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States of Jersey Accounting Standards 2022.

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STATES OF JERSEY

STATES OF JERSEY ACCOUNTING STANDARDS 2022

Presented to the States on 14th March 2023 by the Minister for Treasury and Resources

STATES GREFFE

2023  R.39

Jersey Financial Reporting

Manual

2022

(Based on UK FReM 2020-21)

Table of contents

1 Introduction

  1. Objectives and scope of the Manual ........................................................................................... 4
  2. Using the Manual .......................................................................................................................... 5
  3. Budgetary Controls ....................................................................................................................... 5

2 Accounting principles

  1. Application of generally accepted accounting practice ........................................................... 6 General.6 Accounting convention ....................................................................................................... 7 No exemptions for smaller entities ..................................................................................... 7 Practical application of guidance ........................................................................................ 7
  2. Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements ............................................................ 7 Legal Responsibility for the preparation of Financial Statements ...................................... 7 IASB's Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting (the Conceptual Framework) ...... 8 Financial statements must give a true and fair view........................................................... 9

3 Political Accountability

3.1  The Statement of Outturn against Approvals ............................................................................ 9 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 9 The Statement of Outturn against Approvals ................................................................... 10 The Notes to the Statement of Outturn against Approvals ............................................... 10 4 Accounting boundaries

  1. Accounting boundaries .............................................................................................................. 12
  2. Business Combinations ............................................................................................................. 14

5 Form and content of the annual report and accounts

  1. Introduction
  2. Performance Report
  3. The Accountability Report
  4. The Audit Report and the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General
  5. Primary Financial Statements and Notes

6 Applicability of accounting standards

7 Further guidance on accounting for assets and liabilities

  1. Property, plant and equipment .................................................................................................. 37
  2. Impairments ................................................................................................................................. 48
  3. Inventories ................................................................................................................................... 49 8 Further guidance on accounting for income and expenditure
  1. Income .......................................................................................................................................... 51
  2. Expenditure.................................................................................................................................. 49

1 Introduction

  1. Objectives and scope of the Manual
  1. The Jersey Financial Reporting Manual (JFReM) is the technical accounting guide to the preparation of financial statements for the States of Jersey. It complements guidance on the handling public funds in the Public Finance Manual published separately by the relevant authorities in Jersey. The Manual is based on the UK Treasury Financial Reporting Manual, adapted for States of Jersey specific situations.
  2. Arm's length organisations (ALO's) which are companies should comply with the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 and should also follow the principles in this Manual and provide the additional disclosures required by the Manual where these go beyond the Companies Act.

However, references are made throughout the manual to the UK Companies Act 2006. Although the States of Jersey is not required to comply with this legislation it has chosen to consider its requirements as best practice and comply with those requirements which it considers relevant.

  1. The JFReM applies directly to:

- All entities (reported entities'), and to funds, flows of income and expenditure and any other accounts (referred to collectively as reportable activities') that are prepared on an accruals basis and consolidated within States of Jersey Consolidated Accounts,

- defined in Chapter 4 whose accounts are required to be consolidated in the accounts of the States of Jersey.

  1. The Manual is kept under constant review. It is updated to reflect developments in international financial reporting standards (IFRS), and, where appropriate, comments received from users. The Manual is available on the States of Jersey website.

This Manual applies EU adopted IFRS and Interpretations in effect for accounting periods commencing on or after 1 January 2020, except for IFRS 16 Leases, which is deferred until 1 January 2024 in the JFReM.

  1. The principles underlying the application of accounting standards set out in this Manual may also be applied to other funds and accounts within the Jersey public sector. The Manual does not, however, consider the accounting requirements of these funds and accounts any further.
  1. Using the Manual
  1. The Manual provides guidance on the application of IFRS, adapted and interpreted for the public sector context. Preparers of financial statements covered by the requirements of this Manual are reminded that:
  1. in accordance with IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors, accounting policies set out in IFRSs need not be applied when the effect of applying them is immaterial;
  2. in accordance with IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements, applying the concept of materiality means that a specific disclosure requirement in a Standard or in an Interpretation need not be satisfied if the information is not material (disclosures should be limited to those necessary for an understanding of the entity's circumstances)[1]; and
  3. for the avoidance of doubt, there is no need to develop accounting policies, or provide disclosure notes, in relation to accounting standards that do not apply to the States of Jersey's circumstances or are immaterial. However, additional commentary may be provided if helpful to the user and could be in the accounting policy note or next to an individual disclosure note.
  1. Preparers are further reminded that the format and content of financial statements need to meet the information needs of the users of those financial statements.
  2. Further guidance and examples will be issued by the Group Reporting to assist entities in applying the Financial Reporting Manual.
  1. Budgetary Controls
  1. Accounting policies are generally common to both accounting and budgeting.
  2. The Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 introduced the principle of heads of expenditure that include both revenue and capital expenditure. Budgetary controls do not align with accounting on that basis as there is no longer a concept of capital expenditure in budgetary control; it has been replaced with project expenditure that may be accounted for as capital or revenue.
  3. In selecting relevant accounting policies (see chapter 2), the States should have regard to budgetary and control requirements, but should give paramount importance to the need for financial statements to give a true and fair view.
  4. Preparers of financial statements need to consult with The Treasury before changing significant accounting policies and estimation techniques where it appears that there could be a potential impact on budgets and on the Consolidated Accounts.
  5. Where preparers consider it necessary to adjust retrospectively for changes in accounting policies or material errors, they should first contact the Treasury to ensure that the budgeting and estimates implications have been properly considered.
  1. Trading funds

1.4.1  Trading funds are established under the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 to engender a market based approach to managing activities. They might also be departments in their own right.

  1. Reportable activities
  1. Preparers of the financial statements of reportable activities should apply the guidance in this Manual only to the extent that it is relevant to those activities and in the light of any statutory requirements or other pronouncements that might from time to time be made by the relevant authorities.
  2. Appendix 1: Choosing what to publish and how to publish it gives support to those considering whether to publish information in the annual report and accounts.
  3. Appendix 2:Best practice in narrative reporting gives support to those writing the narrative of the information to be published in the annual report and accounts.

2 Accounting principles

  1. Application of generally accepted accounting practice

General

  1. The accounting principles contained in this Manual follow generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to the extent that it is meaningful and appropriate in the public sector context. Although the term GAAP' has no statutory or regulatory authority, for the purposes of this Manual, GAAP is taken to be:
  1. the accounting and disclosure requirements of the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991;
  2. the accounting and disclosure requirements of the Companies Act 2006 of the United Kingdom (the UK Companies Act) as per paragraph 1.1.1;
  3. pronouncements by or endorsed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), including the  Framework for the Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements, the accounting standards – international accounting statements (IAS) and international financial reporting standards (IFRS) – and interpretations thereof issued by the Standards Interpretations Committee (SIC) or its successor, the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC);
  4. the body of accumulated knowledge built up over time and promulgated in (for example) textbooks, technical journals and research papers.
  1. For clarity, pronouncements as described inc) above are as reflected in the 2019-20 Financial Reporting Manual issued by HM Treasury (the UK FReM'). The States of Jersey therefore applies all such pronouncements as were relevant and effective at the date of issue of the UK FReM.
  1. For the purposes of accounting by the entities covered by this Manual, GAAP is taken to mean primarily those items listed under (a), (b), and (c) above, interpreted as necessary in the light of the body of accumulated knowledge under (d).
  2. In addition to the general principles underlying GAAP, entities covered by the requirements of this Manual need to apply two additional principles – political accountability and regularity. These principles are explained in the context of the States of Jersey in the separate Public Finance Manual.

Accounting convention

  1. Financial statements should be prepared under the historical cost convention, modified by the revaluation of certain assets and liabilities to fair value as determined by the relevant accounting standards, subject to the interpretations and adaptations of those standards in this Manual.

Practical application of guidance

  1. The following chapters refer to practical guidance on the application of GAAP where the Treasurer of the States feels that such guidance will assist in preparing the financial statements. The Treasurer of the States will provide additional guidance on request.
  1. Preparation and Presentation of Financial Statements

Legal Responsibility for the preparation of Financial Statements

  1. The Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019, article 37 states the following:

Annual financial statements

The Treasurer must, within 3 months of the end of a financial year –

  1. prepare a financial statement in respect of the accounts of the States for that financial year; and
  2. send the statement to the Comptroller and Auditor General for auditing.
  1. After the annual report and accounts have been certified by the Comptroller and Auditor General (or other appointed auditor) there is an expectation that they will not be changed prior to laying in the States Assembly. Where an entity wishes to make any change to a certified annual report and account prior to laying in the States Assembly, that entity must first discuss with their external audit team

IASB's Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting (the Conceptual Framework)

  1. The Conceptual Framework sets out the principles that the IASB believes should underlie the preparation and presentation of general purpose financial statements. In particular, preparers should be familiar with the objective of financial statements, which is to provide financial information about the reporting entity or reportable activity that is useful to existing and potential investors, lenders and other creditors in making decisions about providing resources to it. For the States of Jersey the objective of the financial statements is also to provide information about its financial position, financial performance, changes in financial position and cash flows that is useful to a wide range of users to permit themtoassess the stewardship and accountability of management for the resources entrusted to them.
  2. The key users of the information in the financial statements of the States of Jersey are the States Assembly. Other users include the Corporate Strategy Board, the States of Jersey Risk and Audit Committee and the taxpayer.
  3. In presenting information in their financial statements, preparers should also be familiar with the:

underlying assumption (financial statements shall be prepared on a going concern basis);

qualitative characteristics of financial statements;

elements of financial statements;

recognition of the elements of financial statements; and

measurement of the elements of financial statements.

