Recommendation 9

Within departments, ultimate responsibility for upholding standards and securing improvements lies with that department’s accounting officer.24 Managing Public Money states that financial modelling and evaluation are an important part of the accounting officer’s role, and that they should comply with the Functional Standards.25 However, there continues to be important weaknesses in the coverage, quality and use of evaluations, and in the quality and application of models across government.26 The departmental director of analysis supports the accounting officer, and owns the application of the Analysis Functional standard in their department.27 Neither HM Treasury nor the Analysis Function currently monitor if accounting officers are discharging their responsibilities nor how well standards have been upheld.28