster than ever.
The NAO publishes a briefing paper considering capital investment by government and how it chooses to finance it.
The Building Public Trust Awards recognise trust and transparency in corporate reporting. This is the 12th year in which PwC has presented these annual awards.
Fiscal pressure on government departments is set to continue through the next Parliament, with citizen expectations continuing to rise. With the ‘more for less’ challenge continuing indefinitely and an increasingly complex public sector landscape, a strong and integrated finance function across government is crucial.
Our new guide is aimed at helping non-accountant readers of government’s accounts understand better what is being reported in them and what it means.
The Government Finance Profession’s Finance Leadership Group has published a paper with support from the National Audit Office.
The Government’s ability to show that its spending decisions represent the best value for money is being hindered by the patchy availability of good information.
2nd edition 2012
Boards can assess the financial management information reported to them against best practice using the guide.