  1. The Conceptual Framework notes that financial statements cannot meet all the information needs of users, who may need to consider pertinent information from other sources. However, the provision of financial statements that meet the requirements of the States Assembly will also meet most of the needs of other users.
  2. The entities covered by the requirements of this Manual will prepare general purpose financial statements that are sufficient for the needs of the key users. However, where departments are required by the relevant legislation to demonstrate accountability to States Assembly, they should prepare a statement on political accountability, which, within the meaning of the Conceptual Framework, can be regarded as a special purpose financial report.
  3. The Conceptual Framework also sets out the principles behind the technical concepts that form the basis for all International Financial Reporting Standards. The Standards interpret these principles into guidance, which takes precedence over the Conceptual Framework for entities preparing accounts. IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors sets out this relationship and also provides guidance on when and how it is appropriate to refer back to the Framework to develop an accounting policy.
  4. In 2018, the IASB published a revised Conceptual Framework. References to the Framework in IFRS2,IFRS 3, IFRS 6, IFRS 14, IAS 1, IAS 8, IAS 34, IAS 37, IAS 38, IFRIC 12, IFRIC 19, IFRIC 20, IFRIC 22, and SIC-32 have been updated in amendments that are effective for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2020.

Financial statements must give a true and fair view

  1. Financial statements prepared in accordance with the requirements of this Manual:
  1. should give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the States of Jersey at the end of the financial year and of the results for the year; and
  2. where, in exceptional circumstances, the Treasurer of the States concludes that compliance with a requirement in the JFReM would be so misleading that it would conflict with the objective of the financial statements set out in the Framework it shall depart from that requirement following the principles set out at paragraphs 20-24 of IAS 1. Particulars of any departure, the reasons for it and its effects should be disclosed in the financial statements.
  1. The Treasurer of the States and Minister for Treasury and Resources should not provide approval unless they are satisfied that the accounts give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and net income or expenditure of the entity, and where relevant, of the group.
  1. The budgeting system

Reporting performance against budgeting rules

  1. Departments produce monthly budgetary information in Departmental Financial Reports; which is then consolidated into a Government Financial Report. The Statement of Outturn against Approvals is produced for the Annual Report, as part of the Political Accountability Report. (see section 3.2 of this Manual).

3 Political Accountability

3.1  The Statement of Outturn against Approvals

Introduction

  1. This section of the chapter explains the Statement of Outturn against Approvals.

Approvals refer to:

  1. amounts of income from taxation intended to be raised approved by the States in the Budget Statement;
  2. appropriations to heads of expenditure approved by the States in the Government Plan, after any amendments approved in accordance with the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019. Under the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019, the approval by the States of a head of expenditure authorises the body to withdraw amounts not exceeding that approval from the consolidated fund; and
  3. estimates of States Trading Operations approved by the states in the Government Plan.

The Statement of Outturn against Approvals

  1. The Statement of Outturn against Approvals is the States' accountability statement. It reports the following to the States:
  1. a comparison of outturn against the approval for each head of expenditure (or equivalent) for both net revenue expenditure, and capital expenditure;
  2. a reconciliation of the revenue outturn to net revenue expenditure disclosed in the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure; and
  3. a statement showing the unallocated consolidated fund balance at the end of the financial year.
  1. Explanations of variances between the approval and outturn should be given in the Management Commentary and any accompanying reports and information.

The Notes to the Statement of Outturn against Approvals

  1. The Statement of Outturn against Approvals is supported by notes to the statement. The following information must be given in the supporting notes, however some detail may be included as an annex to the supporting notes.

Analysis of net revenue expenditure outturn

  1. This note analyses the net revenue expenditure outturn against approval as follows:
  1. Net General Revenue Income by income line as presented in Summary Table 1 of the Government Plan, against the Estimate.
  2. Near cash net revenue expenditure outturn for the Consolidated Fund by head of expenditure, comparing the net total outturn for each head of expenditure with the Approval.
  3. Non-cash net revenue expenditure outturn for the Consolidated Fund by head of expenditure, comparing the net total outturn for each head of expenditure with the Approval.
  4. Net revenue expenditure outturn for each Trading Operation, comparing the net total outturn for each operation with the Estimate.
  1. A brief explanation of the reasons for significant variances between approvals and outturn should be given in the Management Commentary and any accompanying information to the Accounts.

Analysis of project expenditure outturn

  1. This note analyses the project expenditure outturn against approval as follows:
  1. Project expenditure outturn for the Consolidated Fund by head of expenditure, comparing the net total outturn for each head of expenditure with the Approval.
  2. Project expenditure outturn for Trading Operations by project, comparing the net total outturn for each project with the Estimate.

Other notes relating to Political accountability

  1. In addition to the requirements for notes supporting the Statement of Outturn against Approvals the States should also disclose in notes to the accounts:
  1. the names of any public sector bodies outside the group boundary for which the States had lead policy responsibility in the year, together with a description of their status (for example, trading fund or public corporation);
  2. a brief description of the nature of material remote contingent liabilities (that is, those that are disclosed under political reporting requirements and not under IAS 37) and, where practical, an estimate of its financial effect;
  3. a statement of losses, special and other payments; and
  4. gifts made over £10,000.
  1. Departments should note these disclosures will be subject to an audit opinion as described in 5.3.3.

4 Accounting boundaries

  1. Accounting boundaries

Accounting boundaries

  1. The States of Jersey shall prepare an annual report and consolidated financial statements (as defined in Chapter 5) covering all entities within its accounting boundary.
  2. Arm's length bodies which are companies shall prepare consolidated (as relevant) financial statements in accordance with the requirements of the JFReM, without adaptation and interpretation.
  3. The group boundary is similar to the concept of a group under generally accepted accounting practice, but it is based on direct control principles. The direct control principles which are to be applied when considering whether an entity is within or without the group boundary are when the States, Council of Ministers, a Minister, Corporate Strategy Board or any other state body evidences Direct control:

By exercising in year control over operating practices, income, expenditure, assets or liabilities of the entity.

By demonstrating control for the purpose of the Island's affairs, the realisation of value for the States' interests or the management of the States' liabilities shall be considered within the group boundary.

For the avoidance of doubt, the operation of the Common Investment Fund (the CIF') as a State administrated investment pooling arrangement is under the direct control of the States. However, the proportion of the CIF that relates to out of group participant entities shall be recognised as a liability in the States of Jersey consolidated financial statements.

  1. Trust Funds are monies donated or left to the government through citizens wills with their wishes over what these funds are to be used for. The States of Jersey will do its best to ensure these funds available are effectively utilised to satisfy the wishes of the donors. Where the wishes of the donor are unclear or unable to satisfy very specific wishes the State will approach the courts to redirect the funds to the closest possible outcome to the original wish. These trust funds (including bequest funds) that invests into the CIF's pooling arrangement will be treated as out of group participants.
  2. The JFREM considers that it has direct control over the following subsidiary companies and as such they are deemed to be within the group boundary:

States of Jersey Development Company,

Andium Homes Limited and

Ports of Jersey Limited.

  1. Entities which are not under the direct control of the States, Council of Ministers, a Minister, Corporate Strategy Board or any other state body shall not be considered within the group boundary.
  2. The States of Jersey has made the irrevocable election under IFRS 9: Financial Instrumentsto account for the following investment entities, to which the state holds equity instruments for, as fair value through other comprehensive income:

JT Group Limited;

Jersey Post International Limited;

Jersey Electricity plc; and

The Jersey New Waterworks Company Limited.

These entities are categorised in the States of Jersey Consolidated accounts as "Strategic Investments".

  1. There are a number of smaller entities which fall within the accounting boundary of the States of Jersey but which are not consolidated as they are immaterial to the financial statements as whole. These are referred to as "Minor Entities" and comprise:

Government of Jersey London Office

Jersey Sport Limited

Digital Jersey Limited

Jersey Legal Information Board

Jersey Business limited

Bureau des Iles Anglo-Normandes

Jersey Finance Limited

Channel Islands Brussels Office

Visit Jersey Limited

  1. Where one entity has an investment in a second entity that does not meet the criteria for consolidation, it should be treated as an investment in the States of Jersey consolidated financial statements. Investments in other entities should be accounted for following the requirements of IFRS 9: Financial Instruments. This includes all investments in entities classified as Strategic Investments, Associates or Joint Venture.
  2. For the purposes of applying the principles of consolidation, the States of Jersey will be the parent entity in the consolidated financial statements. The States of Jersey will present consolidated financial statements for the entire accounting boundary, and for the core departments in order to meet reporting obligations as detailed in 5.5.3. The financial statements of all entities whose results are to be consolidated will generally have the same accounting reference date. Where a subsidiary has:
  • An accounting reference date more than 3 months different to the accounting reference date of the department; and
  • The subsidiary is material to the group;

The relevant authority will consider the treatment of the non-coterminous reference dates. In other cases, the entity shall approach the consolidation of subsidiaries with non-coterminous year ends in line with IFRS 10 paras B92-B93.

