Towards the Modernisation of EU Public Sector Accounting Standards

2018 ◽  
pp. 40-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vincenzo Sforza ◽  
Alessandro Mechelli ◽  
Riccardo Cimini
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
State Government ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Governmental Accounting ◽  
National Regulation ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
Public Sector Accounting ◽  
Security Funds ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Eu

In the field of comparative international governmental accounting research, this chapter participates to the growing debate around the EPSAS-project that according to the EU Commission has a political priority. In this vein, it demonstrates that considering all the governmental subsectors of public administration (central government, state government, local government, social security funds) of the 28 EU Member States, proximity of national regulation to the IPSAS affects the magnitude of total adjustments. These are a proxy of fiscal fragility and are the difference between the non-harmonized data of governmental accounting and the harmonized ESA-2010 national accounting. Findings show that adjustments are significant in magnitude in countries whose regulation has low proximity to IPSAS; opposite, their magnitude is low in countries with high proximity to the IPSAS. Even if they have not provided the anticipated level of harmonisation, the process of modernising the EU public sector accounting standards cannot ignore that the future EPSAS should not diverge much from the IPSAS.

Harmonising public sector accounting laws and regulations of the European Union member states: powers and competences

2021 ◽  
pp. 002085232110600
Author(s):  
Karoline Helldorff ◽  
Johan Christiaens
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
European Public ◽  
Public Sector Accounting ◽  
Will Force ◽  
The One ◽  
Rules Set ◽  
The Eu

This paper analyses the powers and competences of the EU to standardise public sector accounting of the member states and to take other EU action in the field of public sector accounting. We argue that public sector accounting forms part of the administrative organisation of the member states that is not a core EU competence. EU initiatives such as the European Public Sector Accounting Standards project, which aim to increase transparency and comparability, therefore need to follow the rules set out for administrative matters in general. The study reveals on the one hand that EU actions are essentially limited to voluntary cooperation and influences of other policy areas. But on the other hand, it shows that they do not need to be limited to the initiatives currently driven by Eurostat. Points for practitioners The future of the European Public Sector Accounting Standards project is uncertain. However, it is very unlikely that it will take the shape of a top-down set of readymade EU accounting standards that will force public administrations to adjust their inner workings. Public sector accounting is not (yet) a (typical) European policy, but simply a national one that the EU can support. The EU initiative can be considered as an opportunity for collaboration and knowledge sharing on how to increase transparency of public sector accounting.

scholarly journals DO LITHUANIAN HIGHER EDUCATION ACCOUNTING PROGRAMS REFLECT ACCOUNTING HARMONIZATION IN THE EU?

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
pp. 113-118
Author(s):  
Dalia Kaupelyte ◽  
Renata Legenzova
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Labor Market ◽  
Public Sector ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
International Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Reporting Standards ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Public Sector Accounting ◽  
The Eu

Financial accounting is undergoing major changes in the EU and worldwide.  Great efforts are placed on adoption of high quality accounting standards for listed companies, public sector organizations as well as small and medium business entities.  Being a member of the EU Lithuania is in compliance with the EU incentives in de jure accounting harmonization; however de facto situation in Lithuania is not adequately assessed.  One of accounting harmonization related questions is whether Lithuanian higher education provides labor market with market-needs oriented accounting professionals.The objective of this article is to assess if Lithuanian higher education programs in accounting field is in compliance with EU accounting harmonization outcomes.  We analyze if graduates of Accounting programs from Lithuanian Higher Education Institutions are trained to work with different sets of accounting standards—International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Public Sector Accounting Standards that were adopted in Lithuania as a part of accounting harmonization incentives.  To conduct an assessment of research methods by case analysis, comparative analysis has been deployed.  We assessed programs goals, learning outcomes and course curriculum of Professional Bachelor, Bachelor and Master level programs in Lithuanian universities and colleges.Results of the research revealed that de jure accounting harmonization is reflected in Lithuanian higher education Accounting programs.  Accounting for listed companies (required to use International Financial Reporting Standards) is given little importance in Lithuanian Accounting programs. According to the analysis of the learning outcomes, graduates of the Accounting programs in Lithuania have a broad profile, but would not be able to work independently with International Financial Reporting Standards.  On the other hand, even if regulation of public sector accounting was enforced later, it is included in number of analyzed programs.  A number of Professional Bachelor’s programs even offer specialization in this area.  Results of the research allow us to conclude that colleges have their niche in preparing accounting specialist for local labor market and their positioning is relatively strong, concerning public sector accounting.  Meanwhile first and second level universities’ programs could be strengthened toward international accounting to provide labor market with professionals in this area. 

