Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Twenty-Eighth Report - Improving the Accounting Officer Assessment process
Public Accounts Committee
HC 43
Published 30 November 2022
Conclusions (2)
8
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The quality of published summary AO assessments varied.20 For example, departments generally provided basic information such as background on the programme. But they did not provide more detailed information to help a layperson understand, for example, a programme’s aims. And some provided generic descriptions of how the AO had considered …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's recommendation and outlines existing measures such as the senior finance function sign-off, treasury spending teams engagement, Government Finance Academy training, Finance Directors forum, and Accounting Officer Responsibilities Round table to support AO assessments.
11
Conclusion
Acknowledged
The lack of summary AO assessments being published remains a real concern.31 HM Treasury said that there can be practical reasons why summary AO assessments take longer to publish – for example, because the department concerned is in the middle of a commercial negotiation or is engaging with the market. …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's recommendation and outlines existing measures such as the senior finance function sign-off, treasury spending teams engagement, Government Finance Academy training, Finance Directors forum, and Accounting Officer Responsibilities Round table to support AO assessments.