  1. Business Combinations

Applicability

  1. IFRS 3 excludes from its scope business combinations involving entities or businesses under common control. Public sector bodies within the States of Jersey accounting boundary are deemed to be under common control. The combination of two or more public sector bodies within the Accounting Boundary into one new body, or the transfer of functions from the responsibility of one part of the public sector to another, will be accounted for as either a Transfer by Merger or as a Transfer by Absorption as detailed below.
  2. For the purposes of this manual, a function is defined as an identifiable business operation with an integrated set of activities and recognised assets and/or liabilities that are capable of being conducted and managed to achieve the objectives of that business operation.
  3. IFRS 3 applies to all combinations involving an entity or entities within the accounting boundary with an entity outside the Accounting Boundary.
  4. When a business combination has been incorrectly reported by preparers, IAS 8 should be applied in determining whether it is necessary to adjust retrospectively for material errors, as set out in Chapter 2 of this Manual. Any prospective change to an entity's reporting boundary where the business combination is not under common control should apply IFRS 3 in full.

Transfer by Merger or Transfer by Absorption

  1. The accounting treatment for transfers of function under common control should be determined by aligning the reporting with the accountability for financial performance. The underlying objective is to ensure the financial reporting supports the accountability for the transferring function, and to do so in a symmetrical way to ensure there is no transparency gap. As both entities will be within the Accounting Boundary there will be no effect on the consolidated financial statements.
  2. Under a Transfer by Merger, the carrying value of the assets and liabilities of the combining bodies or functions are not adjusted to fair value on consolidation. The results and cash flows of all the combining bodies (or functions) should be brought into the financial statements of the combined body from the beginning of the financial year in which the combination occurred. Restatement of comparatives including that of the results for all the combining bodies (or functions) for the previous period, should be provided in accordance with IAS 1 as interpreted by this manual. Comparatives should be adjusted as necessary to achieve uniformity of accounting policies and consistency of presentation.
  3. Under a Transfer by Absorption the carrying value of the assets and liabilities of the combining bodies or functions are not adjusted to fair value on consolidation. There should be no recognition of goodwill and no restatement of comparatives in the primary financial statements. The recorded amounts of net assets should be brought into the financial statements of the transferee from the date of transfer. The net asset/liability carrying value should be recorded at carrying value. Revaluation reserves should be transferred in full, with the remaining balance transferred to the accumulated reserve.

Disclosure

  1. An entity that receives a transfer of functions should be disclosed in the Accounts and accompanying information that the transfer has taken place (including a brief description of the transferred function), giving the date of the transfer, the name of the transferring body and the effect on the financial statements. Where accounted for as a Transfer by Absorption, the reporting entity should apply judgment as to whether the additional disclosure of historical financial performance of the function should be provided, to enable users to understand the operation performance.
  2. Transfers of function under common control can have a significant impact on the accounts, budgets and Estimates of the transferee if the data pertaining to the assets and liabilities of the transferring function are not accurate. It is in the interests of both the transferor and the transferee to ensure such data are accurate to prevent post-transfer disputes between the two parties.
  3. Both the transferor and the transferee of a business combination under common control should apply a symmetrical accounting treatment for the transfer. A reporting entity that transfers functions to another reporting entity should also provide the same information about the transfer in its financial statements. Entities controlled by a parent entity should provide the necessary information required by the parent entity to meet the requirements set out in paragraphs 4.2.5 to 4.2.7.

Other requirements

  1. Transfers of non-current assets that are not part of a transfer of functions should be transferred at fair value following the fair value measures inIFRS3. Where a States Decision specifies the value that should be used for such a transfer, this will be used instead (for example the Protocols for the Transfer of assets to and from the States of Jersey Development Company included in P.73/2010).
  2. Any departure from the accounting treatments in 4.2.5 to 4.2.11 must be agreed with the Relevant Authority, and applied symmetrically by the transferor and transferee.

5 Form and content of the annual report and accounts

  1. Introduction
  1. This chapter sets out the requirements for the format and content of the annual reports and accounts of the States of Jersey, incorporating the entities covered by the requirements of this Manual. The annual report and accounts includes:
  1. the Performance Report (section 5.2);
  2. the Accountability Report (section 5.3);
  3. the Audit Report and the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (section 5.4); and
  4. the Primary Financial Statements and notes (section 5.5).
  1. Reporting entities that comply with this Manual and are not incorporated as companies will apply chapters 4, 5 and 6 of Part 15 of the UK Companies Act 2006, plus associated statutory instruments, with interpretation for the public sector context. The remaining chapters of Part 15 will not apply.
  2. Guidance on the requirements for a Statement of Outturn against Approvals is set out in Chapter 3.

Summary financial information

  1. If the States wishes to publish a document additional to its annual report and accounts that contains supplementary material including summary financial information it should comply with the requirements of Chapter 7, section 426 of Part 15 of the UK Companies Act 2006, as amended by SI1970 (2013). The summary data must not be published in advance of the full annual report and accounts where this summary data refers to audited financial information.
  1. The Performance Report

Scope of the performance report

  1. The purpose of the performance section of the annual report is to provide information on the entity, its main objectives and strategies and the principal risks that it faces. The requirements of the performance report are based on the matters required to be dealt with in a Strategic Report as set out in Chapter 4A of Part 15 of the UK Companies Act 2006. The requirements of the Companies Act 2006 have been adapted for the public sector context.
  2. The performance report must provide a fair, balance and understandable analysis of the entity's performance, in line with the overarching requirement for the annual report and accounts as a whole to be fair, balance and understandable (paragraph 5.3.11 of this manual).
  3. Auditors will review the performance report for consistency with other information in the financial statements.
  4. The performance report shall be signed and dated by the Chief Executive Officer.
  1. The performance report is required to have two sections: an Overview' and a Performance analysis'.

Overview

  1. The purpose of the Overview' is to give the user a short (no more than 10 to 15 pages) summary that provides them with sufficient information to understand the organisation, its purpose, the key risks to the achievement to of its objectives and how it has performed during the year. The Overview should be enough for the lay user to have no need to look into the rest of the annual report and accounts unless they were interested in further detail or had specific accountability or decision making needs to be met.
  2. As a guide, the Overview should include the below although it could also be captured elsewhere in the Performance Report:

A short summary explaining the purpose of the overview section;

A statement from the Minister for Treasury and Resources providing their perspective on the performance of the Government/States of Jersey over the period;

A statement of the purpose and activities of the Government/States of Jersey including in respect of a brief description of the business model and environment, organisational structure, objectives and strategies;

The key issues and risks that could affect the Government/States of Jersey in delivering its objectives; and

A performance summary.

Performance analysis

  1. The purpose of the Performance analysis' is for entities to provide a detailed performance summary of how their entity measures its performance, more detailed integrated performance analysis and long term expenditure trend analysis where appropriate.
  2. As a minimum, the Performance analysis must include:

Information on how the entity measures performance i.e. what the entity sees as its key performance measures, how it checks performance against those measures and narrative to explain the link between KPIs, risk and uncertainty;

A more detailed analysis and explanation of the development and performance of the entity during the year and an explanation of the relationships and linkages between different pieces of information. This analysis is required to utilise a wide range of data including key financial information from the financial statements section of the accounts;

Non-financial information including, for example, social matters, respect for human rights, anti-corruption and anti-bribery matters; and

Reporting entities are expected to provide information on environmental matters including the impact of the entity's business on the environment. Entities must also comply with mandatory sustainability reporting requirements. It is envisaged that such reporting will be integral throughout the annual report and accounts and not a separate standalone report.

  1. The Accountability Report

Scope of the accountability report

  1. The purpose of the accountability section of the annual report is to meet key accountability requirements to the States Assembly. The requirements of the accountability report are based on the matters required to be dealt with in a Directors' Report, as set out in Chapter 5 of Part 15 of the Companies Act 2006 and Schedule 7 of SI 2008 No 410, and in a Remuneration Report, as set out in Chapter 6 of the Companies Act 2006 and Schedule 8 of SI 2008 No 410.
  2. The requirements of the Companies Act 2006 have been adapted for the public sector context and only need to be followed by entities which are not companies to the extent that they areincorporated into this Manual.
  3. Auditors will review the accountability report for consistency with other information in the financial statements and will provide an opinion on the following disclosures which should clearly be identified as audited within the accountability report:

the Statement of Outturns against Approvals and any supporting notes, including any notes reported in an accompanying report to the financial statements;

Regularity of expenditure;

Disclosures of political accountability as detailed in 3.1.8;

Single total figure of remuneration for each minister and director;

CETV disclosures for each minister and director;

Payments to past directors, if relevant;

Payments for loss of office, if relevant;

Fair pay disclosures;

Exit packages, (if relevant); and

Analysis of staff numbers and costs.

  1. The accountability report shall be signed and dated by the Treasurer of the States.
  2. The accountability report is required to have three sections: a Corporate Governance Report, a Remuneration and Staff Report, and a Political Accountability and Audit Report. The entity should provide a short overview of these sections and explain how they contribute to the entity's accountability to the States Assembly and best practice corporate governance norms and codes.