scholarly journals A Perspective on the Proposal for European Public Sector Accounting Standards, in the Context of Accruals in UK Government Accounting

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rowan Jones ◽  
Josette Caruana
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Accounting System ◽  
Monetary Policies ◽  
Government Accounting ◽  
European Public ◽  
Public Sector Accounting ◽  
The Government ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Eu

AbstractThis paper offers a UK perspective on the proposal to develop European Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSAS). It offers the fundamentals of the UK government’s system of budgeting and accounting, which is the responsibility of the UK Treasury, being one part of its responsibilities for the UK’s fiscal and monetary policies. In the light of this, the EPSAS proposal remains a puzzle and a peripheral one at that. The paper ponders on the forces underlying the EPSAS proposal and notes that for the government practitioner in an EU member state, rules emanating from the EU would naturally have a macro-level focus. Consequently, any potential advantages of an accrual accounting system at micro-level may not be fully appreciated.

scholarly journals Accounting Rules for the European Communities: A Theoretical Analysis

2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri Biondi ◽  
Michela Soverchia
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Balance Sheet ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Financial Accounting ◽  
Accounting System ◽  
Member States ◽  
Public Sector Accounting ◽  
Accounting Rules ◽  
The Eu

AbstractIn the last decade, the European Union (EU) has reformed its accounting system, issuing its own conceptual framework and 18 accounting standards that draw upon the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) issued by the IPSAS Board. The aim of this article is to analyse this renewed EU accounting system that frames and shapes financial accounting and reporting of the European Communities (EC), in order to assess its capacity to “truly and fairly” represent EC economic activity as a non-business entity.The EU accounting rules are analysed from a theoretical perspective that disentangles three different accrual-based accounting representations focusing respectively on wealth (static accounting), cash flow and economic flow (dynamic accounting). Our analysis retains a modified dynamic accounting representation that fits the specific economy of public administration. This modified dynamic accounting representation is then applied to assess the representational quality of the EU accounting system. This legal-economic, normative analysis of consistency with our theoretical model is complemented and somehow corroborated by documental analysis, financial analysis and few semi-structured interviews with EU officials.Generally speaking, our analysis shows that the EU accounting system provides a consistent representation of the EC economic and financial activities, although the reference to the IPSAS has somewhat involved the application of a balance sheet accounting approach that is inconsistent with this representation. In particular, the new EU accounting system has improved on some objectives of financial accounting and reporting, such as: the economic function of redistribution related to the economic solidarity between its constituencies (Member States); the prevention of frauds concerned with transfers and financial operations; the accomplishment of intergenerational and transnational equity, through the recovery of incurred expenditures by constituencies (Member States and, indirectly, taxpayers) located in different places at different times.These findings seem relevant not only to assess the quality of accounting representation provided by the EU accounting system but also in the view of its possible influence on the European Public Sector Accounting Standards – making process launched since 2013. This process is expected to reframe and reshape EU Member States’ accounting systems in the near future.

scholarly journals Harmonisation efforts in the field of accounting of public sector

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 195-202
Author(s):  
Milena Otavová
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
National Standards ◽  
Accounting System ◽  
Financial Reporting Standards ◽  
Public Sector Accounting ◽  
Accounting Rules ◽  
The Difference

Increasing requirements for financial reporting of public sector led to a need to create a system that would provide relevant and reliable information for management of accounting entities of public sector and also to increase the quality of accounting and financial statements of public institutions. The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) is therefore creating high-quality financial reporting standards for public sector (IPSAS). Paper points out the ongoing reform of accounting in the field of public finances in the Czech Republic, where there are substantial changes in accounting rules and it also introduces new accounting methods. Regarding the fact that accounting of public sector is nowadays accounting system perhaps with the greatest potential of development, paper highlights the differences in financial reporting in accordance with Czech legislation and IPSAS system. It tries to catch the essential differences that arise from the financial legislation, the accounting basis and also from the content of financial statements. The paper also indicates the difference between Czech Accounting Standards for selected accounting entities that maintain accounts in accordance with Decree No. 410/2009 Coll. and International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). There is also recommended approach to the creation of national standards with regard to international harmonization.

scholarly journals Ocena możliwości implementacji standardów IPSAS do systemu rachunkowości podmiotów sektora publicznego w Polsce

2017 ◽  
pp. 81-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Szewieczek ◽  
Katarzyna Tkocz-Wolny
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Synthetic Methods ◽  
Accounting System ◽  
Strong Embedding ◽  
The Public ◽  
Eu Member States ◽  
International Scope ◽  
Public Sector Accounting

