Stepping stones to accrual accounting: the transition from cash to accrual accounting

Summary

The transition from cash to accrual accounting is a key part of strengthening public financial management. This keystone goes through the issues and risks involved in a transition process and the tools an organisation needs to take implementation forward.

Format

PDF

Published

Jul

Author

CIPFA

FREE

The transition from cash to accrual accounting is a key part of strengthening public financial management.

Although the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSASs) form a virtually complete reporting framework and the IPSASB Study 14 provides an overview of the processes involved, there is little by way of practical ‘hands on’ guidance to help practitioners implement this crucial reform successfully.

Stepping Stones fills this gap in the area of liabilities and expenses by setting out a series of milestones for the transition from cash to accrual accounting.

For each milestone there is a discussion of the issues involved, links to other relevant guidance including Study 14, and examples with potential solutions.

The keystone gives practitioners a structured approach to thinking through the issues and risks involved in the cash to accrual transition and the tools to develop practical implementation plans tailored to their own organisations.