Corporate governance report

  1. The purpose of the corporate governance report is to explain the composition and organisation of the States' governance structures and how they support the achievement of the States' objectives.
  2. As a minimum, the corporate governance report must include:

The directors' report;

The governance statement; and

Statement of responsibilities

The directors' report

  1. The directors' report must include the following, unless disclosed elsewhere in the annual report and accounts in which a cross-reference may be provided;
  1. the ministerial titles and names of all ministers who had responsibility for the State departments during the year;
  2. the name of the chief executive unless disclosed elsewhere in the annual report;
  3. the composition of the management board (including advisory and non-executive members) having authority or responsibility for directing or controlling the major activities of the States during the year. This means those who influence the decisions of the States as a whole rather than the decisions of individual directorates or sections within the reporting entity;
  4. details of company directorships and other significant interests held by members of the management board which may conflict with their management responsibilities. Where a Register of Interests is available online, a web link may be provided instead of a detailed disclosure in the annual report; and
  5. information on personal data related incidents where these have been formally reported to the information commissioner's office.

For the remainder of the manual, individuals described in bullets b) to c) above are referred to as directors.

Statement of Principal Accountable Officer's responsibilities

  1. The role and functions of the Principal Accountable Officer should be explained in respect of the information reported within the Annual Report and Accounts.
  2. The Treasurer of the States should explain his/her responsibility for preparing the financial statements. The Statement should be positioned as part of the Accountability report.
  3. The Treasurer of the States is required to confirm that, as far as he or she is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the States of Jersey's auditors are unaware, and the Treasurer of the States has taken all the steps that he or she ought to have taken to make himself or herself aware of any relevant information to establish that the States of Jersey's auditors are aware of that information.

Governance statement

  1. The Chief Executive and the Treasurer of the States shall prepare a Governance Statement. They should refer to guidance in Public Finances Manual and guidance published separately by the Treasurer of the States for Governance Statements. Reference should also be made to the governance structure in place for the States of Jersey.
  2. Accountable Officers of all entities covered by the requirements of this Manual shall prepare a Governance Statement. Entities should refer to guidance in the Public Finances Manual published separately by the Treasurer of the States for Governance Statements. In preparing the statement, the Accountable Officer should reflect the particular circumstances in which the entity operates, and adapt the statement accordingly. These statements should not be included in fullin the financial statements but will be kept on record by the Treasury.
  3. The Chief Executive and the Treasurer of the States shall sign and date the Governance Statement.

Remuneration and staff report

  1. The remuneration and staff report sets out the entity's remuneration policy for directors, reports on how that policy has been implemented and sets out the amounts awarded to directors and where relevant the link between performance and remuneration.
  2. In addition the report provides details on remuneration and staff that the States Assembly and other users see as key to accountability.
  3. The remuneration and staff report are fundamental to demonstrating transparency and accountability to State Assembly. There is a presumption that information about named individuals will be given in all circumstances and all disclosures in the remuneration report will be consistent with identifiable information of those individuals in the financial statements. However, individuals must be advised in advance of the intention to disclose information about them, with an invitation for sight of the intended information to be published and notification that the individual can object under Article 21 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
  4. If a member does not agree to disclosure, the entity must consider whether to accept it. Under such circumstances the GDPR requires the entity to demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the disclosure which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the member or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims. Entities are strongly advised to take legal advice in such a case, because a decision not to publish may be challenged under the Freedom of Information Act. Where non-disclosure is agreed, the fact that certain disclosure has been omitted should be disclosed.

Remuneration policy

  1. Entities must disclose their policy on the remuneration of ministers and directors for the current and future years.

Single total figure of remuneration for each minister and director

  1. The States of Jersey Accounts must disclose each component and the overall single total remuneration figure for each minister and director. The components of the single total remuneration figure are:
  1. Salaries and allowances should be disclosed in bands of £5,000. Salary and allowances covers both pensionable and non-pensionable amounts and includes, but may not necessarily be confined to: gross salaries; overtime; recruitment and retention allowances; private-office allowances or other allowances to the extent they are subject to taxation and any severance or ex-gratia payments. It does not include amounts which are a reimbursement of expenses directly incurred in the performance of an individual's duties;
  2. Performance pay or bonuses payable – should be separately reported from salaries, in bands of £5,000;
  3. Non-cash benefits – the estimated value of non-cash benefits (benefits in kind) should be disclosed to the nears £100;
  4. Accrued pension benefits – employer pension contributions will be used to represent accrued pension benefits. Accrued pension benefits will be disclosed in bands of £5,000.

Pension entitlements for each minister and director

  1. Entities must disclose the pension entitlements for each minister and director. This must include:

the real increase during the reporting year in the pension and (if applicable) related lump sum at pension age in bands of £5,000;

the value at the end of the reporting year of the accrued pension and (if applicable) related lump sum at pension age in bands of £5,000;

the value of the cash equivalent transfer value at the beginning of the reporting year to the nearest £1,000;

the real increase in the cash equivalent transfer value during the reporting year, to the nearest £1,000; and

the value of the cash equivalent transfer value at the end of the reporting year to the nearest £1,000.

Compensation on early retirement or loss of office

  1. If a payment for compensation on early retirement for loss of office (paid or receivable) has been made under the terms of legislation or an approved Compensation Scheme, the fact that such a payment has been made should be disclosed, including a description of the compensation payment and details of the total amounts paid (the cost to be used must include any top-up to compensation provided by the employer to buy out the actuarial reduction on an individual's pension). This should include severance payments made to Ministers on loss of office. Ministerial severance should be stated by Minister and include actual and receivable payments.

Payments to past directors

  1. Entities must provide details of any payments made to any person (minister or officials) who was not a director at the time the payment was made, but who had been a director of the entity previously, unless already disclosed within a previous directors' remuneration report, the current year single total remuneration disclosure or within the disclosure of compensation for early retirement or loss of office. Only payments of regular pension benefits which commenced in previous years and payments in respect of employment for the entity other than as a director may be excluded.

Fair pay disclosure

  1. Entities must disclose the following information together with prior year comparatives:

The median remuneration of the reporting entity's staff. This is based on annualised, full-time equivalent remuneration of all staff (excluding temporary and agency staff) as at the reporting date;

The range of staff remuneration;

The ratio between the median staff remuneration and the mid-point of the banded remuneration of the highest paid director; and

An explanation for any significant changes in the ratio between the current and prior year.

Staff report

  1. The staff report must include the following information:
  1. Number of senior civil service staff (or equivalent);
  2. Staff numbers and costs – an analysis of staff costs and numbers distinguishing between:

Staff in a permanent employment contract;

Other staff engaged on objectives of the States, such as short-term contract staff or agency/temporary staff. Where the number of staff under any one subset of "other staff" is significant, that subset should be separately disclosed; and

  1. Staff composition – including an analysis of the number of persons of each sex who were directors, senior civil servants (or equivalent) and employees;
  2. Staff policies applied during the financial year:

For giving full and fair consideration to applications for employment by the company made by disabled persons, having regard to their particular aptitudes and abilities;

For continuing the employment of, and for arranging appropriate training for, employees of the company who have become disabled persons during the period when they were employed by the company;

Otherwise for the training, career development and promotion of disabled persons employed by the company.

  1. Other employee matters such as, other diversity issues and equal treatment in employment and occupation; employment issues including employee consultation and/or participation; health and safety at work; trade union relationships; and human capital management such as career management and employability, pay policy etc.;
  2. Expenditure on consultancy;
  3. Exit packages; and
  4. States member's remuneration.

Political accountability Report

  1. The political accountability report brings together the key political accountability documents with the annual report and accounts. It comprises:
  1. Statement of Outturn against Approvals and supporting notes;
  2. Regularity of expenditure; and
  3. Political accountability disclosures as detailed in 3.1.8.
  1. The requirements for a) andc) are detailed in Chapter 3.
  1. The Audit Report and the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General

5.4.1  The financial statements laid before the States shall include the report issued by the auditors appointed by the Comptroller and Auditor General, the certificate of the Comptroller and Auditor General and any report by the C&AG under Article 12(3) of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Jersey) Law 2014.

  1. Primary Financial Statements and notes

Introduction

  1. This section of the chapter provides guidance on the format and content of the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure, the Statement of Financial Position, the Statement of Changes in Equity and the Statement of Cash Flows, together with the relevant notes. This section sets requirements based on the UK Companies and details adaptations and interpretations of the following accounting standards that provide guidance on the formats of, and disclosures in, financial statements:

IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements; IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows;

IAS 10 Events after the Reporting Period; IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures; and IFRS 8 Operating Segments.

  1. Other accounting standards, which are dealt with in other chapters of this Manual, might include disclosure requirements. Unless indicated otherwise, those disclosure requirements apply in full.
  2. Where group accounts are prepared IAS 1 is interpreted to require that the financial statements provide two columns, one showing the core entities and the other showing the group as a whole, where core entities are those subject to a regularity audit opinion and the entire group being all those within the group boundary for accounting purposes. Only the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure shall be split in this way.

Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure

  1. IAS 1 requires entities to prepare a Statement of Comprehensive Income. This manual adapts IAS 1 as set out below
  2. The States of Jersey shall prepare a Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure. Row headings should be based on material sources of income and expenditure.

