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Professional Accounting Standards and the Public Sector—a Mismatch

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  • Allan Barton

Abstract

Professional accounting standards have been applied to the public sector in Australia as part of the process of adopting accrual accounting. However, the reason given for their application to the public sector is questionable. The modes of operation of governments and of the business sector are very different, and accounting standards must be tailored to suit the specific information needs of each sector for the accounting systems to provide relevant information. The four Accounting Concepts Statements and the broad requirements of AAS 29 and AAS 31 are examined to show where changes are needed in the standards to make their information more relevant to the needs of the public sector. These changes would better enable accrual accounting information systems to assist in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of public sector operations and the accountability of governments to parliament and citizens.

Suggested Citation

  • Allan Barton, 2005. "Professional Accounting Standards and the Public Sector—a Mismatch," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 41(2), pages 138-158, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:abacus:v:41:y:2005:i:2:p:138-158
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6281.2005.00173.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Graeme W. Dean & Frank L. Clarke, 2003. "An Evolving Conceptual Framework?," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 39(3), pages 279-297, October.
    2. Robert R. Sterling, 2003. "A Patch on GAAP," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 39(3), pages 1-1, October.
    3. Mark Christensen, 2003. "Without `Reinventing the Wheel‘: Business Accounting Applied to the Public Sector," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 13(30), pages 22-27, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Yeny Andriani & Ralph Kober & Juliana Ng, 2010. "Decision Usefulness of Cash and Accrual Information: Public Sector Managers’ Perceptions," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 20(2), pages 144-153, June.
    2. Allan Barton, 2009. "The Use and Abuse of Accounting in the Public Sector Financial Management Reform Program in Australia," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 45(2), pages 221-248, June.
    3. Oulasvirta, Lasse, 2014. "The reluctance of a developed country to choose International Public Sector Accounting Standards of the IFAC. A critical case study," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 25(3), pages 272-285.
    4. Javed Miraj & Zhuquan Wang, 2021. "Factors Influencing the Implementation of International Public Sector Accounting Standards in Pakistan," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 14(9), pages 1-15, July.
    5. Allan Barton, 2007. "Accrual Accounting and Budgeting Systems Issues in Australian Governments," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 17(41), pages 38-50, March.
    6. Spies-Butcher, Ben & Bryant, Gareth, 2024. "The history and future of the tax state: Possibilities for a new fiscal politics beyond neoliberalism," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    7. Allan Barton, 2010. "Commentary: IFRS and the Domestic Standard Setter – The Challenge of the Public Sector," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 20(4), pages 403-406, December.
    8. Anita Golovkova, 2020. "IFRS implementation in healthcare facilities in the United Kingdom: (un)intended effects [Implementace IFRS ve zdravotnických zařízeních ve Velké Británii - (ne)zamyšlené dopady]," Český finanční a účetní časopis, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2020(3-4), pages 53-70.
    9. Allan Barton, 2007. "Accrual Accounting and Budgeting Systems Issues in Australian Governments — a Rejoinder," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 17(43), pages 75-84, November.
    10. Mari Kobayashi & Kiyoshi Yamamoto & Keiko Ishikawa, 2016. "The Usefulness of Accrual Information in Non‐mandatory Environments: The Case of Japanese Local Government," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 26(2), pages 153-161, June.
    11. Oulasvirta Lasse Olavi, 2014. "Governmental Financial Accounting and European Harmonisation: Case Study of Finland," Accounting, Economics, and Law: A Convivium, De Gruyter, vol. 4(3), pages 237-263, December.
    12. Anita Golovkova, 2020. "IFRS implementation in healthcare facilities in the United Kingdom: (un)intended effects [Implementace IFRS ve zdravotnických zařízeních ve Velké Británii – (ne)zamyšlené dopady]," Český finanční a účetní časopis, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2020(3-4).
    13. Lynch, Barbara, 2010. "An examination of environmental reporting by Australian state government departments," Accounting forum, Elsevier, vol. 34(1), pages 32-45.
    14. Zubir Azhar & Ervina Alfan & Krishnen Kishan & Nurul Husna Assanah, 2022. "Accrual Accounting at Different Levels of the Public Sector: A Systematic Literature Review," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 32(1), pages 36-62, March.
    15. Sheila Ellwood, 2008. "Accounting for Public Hospitals: A Case Study of Modified GAAP," Abacus, Accounting Foundation, University of Sydney, vol. 44(4), pages 399-422, December.
    16. Fawzi Laswad & Nives Botica Redmayne, 2015. "IPSAS or IFRS as the Framework for Public Sector Financial Reporting? New Zealand Preparers’ Perspectives," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 25(2), pages 175-184, June.
    17. Weetman, Pauline, 2006. "Discovering the ‘international’ in accounting and finance," The British Accounting Review, Elsevier, vol. 38(4), pages 351-370.
    18. Ralph Kober & Janet Lee & Juliana Ng, 2013. "GAAP, GFS and AASB 1049: perceptions of public sector stakeholders," Accounting and Finance, Accounting and Finance Association of Australia and New Zealand, vol. 53(2), pages 471-496, June.
    19. Malcolm Abbott & Angela Tan†Kantor, 2018. "Fair Value Measurement and Mandated Accounting Changes: The Case of the Victorian Rail Track Corporation," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 28(2), pages 266-278, June.
    20. Christian Nitzl & Dennis Hilgers & Bernhard Hirsch & David Lindermüller, 2020. "The Influence of the Organizational Structure, Environment, and Resource Provision on the Use of Accrual Accounting in Municipalities," Schmalenbach Business Review, Springer;Schmalenbach-Gesellschaft, vol. 72(2), pages 271-298, April.
    21. Mark Christensen, 2007. "What We Might Know (But Aren't Sure) About Public-Sector Accrual Accounting," Australian Accounting Review, CPA Australia, vol. 17(41), pages 51-65, March.
    22. Sheila Ellwood & Susan Newberry, 2016. "New development: The conceptual underpinnings of international public sector accounting," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(3), pages 231-234, April.

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