The Financial Guide for Arms Length Management Organisations

The CIPFA Local Authority Housing Panel has produced this new and comprehensive guide to arm's length management organisations (ALMOs).

With the rapid pace of change in local authority and social housing, ALMOs remain key organisations within the housing sector – some may find their role expanding into other sectors.

Written by independent consultant Hilary Vaughan – a highly experienced CIPFA and CIMA accountant with an in-depth knowledge of housing finance built up from working within the sector for over 15 years. This guide is aimed at directors and senior managers within ALMOs, and senior managers and councillors in local authorities, especially those that work in partnership with ALMOs. It is an essential reference and working guide for all finance staff in ALMOs and their parent authorities.

Coverage in this new financial guide includes:

• the history and legal framework of ALMOs
• their statutory financial background and regulatory framework
• the ALMO’s income streams
• accounting and reporting requirements
• taxation issues for ALMOs
• working successfully with local authorities
• achieving value for money and efficiencies through procurement, and
• future options for ALMOs.

It includes the most recent changes and announcements by the coalition government on regulation and how a self-financing Housing Revenue Account will impact on ALMOs.

The guide is available in book and PDF format. Details of licensing arrangements for those organisations operating shared service arrangements are available from CIPFA’s Publications Department.