Statement of Financial Position

  1. IAS 1 requires entities to prepare a Statement of Financial Position and provides guidance on the minimum presentation required on the face of the statement of financial position.
  1. The Statement of Financial Position must be signed by the Treasurer of the States. Statement of Cash Flows
  2. IAS 7 sets out the requirements for the format of the Statement of Cash Flows.
  3. In reconciling the operating expenditure to operating cash flows, entities should exclude movements in debtors and creditors relating to items that do not pass through the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure.
  4. In analysing capital expenditure and financial investment, entities should adjust for debtors and creditors relating to capital expenditure and those relating to loans issued to or repaid by other entities in the accounting boundary.
  5. In analysing financing, departments should adjust for debtors and creditors relating to the capital expenditure in respect of finance leases and on-balance sheet PFI contracts.

Statement of Changes in Equity

  1. IAS 1 requires entities to prepare a Statement of Changes in Equity. IAS 1 is interpreted for the public sector context such that the States of Jersey is required to present a Statement of Changes in Taxpayers' Equity following the format in IAS 1.
  2. The financing of public sector entities is ultimately tax-based and an IAS 1-based notion of capital does not apply.

Notes to the accounts

  1. The notes to the financial statements provide additional detail to users onthe accounting policies of the entity and the numbers included in the core financial statements. Notes should only be included where additional information is material, i.e. where its omission or misstatement could influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements. In the public sector context, materiality can be by nature and contest as well as in value, and the decisions of users can be of a non-economic nature. Notes are not required where the information is immaterial to the user and this manual clearly notes that disclosures should be limited to those necessary for an understanding of the entity's circumstances. Entities should refer to the disclosure requirements in the International Financial Reporting Standards unless adaptations and interpretations are detailed below.

Accounting policies

  1. The Group's accounting policies are included in the Annual Report and Accounts. Accounting policies are rules and guidelines that have been selected by the States of Jersey for use in preparing and presenting its financial statements. Accounting policies are important, as they set a framework, which all group entities follow, and provide comparable and consistent standard financial statements across years and relative to other governments.
  1. The notes to the accounts must include a statement that the accounts have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adapted and interpreted by this Manual. Significant accounting policies should be disclosed particularly in the event of a change in policy or in relation to a material item. The accounting policy for a particular item within the financial statements may be disclosed within the note for that item. Where an entity considers that additional information on accounting policies is necessary to assist users then this should be included in the accounting policies note or next toan individual disclosure note.

Operating Segments

  1. IFRS 8 applies in full to all entities within scope of this Manual. Entities should provide an analysis of their operating segments, products and services, the geographical areas in which they operate, and their major customers in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 8.

Expenditure

  1. Entities should provide an analysis of expenditure as recorded in the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure in separate notes to the financial statements. This should include service charges under PFI contracts, the individual components of non-cash items, and an analysis of other significant expenditure items. A brief summary of staff costs should also be included with a reference to more detailed disclosures (per 5.3.25b) in the Accountability Report.

Cash and cash equivalents

  1. Entities shall disclose the opening position, the change in balances and the closing position separately for cash and cash equivalents.

Financial instruments

  1. Where the entity is exposed to material financial instrument risk the relevant IFRS 7 disclosures should be made. Particular emphasis should be placed on considering appropriate disclosure requirements relating to significant credit risk from receivables.

Commitments under PFI contracts

  1. Commitments under Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts will need to be disclosed. The Treasurer of the States will provide advice on a case by case basis.

Information about related undertakings

  1. If not disclosed elsewhere in the annual report and accounts, entities shall disclose the name of each of its subsidiaries, or provide a web link to where this information is available.

Third party assets

  1. These are assets for which an entity acts as custodian or trustee but in which neither the entity nor government more generally has a direct beneficial interest. Third party assets are not public assets, and should not be recorded in the primary financial statements. Material third party assets should be disclosed. Where significant, the note should differentiate between:
  1. third party monies and listed securities: the minimum level of numerical disclosure required is a statement of closing balances at financial year-end. For listed securities, this will be the total market value. Optionally, when considered significant by the entity

and at its discretion, further disclosures may be made, including gross inflows and outflows in the year and the number and types of securities held;

  1. third party physical assets and unlisted securities: disclosure may be by way of narrative note. For physical assets, the note should provide information on the asset categories involved. Such disclosure should be sufficient to give users of the financial statements an understanding of the extent to which third-party physical assets and unlisted securities are held by the entity; and
  2. in the event that third party monies are found to have been in a public bank account at the end of an accounting year, commentary should be included in the note on cash at bank and in hand and in the disclosures above on the amount of third party monies held in the bank account.

Grants and subsidies payments

  1. A note should analyse all grants and subsidies payments by entity. It should categorise all grants/subsidies, and should separately disclose grants/subsidies of £75,000 or more to any individual/organisation in the year. In the rare instances where disclosure of this detailed information would seriously prejudice the position of the States of Jersey, a general disclosure should be made, together with a reason why the detailed information has not been disclosed.

Trade and other receivables

  1. Entities shall analyse trade and other receivables by type (as appropriate) as set out below:
  1. Income Tax Receivables and Accrued Income;
  2. GST Receivable and Accrued Income;
  3. Provision for taxation receivables;
  4. Trade receivables;
  5. Contract assets
  6. Prepayments and accrued income;
  7. Other Receivables;
  8. Provision for non-taxation debtors; and

Trade and other payables

  1. The consolidated financial statements shall analyse payables by type (as appropriate) as set out below:
  1. Trade payables;
  2. Contract liabilities
  3. Other payables;
  4. Income Tax receipts in advance
  5. Accruals and deferred income;
  1. Receipts in advance
  2. Other headings as appropriate.

Currency in circulation

  1. A note should disclose the States liability in relation to currency in circulation, split between currency and coinage, including the balances held by the States of Jersey.

Entities within the departmental boundary

  1. The States of Jersey should disclose in a note to the accounts a list of entities within the accounting boundary.
  2. A note including a Statement of Net Comprehensive Expenditure and Statement of Financial Position for each of the Social Security Fund, Health Insurance Fund, Social Security (Reserve) Fund, Long Term Care Fund and Jersey Dental Scheme should also be included.

6  Applicability of accounting standards

  1. EU adopted IFRS

6.1.1  A list of EU adopted IFRS is shown in Table 6.1, together with a record or whether they have been adapted or interpreted for the public sector context in this Manual. All standards apply to all reportable activities and reporting entities applying this Manual to the extent that each standard is relevant to those activities and in the light of any statutory requirements or other pronouncements that might from time to time be made by the Treasurer of the States.

Table 6.1

International Standard

Applies without adaptation

Applies  as interpreted for  public sector

Applies  as adapted  for public sector

IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of IFRS

 

 

IFRS 2 Share-based Payments

 

 

IFRS 3 Business Combinations

 

 

IFRS 4 Insurance Contracts

 

 

IFRS 5 Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

 

 

IFRS 6 Mineral Resources

 

 

IFRS 7 Financial Instruments: Disclosures

 

 

IFRS 8 Operating Segments

 

 

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments

 

 

IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements

 

 

IFRS 12 Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities

 

 

IFRS 13 Fair Value Measurement[2]

 

 

 

IFRS  15  Revenue  from  Contracts  with Customers

 

IFRS 16 Leases

 

 

 

IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements

 

 

IAS 2 Inventories

 

 

 

 

International Standard

Applies without adaptation

Applies  as interpreted for  public sector

Applies  as adapted  for public sector

IAS 7 Statement of Cash Flows

 

 

IAS  8  Accounting  Policies,  Changes  in Accounting Estimates and Errors

 

 

IAS 10 Events after the Reporting Period

 

 

IAS 11 Construction Contracts

 

 

IAS 12 Income Taxes

 

 

IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment

 

IAS 17 Leases

 

 

IAS 18 Revenue

 

 

IAS 19 Employee Benefits

 

 

IAS 20 Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance

 

 

IAS  21  The  Effects  of  Changes  in  Foreign Exchange Rates

 

 

IAS 23 Borrowing Costs

 

 

IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures

 

IAS  26  Accounting  and  Reporting  by Retirement Benefit Plans

 

IAS 27 Separate Financial Statements

 

 

IAS  28  Investments  in  Associates  and  Joint Ventures

 

 

IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies

 

 

IAS 32 Financial Instruments: Disclosure and Presentation

 

 

IAS 33 Earnings per Share

 

 

IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting

 

 

IAS 36 Impairment of Assets

 

IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets

 

IAS 38 Intangible Assets

 

 

IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement

 

 

IAS 40 Investment Property

 

 

IAS 41 Agriculture

 

 

  1. Interpretations and adaptations for the public sector context

6.2.1  Table 6.2 provides details of those adaptations and interpretations for the public sector context. Where an adaptation or interpretation to a standard results in an inconsistency with a related Interpretation  issued  by  the  IFRS  Interpretations  Committee  (IFRIC)  or  Standards Interpretations Committee (SIC), the Interpretation is similarly adapted or interpreted. In all other cases, IFRIC and SIC Interpretations will apply in full.

Table 6.2

IFRS 1 First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards

Interpretations

This Manual requires financial statements to be prepared under the historical cost convention, modified by the revaluation of assets and liabilities to fair value as determined by the relevant account standard, and so the elections available in IFRS 1.16, 17 and 18 are not relevant.

IFRS 3 Business Combinations

Interpretations

IFRS 3 excludes from its scope business combinations involving entities or businesses under common control. Public sector bodies within the States of Jersey accounting boundary are deemed to be under common control. Therefore IFRS applies only to combinations involving an entity or entities within the accounting boundary with an entity outside the accounting boundary.

