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PrintTechnical Enquiry Service
The Technical Enquiry Service (TES) has noticed an increasing trend of queries being submitted from non-CIPFA members due to recent substantial changes to the SORP and the introduction of the IFRS-based Code. We have answered those queries on a case-by-case basis but we will now be returning to only answering queries from qualified members and registered CIPFA students in order to focus on providing them with an accurate and efficient service.
From Monday 9 August 2010, you must give your membership or student number whenever you email or telephone the TES in order for us to process your query.
The TES provides specialist technical guidance and advice relating to accounting and auditing standards, CIPFA's standards of professional practice, statements of best practice including the Local Authority SORP, IFRS-based Code and BVACOP and other pronouncements, CIPFA's views on current issues, ethical concerns and the legal restrictions on CIPFA members in practice.
The TES desk is staffed between 09:00 and 17:00 and may be contacted by phone on 020 7543 5888, (a 24 hour answer phone service is provided) or by fax on 020 7543 5700. Alternatively you may email your enquiry to technical.enquiry@cipfa.org.uk.
CIPFA members in Scotland and Northern Ireland have, in addition, access to technical enquiry assistance provided by CIPFA in Scotland (0131 551 2100) and CIPFA in Northern Ireland (02890 266 770).
We aim to answer 70% of queries within three working days; however, more complex queries may take longer. Please note the TES cannot answer queries involving the provision of a legal view or which are the subject of discussion with the external auditor.
Before you contact the TES, or if you are not a CIPFA member, please check the following sources of information for an answer:
- The Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in the UK; otherwise known as the ‘SORP’ for 2009/10 or the IFRS-based ‘Code’ from 2010/11
- The SORP Guidance Notes for 2009/10 (please note the associated Code Guidance Notes are due for publication by the end of 2010)
- LAAP bulletins, written to address specific accounting issues.
- Technical FAQs for England and Wales (due to be updated fully for the IFRS-based Code in October 2010)
- There is a separate set of questions relating specifically to Scotland at the CIPFA in Scotland site.
- IFRS transition guidance on the most complex areas for practitioners moving from UK GAAP to IFRS
- Access to downloadable versions of the IFRS, IPSAS and UK GAAP
- Extensive practical guidance can also be found in the tisonline information streams (paid subscription required)
- To ask what other authorities are doing in a particular area, you can raise your query with other practitioners in the tisonline discussion forums (free to register)
- Members in Practice with queries relating to the scheme should contact the Practice Assurance Team
- For statistical queries, please contact the CIPFA Statistical Information Service (SIS)
- For benchmarking queries, visit CIPFA Benchmarking
- For queries regarding CIPFA Publications and for CIPFA Events please visit the relevant websites
- For other areas of CIPFA please see http://www.cipfa.org.uk/corporate/contact_us.cfm
Ethics Advisory Panel
The TES also has links to a small list of members who are willing to discuss ethical issues with other members. This is a confidential service and is separate from the Institute. Any advice which may be offered by the Panel is not considered to be official CIPFA advice and it is not intended that this advice should have any legal status.
For a query to fall within the scope of the Ethics Advisory Panel it should be in respect of an ethical issue concerning a member's professional conduct in relation to the Standard of Professional Practice on Ethics.
CIPFA's Panels
CIPFA has a number of functional and sectoral panels which are responsible for the Institute's policy and technical work. These panels are generally made up of volunteers who have a particular interest and expertise in the area of work concerned. They are constituted in such a way that the members as a whole are representative of the sector(s) covered by the panel and of the interests concerned. Members of staff in the Policy and Technical Directorate provide secretarial and technical support.
Accounting and Auditing Standards Panel
Audit Panel
Central Government Panel
Charities Panel
Children's Services Panel
Corporate Governance Panel
Financial Management Panel
Further and Higher Education Panel
Health Panel
IT Panel
Local Authority Accounting Panel
Local Authority Housing Panel
Local Government Policy Panel
Pensions Panel
Police Panel
RSLs Panel
Role of the Public Services Director of Finance Panel
Social Care Panel
Treasury Management Panel
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