Ocena możliwości implementacji standardów IPSAS do systemu rachunkowości podmiotów sektora publicznego w Polsce In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in activity in the field of standardization of public sector accounting, which has an international scope and takes the form of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS). It has been planned that the EU Member States, and consequently Poland, will implement obligatory uniform accounting standards in the public sector – EPSAS – which are to be largely based on the content of IPSAS. The purpose of this paper is to assess the possibilities and factors of IPSAS implementation in the accounting system of public finance sector entities in Poland in relation to the currently applicable accounting regulations and the intelligibility criterion for potential users. The assessment was carried out based on a study of the foreign and domestic literature and existing legislation, while for the conclusions, the deductive and synthetic methods were used. The paper demonstrates that despite the relatively long period of operation of IPSAS, their level of implementation into the accounting system of public sector entities in Poland is negligible. The same applies to the works on the European standards, EPSAS, which have been significantly delayed in relation to the original assumptions. Knowledge of international standards is weak, and consequently their dissemination too. In spite of IPSAS implementation problems, there are still a number of reasons for their use. One of the arguments in favor of introducing uniform standards on the European market is the fact that the common market is in operation, and another one is the strong embedding of the need to consolidate the public sector’s international financial data at the central level of the Community. The conducted research confirmed the possibility of implementing IPSAS into Polish public sector entities’ accounting systems. However, that process should be connected with training and educational activities in the topic of IPSAS, and it is recommended that an authorized translation of IPSAS be made into Polish.

The Reporting Entity in Private-Public Accounting Harmonisation. Is Control Enough for the Local Government Consolidated Financial Statements?

2017 ◽  
pp. 5-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristian Carini ◽  
Laura Rocca ◽  
Claudio Teodori ◽  
Monica Veneziani
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Consolidated Financial Statements ◽  
The Public ◽  
Financial Accountability ◽  
Public Sector Accounting ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Reporting Entity

The European Commission initiated a discussion on the expediency of using the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), based on the IAS/IFRS, as a common base for harmonizing the public sector accounting systems of the member states. However, literature suggests that accounting is not neutral with respect to the economic, social and political dimensions. In the perspective of evolution of the accounting regulation outlined, balanced between accountability, with the need to represent phenomena for reporting pur-poses, and decisionmaking issues, which concentrates on the quantitative importance of the values, the paper aims to analyse the effects of the application of different criteria for the definition of the reporting entity of the local government consolidated financial statements (CFS). The Italian PCA 4/4, the test of control and the financial accountability approaches are examined. The evidence that emerged from the case studies examined identifies several criticalities in the Italian PCA 4/4 and support the thesis that the financial accountability approach is more effective in providing a complete representation of the public resources entrusted to and managed by the group, whereas the control approach better approximates quantification of the group results in terms of central government surveillance. The analysis highlights the importance of the post implementation review period and the opportunity to contextualize the adoption of the consolidated financial statement in the broader spectrum of the accounting harmonization process, participating in the process of definition of the European Public Sector Accounting Standards (EPSAS).

Comparison of the perception of overt and covert options in IPSAS financial statements by intergovernmental organizations

Tékhne ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-39
Author(s):  
Berit Adam
Keyword(s):  
Public Sector ◽  
European Commission ◽  
Accounting Standards ◽  
Financial Statements ◽  
Criminal Court ◽  
Intergovernmental Organizations ◽  
Accounting System ◽  
Accrual Accounting ◽  
Public Sector Accounting ◽  
Primary Reference

AbstractSince 2012, the European Commission has embarked on the ambitious project to harmonize public sector accounting rules on all levels of government within Europe, mainly to improve the quality as well as the comparability of financial data. Although International Public Sector Accounting Standards were deemed not to be suitable for a simple take-over because of various reasons, they nevertheless shall function as a primary reference point for developing European Public Sector Accounting Standards. A total of 21 out of 28 central governments have already reformed their accounting standards to accrual accounting, and some of them have also relied on IPSAS in this exercise. Apart from governments, various international and supranational governmental organizations have also since the end of the 2000’s been reforming their accounting system to accrual accounting, and have in the same way relied on existing IPSAS. This paper explores accounting practices found in ten intergovernmental organizations (Commonwealth Secretariat, Council of Europe, European Commission, IAEA, INTERPOL, ITER, NAPMA, OECD, International Criminal Court, WFP) whose statements are prepared in compliance with IPSAS. It analyzes how overt and covert options contained in IPSAS with relevance to the activities of intergovernmental organizations are exercised and evaluates in which areas of accounting material differences in accounting practices can be found, which may hinder the comparability of financial statements prepared on the basis of IPSAS.

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