Chapter 4 provides guidance on the accounting for a combination of two or more public sector bodies into one new body, or the transfer of functions from the responsibility of one part of the public sector to another.

IFRS 5 Non-Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

Interpretations

(1) In order to qualify as discontinued operations', the activities must cease completely: that is, responsibilities transferred from one part of the public sector to another are not discontinued operations.

IFRS 8 Operating Segments

Interpretation

The  Financial  Report  and  Accounts  and  accompanying  information includes  a  large  amount  of  detailed  information  relating  to  the departments,  funds  and  other  entities  included  within  them.  This information in a lot of cases exceeds that required by the standard, and so a summarised segmental analysis may be provided with reference to other  parts  of  the  Financial  Report  and  Accounts  including  the accompanying information.

The States will report any further segmental information required by IFRS 8 that is regularly reviewed by senior management as per 5.3.8 a) to c).

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments

Interpretation

  1. Where future cash flows are discounted to measure fair value, entities should use the higher of the rate intrinsic to the financial instrument and the  real  financial  instrument  discount  rate  set  by  HM  Treasury (promulgated in PES papers) as applied to the flows expressed in current prices.
  2. The accounting policy choice allowed under IFRS 9 which allows entities upon transition to restate prior periods if, and only if, it is possible without the useof hindsight has been withdrawn. All entities applying this Manual shall recognise any difference between the previous carrying amount and the carrying amount at the beginning of the annual reporting period that includes the date of initial application in the opening retained earnings (or other component of equity, as appropriate) of the annual reporting period that includes the date of initial application.

 

 

 

  1. The accounting policy choice allowed under IFRS 9 for long term trade receivables,  contract  assets  which  do  contain  a  significant  financing component (in accordance with IFRS 15), and lease receivables within the scope of IAS 17 has been withdrawn and entities should always recognise a loss allowance at an amount equal to lifetime Expected Credit Losses. All entities applying this Manual should utilise IFRS 9's simplified approach to impairment for relevant assets.
  2. The accounting policy choice allowed under IFRS 9 which allows entities to either continue to apply the hedge accounting requirements of IAS 39 (until the macro hedging project is finalised) or to apply IFRS 9 has been withdrawn. All entities applying this Manual should apply IFRS 9 hedge accounting requirements (with the scope exception only for fair value macro hedges of interest rate risk).

IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements

Adaptations

The group boundary is similar to the concept of a group under generally accepted accounting practice, but it is based on direct control and not on strategic control. Direct control will normally be evidenced by the States, Council of Ministers or a Minister exercising in year control over operating practices, income, expenditure, assets or liabilities of the entity.

Chapter  4 provides  guidance  on  the  departmental  accounting boundary and application of consolidation standards.

IFRS 11 Joint Arrangements

Adaptations

Where one entity has an investment in a second entity that does not meet the criteria for consolidation, it should be treated as an investment in the States of Jersey consolidated financial statements. Investments in other entities should be accounted for following the requirements of IAS 39. Chapter  4 provides  guidance  on  the  departmental  accounting boundary and application of consolidation standards.

IFRS 12 Disclosure in Interests of Other Entities

Adaptations

Disclosures of interests in other entities will be subject to the adaptations for departments and agencies to IFRS 10, IFRS 11, IAS 27 and IAS 28. Chapter  4 provides  guidance  on  the  departmental  accounting boundary and application of consolidation standards.

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Adaptations

Where by statute or Treasury consent, an entity is permitted to retain the revenue from taxation, fines and penalties, this revenue shall be treated as arising from a contract and accounted for under IFRS 15 (15a).

However, where entities receive revenue through taxation, fines and penalties which is wholly non-refundable and leads to no obligations, entities are not required to wait until all, or substantially all, of the promised revenue has been received to recognise the revenue. In these instances entities should recognise revenue when an equivalent to a taxable event has occurred, the revenue can be measured reliably, and it is probable that the assisted economic benefits from the taxable event will flow to the collecting entity. All these elements are required to be satisfied.

Interpretations

Upon transition, the following accounting policy choice to retrospectively restate in accordance with IAS 8 has been withdrawn. All entities applying the FReM shall recognise the difference between the previous carrying amount and the carrying amount at the beginning on the annual reporting period that includes the date of initial application in the opening general fund  within  taxpayers'  equity  (or  other  component  of  equity,  as appropriate) per IFRS 15 C3(b). In using this transition approach

The election to apply this Standard retrospectively only to contracts that are not completed contracts at the date of initial application should be exercised.

 

 

IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements

Interpretations

  1. References to 'present fairly' and to 'fair presentation' should be read to mean 'give a true and fair view' and 'truthful and fair presentation' to comply with the requirements of the UK Companies Act 2006.
  2. In  addition  to naming  the  legislative  authority  for  producing  the accounts,  the  notes  to the accounts  shall  disclose  the  basis  of preparation of the financial statements as being in accordance with this Manual as follows:

"The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the States of Jersey Financial Reporting Manual (JFReM) issued by Treasurer of the States in order to meet the requirements of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2005/2019. The accounting policies contained in the JFReM apply International Financial Reporting Standards as adapted or interpreted for the public sector in Jersey. The JFReM applicable to the [financial year] financial year is based on the UK Financial Reporting Manual for the UK financial year ending 31 March [year].

Where the JFReM permits a choice of accounting policy, the accounting policy which is judged to be most appropriate to the particular circumstances of the States of Jersey for the purpose of giving a true and fair view has been selected. The particular policies adopted the States of Jersey are described below. They have been applied consistently in dealing with items that are considered material to the accounts."

  1. Going concern is interpreted for the public sector context

for  non-trading  entities,  the  anticipated  continuation  of  the provision of a service in the future, as evidenced by inclusion of financial provision for that service in published documents, is normally sufficient evidence of going concern. However, a trading entity needs to consider whether it is appropriate to continue to prepare its financial statements on a going concern basis where it is being, or is likely to be, wound up, and

Where an entity ceases to exist, it should consider whether or not its services will continue to be provided (using the same assets, by another public sector entity) in determining whether to use the concept of going concern for the final set of financial statements.

If an entity considers that its accounts should not be prepared in accordance with the going concern principle it should provide an explanation to the Treasurer of the States in advance of making the change.

If a non-departmental entity has adopted the going concern basis of accounting where this might be called into doubt, for example where there are significant net liabilities, they must provide an explanation to the Treasurer of the States of why they consider that this approach is appropriate.

  1. IAS 1 requires entities to prepare a Statement of Comprehensive Income.  The  States  of  Jersey  shall  prepare  a  Statement  of Comprehensive Net Expenditure.
  1. The financing of public sector entities is ultimately tax-based and an IAS 1-based notion of capital does not apply to many of them. Capital disclosures should be given only where this is appropriate to the States of Jersey.
  2. The flexibility provided in IAS 1 to select the order of presentation of line items on the Statement of Financial Position and to present on a liquidity basis is withdrawn.

Chapter 5 provides application guidance on the form and content of the  annual  report  and  accounts  and  additional  reporting requirements.

IAS 2 Inventories

 

 

Interpretations

In  addition  to  the  types  of  inventories  identified  in  IAS  2,  central government  has  categories  of  inventories  for  which  IAS  2  may  not adequately cover the accounting treatment.

Chapter 5 provides guidance on the treatment of stockpile goods and military reserve inventories; confiscated, seized and forfeited property; and goods held under price support programmes.

IAS 10 Events after the Reporting Period

Interpretations

The  date  of  the  Accountable  Officer's  authorisation  for  issue  of  the financial statements of the reporting entities covered by this Manual is normally the same as the date of the Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General. The date of authorisation for issue must be included in the Annual Report and Accounts, but not on the title page.

IAS 16 Property, Plant and Equipment

Adaptations

IAS 16 is adapted to specify the following valuation bases for property, plant and equipment:

- Assets which are held for their service potential (i.e. operational assets) and are in use should be measured at current value in existing use. For non-specialised assets current value in existing use should be interpreted as market value for existing use. In the RICS Red Book, this is defined as Existing Use Value (EUV). For specialised  assets  current  value  in  existing  use  should  be interpreted as the present value of the asset's remaining service potential.

- Assets which were most recently held for their service potential but are surplus should be valued at current value in existing use as above if there are restrictions on the entity or the asset which would prevent access to the market at the reporting date. If the entity could access the market then the surplus asset should be valued at fair value using IFRS 13.

- Assets which are not held for their service potential should be valued in accordance with IFRS 5 or IAS 40 depending on whether the asset is actively held for sale. Where such assets are surplus and do not fall within the scope of IFRS 5 or IAS 40, they should be valued at fair value applying IFRS 13.

Interpretations

  1. All tangible non-current assets shall be carried at fair value at the reporting date – that is, the option given in IAS 16 to measure at cost has been withdrawn, as has the option to value only certain classes of assets.
  2. It is not necessary to disclose the historical cost carrying amounts (where available).

Chapter 5 provides additional guidance on asset valuations and additional interpretations for applying IAS 16 to heritage assets. Further application guidance on accounting for heritage assets, networked assets and PPP arrangements, including PFI is included in chapter 7. Further guidance of capital accounting is provided in the Capital Accounting Manual.

IAS 19 Employee Benefits

Interpretations

(1)  Recognition of pension schemes: Public Employees Pension Fund (PEPF) and Jersey Teachers Superannuation Fund (JTSF)

The  PEPF  comprises  a  final-salary  section  known  as  the  Public Employees Contributory Retirement Scheme (PECRS) and a career average section known as the Public Employees' Pension Scheme (PEPS).

 

 

 

Whilst  the  schemes  characterise  the  benefits  that  members  can receive, they are not conventional defined benefit schemes as the employer is not responsible for meeting any past service deficiency in the schemes.

Regulations and communications to scheme members clearly state that benefits are dependent on the financial position of the pension funds remaining satisfactory – they are not guaranteed. If there is a deficit in the funds, employee benefits may be reduced in order to bring the funds back to a balanced position. Whilst employer contributions could  be  increased  to  meet  scheme  deficits,  the  possibility  is considered  remote  and  within  the  employer's  control  with  an employers contribution cap in legislation in the case of PEPF.

The characteristics of the schemes leave them open to interpretation against the definitions in IAS 19. Based on the limitations to employer liabilities identified above, IAS 19 is being interpreted to recognised these schemes as defined contribution schemes.

  1. IAS 19 requires the present value of defined benefit obligations (and, if applicable) the fair value of the plan's assets to be determined with sufficient  regularity  that  the  amounts  recognised  in the  financial statements  do  not  differ  materially  from  those  determined  at  the reporting period date. This shall be interpreted tomean that the period between  formal  actuarial  valuations  shall be  four  years,  with approximate  assessments  in  intervening  years.  Acceptable approximations shall include adjusting full valuation results using the latest available membership data.
  2. Voluntary early retirements under scheme rules will be discounted at the pensions rate and not at the provisions rate.

IAS 20 Accounting for Government Grants and Disclosure of Government Assistance

Interpretations

  1. The option provided in IAS 20 to offset a grant for acquisitions of an asset against the cost of the asset has been withdrawn.
  2. The option provided in IAS20to defer grant income relating to an asset is restricted to income where the funder imposes a condition. Where assets are financed by government grant or donation, the funding  element  is  recognised  as  income  and  taken  through  the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure. To defer this income, a condition imposed by the funder must be: a requirement that the future  economic  benefits  embodied  in  the  grant/donation  are consumed as specified by the grantor/donor or must be returned to them, e.g. a grant that is conditional on the construction of an asset.
  3. A grant, contribution or donated asset may be received subject to a condition that it be returned to the transferor if a specified future event does or does not occur (for example, a grant may need to be returned if the entity ceases to use the asset purchased with that grant for a purpose specified by the transferor). In these cases, a return obligation does not arise until such time as it is expected that the condition will be breached and a liability is not recognised until that time. Such conditions do not prevent the grant, contribution or donated asset being recognised as income in the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure.

IAS 21 The Effects of Changes in Foreign Exchange Rates

Interpretations

The presentational currency will be the same as the functional currency i.e. pounds sterling.

IAS 23 Borrowing Costs

 

Interpretations

Borrowing costs in respect of qualifying assets held at fair value shall be expensed.

IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures

Interpretations

  1. For the purposes of IAS 24.9(a), the related party will be one of those defined in paragraph 5.3.8 plus assistant ministers.
  2. The requirement to disclose the compensation paid to management, expense allowances and similar items paid in the ordinary course of an entity's operations will be satisfied by the disclosures made in the notes to the accounts and in the Remuneration Report.
  3. For clarity, transactions between key management personnel and the government in respect of statutory payments such as taxation, duties and contributions are outside of the remit for this disclosure and will not be reported.
  4. In considering materiality, regard should be had to the definition in IAS 1,  which  requires  materiality  to  be judged  "in the surrounding circumstances". Materiality should thus be judged from the viewpoint of both the entity and the related party.

IAS 26 Accounting and Reporting by Retirement Benefit Plans

Adaptations

IAS 26 does not apply to forms of employment benefit other than retirement benefits. However, where schemes currently report separately transactions relating to termination benefits (also known as early departure costs or compensation payments) they should continue to do so. The treatment of such costs will depend on whether the scheme acts as a principal or an agent, and whether or not the early departure costs (however described) are regarded as retirement benefits and included within the pension provision.

IAS 27 Separate Financial Statements

Adaptations

The presentation of separate, non-consolidated financial statements will only be applied in full if the investment has not been designated for consolidation.

IAS 28 Investments in Associates

Adaptations

Where a department has an investment in a public sector entity that has not been designated for consolidation, it should be reported following the requirements of IAS 39.

Chapter  4 provides  guidance  on  the  departmental  accounting boundary and application of consolidation standards.

IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies

Interpretations

As all entities covered by the JFReM have a functional currency of pounds sterling,  the  Treasurer  of  the  States  will  notify  classification  of  the economy as hyperinflationary if appropriate.

IAS 36 Impairments of Assets

Adaptations

References in IAS 36 to the recognition of an impairment loss of a revalued asset being treated as a revaluation decrease to the extent that the impairment does not exceed the amount in the revaluation surplus for the same asset, are adapted such that only those impairment losses that do not result from a clear consumption of economic benefit or reduction of service potential (including as a result of loss or damage resulting from normal business operations) should be taken to the revaluation reserve. Impairment  losses that arise from  a clear consumption of  economic benefit  should  be  taken  to  the  Statement  of  Comprehensive  Net Expenditure.

Interpretations

Where an asset is not held for the purpose of generating cash flows, value in use is assumed to equal the cost of replacing the service potential provided by the asset, unless there has been a reduction in service potential.

Chapter  7 provides  additional  guidance  on  the  classification  of impairments and application guidance.

 

 

IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent Liabilities and Contingent Assets

Interpretations

  1. Where the cash flows to be discounted are expressed in current prices, entities should use the real discount rates set by the Treasurer of the States.
  1. Two specific past service liabilities are recognised on the States of Jersey's Statement of Financial Position;

The  PECRS  Pre-1987  liability  has  been  agreed  in Regulations made in exercise of powers contained in the Public Employees (Retirement) (Jersey) Law 1967 and is revalued annually using an actuary based on relevant input assumptions.

The JTSF Pre-2007 liability has not been set out in legislation yet but is also revalued annually using an actuary based on a simple interest rate increase offset by contributions made during the year.

Both liabilities are serviced by an agreed proportion of the overall contributions paid in to the schemes with the precise mechanism for valuing and repaying the JTSF subject to agreement by the Management Board and employer.

Chapter  3 details additional requirements for remote obligations outside the scope of IAS 37 to be reported to the States.

IAS 38 Intangible Assets

Interpretations

Following the initial recognition of an intangible asset, for subsequent measurement IAS 38 permits the use of either the cost or revaluation model for each class of intangible asset. Where an active (homogenous) market exists, intangible assets should be carried at fair value at the reporting period date – that is, the cost option given in IAS 38 has been withdrawn. Where no active market exists, entities should revalue the asset, using indices or some suitable model, to the lower of depreciated replacement cost and value in use where the asset is income generating. Where  there  is  no  value  in  use,  the  asset  should  be  valued  used depreciated replacement cost. These measures are a proxy for fair value.

IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement

Interpretations

  1. Any financial instrument that is not held in furtherance of the entity's objectives but is held on behalf of government more generally should be  accounted  for  in a  separate  Trust  Statement.  Entities  should discuss such cases with the Treasurer of the States.
  2. Special or golden' shares, being those shares retained in businesses that have been privatised but in which the department wishes to retain a regulatory interest or reserve power, should not be recognised in the Statement of Financial Position.
  3. Where future cash flows are discounted to measure fair value, entities should use the higher of the rate intrinsic to the financial instrument and the real financial instrument discount rate set by the Treasurer of the States as applied to the flows expressed in current prices.

IAS 40 Investment Properties

Interpretations

All investment property should be accounted for under the fair value model – that is, the option given in IAS 40 to adopt the cost model has been withdrawn.

IAS 40 applies in full to all reporting entities covered by this Manual that hold (or are constructing or developing) properties only for the purpose of earning rentals or for capital appreciation or both. If earning rentals were an  outcome  of  a  regeneration  policy,  for  example,  the  properties concerned would be accounted for under IAS 16 and not IAS 40.

 

7 Further guidance on accounting for assets and liabilities

  1. Property, plant and equipment

Valuations (excluding networked assets, donated assets and heritage assets)

  1. In considering how best to apply the valuation requirements of IAS 16so as to ensure that the Statement of Financial Position gives a true and fair view of the value of the assets at the reporting date, entities should consider the following guidance on property and non-property assets. The flowchart at the end of this section will assist in determining the appropriate accounting treatment of PPE excluding networked assets, donated assets and heritage assets. (More detailed guidance is available in the Capital Accounting Manual).
  2. Entities should value their property using the most appropriate valuation methodology. Such methods might include:

a quinquennial valuation supplemented by either annual indexation or regular desktop valuation update;

a quinquennial valuation supplemented by an interim professional valuation in year 3;

annual valuations;

a rolling programme of valuations; or

for non property assets only, appropriate indices.

  1. It is for valuers, using the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors; (RICS) Red Book' (RICS Valuation – Professional Standards), and following discussions with the entity, to determine the most appropriate methodology for obtaining a fair value.
  2. Assets which are held for their service potential (i.e. operational assets used to deliver either front line services or back office functions) should be measured at their current value in existing use. For non-specialised assets current value in existing use should be interpreted as market value in existing use which is defined in the RICS Red Book as Existing Use Value (EUV). For specialised assets current value in existing use should be interpreted as the present value of the assets remaining service potential, which canbe assumed to be at least equal to the cost of replacing that service potential.
  3. Assets which were most recently held for their service potential but are surplus should be valued at current value in existing use as per paragraph 7.1.15 if there are restrictions on the entity or the asset which would prevent access to the market at the reporting date. If the entity could access the market then the surplus asset should be valued at fair value under IFRS 13.
  4. In determining whether an asset which is not in use is surplus, management should assess whether there is a clear planto bring the asset back into future use as an operational asset. Where there is a clear plan, the asset is not surplus and the current value in existing use should be maintained. Otherwise, the asset should be assessed as surplus and valued under IFRS13.
  5. Assets which are not held for their service potential should be valued in accordance with IFRS 5 or IAS 40 depending on whether the asset is actively held for sale.
  1. Where an asset is not being used to deliver services and there is no plan to bring it back into use, with no restrictions on sale, and it does not meet the IAS 40 and IFRS 5 criteria, these assets are surplus and should be valued at fair value using IFRS 13.
  2. Where a valuer, following discussion with the entity, determined that depreciated replacement cost (DRC) is the most appropriate, entities and their valuers should have regard to the guidance contained in the most recent RICS RedBook.
  3. Where DRC is used as the valuation methodology:

entities should normally value a modern equivalent asset in line with the Red Book;

entities should use the instant build' approach;

the choice of an alternative site will normally hinge on the policy in respect of the locational requirements of the service that is being provided.

  1. The cost of enhancements to existing assets (such as building of a new wing within an existing prison) should be capitalised during the construction phase as an asset under construction. At the first valuation after the asset is brought into use, any write down of cost should be treated as an impairment and charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure.
  2. The States of Jersey should:

disclose in the accounting policies note the fact that assets are carried at fair value. Entities should also provide information about the approach to valuing their estates, including a statement (where applicable) that alternative sites have been used in DRC valuations;

disclose in the notes on tangible non-current assets: the date of the last valuations of those property assets that are subject to revaluation, and the names and qualifications of the valuer; and

discuss in the Management Commentary, where they hold extensive estates: their estate management strategy; the indicative alternative use values provided by the valuer as part of the routine valuation work, and what those alternative use values mean.

  1. As part of the Property, Plant and Equipment note entities are required, in the year the asset is acquired, to separately disclose the fair value of those assets funded by capital grant or donation. Where the funder provides cash, rather than the physical assets, any difference between the cash provided and the fair value of the assets acquired should also be disclosed.
  2. Entities may elect to adopt a depreciated historical cost basis as a proxy for fair value for assets that have short useful lives or low values (or both). For depreciated historical cost to be considered as a proxy for fair value, the useful life must be a realistic reflection of the life of the asset and the depreciation method used must provide a realistic reflection of the consumption of that asset class. If depreciated historical cost is used as a proxy for current valuein existing use or fair value then this fact should be disclosed, including the classes of assets where it has been used (where appropriate), the reasons why, and information about any significant estimation techniques (where applicable).

Flowchart of valuation for property, plant and equipment (excluding networked assets, donated assets and heritage assets)

Is the asset held for its  No Is the asset available for  No Is the asset held to earn service potential or was  immediate sale in its  rentals or for capital

it most recently held for  present condition and is a  appreciation or both?

its service potential?  sale highly probable?

 

Yes

 

No

Yes

Apply IFRS 5  Apply IFRS 13 Yes  Measure at lower of its  Apply IFRS 40  Measure at fair

carrying amount before  Measure at fair  value, option for cost classification and fair  value, option for cost  model is withdrawn value less costs to sell model is withdrawn (Surplus category)

No Is there a clear plan to  No Are there restrictions on

Is the asset in use? bring the asset back into  the entity or the asset

use? which prevent access to  No

the market

Yes Yes

Yes

Apply adaptations to IAS 16 Measure at current value in existing use. For non-specialised assets, this will be at market value in existing use. For specialist assets, it will be the present value of the asset's remaining service potential

Networked assets

  1. Networked assets  comprise  assets  that  form  part  of  an  integrated  network  servicing  a significant  geographical  area.  These  assets  usually  display  some  or  all  of  the  following characteristics:

they are part of a system or network;

they are specialised in nature and do not have alternative uses;

they are immovable; and

they may be subject to constraints on disposal.

Examples of networked assets include road networks, sewer systems and sea defences. The road network
  1. Land, Structures and Communications will be accounted for following the guidance in IAS 16.
  1. The road surface asset will be recognised as a single asset following the additional guidance in this manual.
  2. The road surface asset will be held at depreciated replacement cost based on service potential.
  3. Subsequent expenditure on the road surface will be capitalised where it enhances or replaces the service potential. Spending that does not replace or enhance service potential will be expensed.
  4. The annual depreciation charge for the road surface will be the value of the service potential replaced through the maintenance programme plus, or minus, any adjustment resulting from the annual condition survey. The valueof maintenance work undertaken will be used as an indication of the value of the replaced part. Where the condition survey show that deterioration in the road surface exceeds the service potential replaced by the maintenance programme the additional deterioration will be taken to the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure as part of the depreciation charge. Where the condition survey shows that deterioration in the road surface is less than the service potential replaced by the maintenance programme the depreciation charge will be reduced by the excess maintenance.
  5. The road surface will be subject to annual valuations as measured by suitable indices. Upward movements in value will be taken to the revaluation reserve and included in comprehensive net expenditure. Downward movements in value will beset against any credit balance held in the revaluation reserve until this credit is exhausted and thereafter to net operating expenditure.
  6. The road surface will be subject to an annual impairment review. Impairments will be recognised as required by IAS 36 Impairment of Assets as applied by the manual (see section 7.2).
Other Infrastructure
  1. The road accounting methodology detailed above should also be used for the foul and surface water sewerage system and the sea defences network. Where entities hold other networked assets the road surface accounting methodology detailed above may be used where it is appropriate to do so. However approval to use the road surface methodology should first be obtained from Treasurer of the States.

Donated assets

  1. Assets donated by third parties (see also paragraph 7.1.30 on asset transfers), either by gift of the asset or by way of funds to acquire assets should be capitalised at current value in existing use or fair value on receipt depending on whether the assets will be held for their service potential and as set out in paragraphs 7.1.4 to 7.1.7.The funding element should be recognised as income as required by IAS 20 as interpreted in this Manual.
  2. To qualify for treatment as a donated asset there should beno consideration given in return.
  3. Donated assets do not include:
  1. assets financed by States of Jersey Funds;
  2. the subsequent capitalised expenditure on a donated asset which is capitalised;
  3. assets constructed or contributed to by a developer to benefit the developer's business;
  1. assets accepted in lieu of tax.
  1. The assets listed in 7.1.26 should be accounted for in accordance with IAS 16 in the same way as other assets of that general type.
  2. Donated assets should be revalued, depreciated and subject to impairment review in the same way as other non-current assets.
  3. Details of any restrictions or conditions imposed by the donor on the use of the donated asset should be disclosed in a note to the financial statements.

Asset transfers

  1. Entities may give or receive assets to/from another public sector body (including public sector bodies not covered by the requirements of this Manual) for no consideration. Assets acquired in this way will normally be recognised in accordance with IAS 20 as interpreted in this Manual. Entities should consult the Treasurer of the States before entering into such a transaction.

Heritage assets

Definition
  1. A heritage asset is a tangible asset with historical, artistic, scientific, technological, geophysical or environmental qualities that is held and maintained principally for its contribution to knowledge and culture. Heritage assets are those assets that are intended to be preserved in trust for future generations because of their cultural, environmental or historical associations. They are held by the reporting entity in pursuit of its overall objectives in relation to the maintenance of the heritage. Non-operational assets are those that are held primarily for this purpose. Operational heritage assets are those that, in addition to being held for their characteristics as part of the nation's heritage, are also used by the reporting entity for other activities or to provide other services (the most common example being buildings).
  2. The entity holding the asset should attest annually to the ongoing heritage credentials of its heritage assets. Heritage assets include historical buildings, archaeological sites, military and scientific equipment of historical importance, museum and gallery collections and works of art.
  3. In principle, heritage assets should be accounted for in the same way as any other asset under IAS 16. There are, however, certain characteristics associated with heritage assets that give rise to the need for interpretation of IAS 16:
  1. Their value to government and the public in cultural, environmental, educational and historical terms is unlikely to be fully reflected in a financial value derived from a market mechanism or price.
  2. Established custom and, in many cases, primary statute and trustee obligations impose prohibitions or severe restrictions on disposal by sale.
  3. They are often irreplaceable and their value may increase over time even if their physical condition deteriorates.
  4. They may require significant maintenance expenditure so that they can continue to be enjoyed by future generations.
  5. Their life might be measured in hundreds of years.
  1. Antiques and other works of arts held by reporting entities outside the main collections should be classified as heritage assets only when they fulfil the above requirements. Otherwise, antiques and other works of art should be accounted for in the same way as other assets.
Recognition and measurement
  1. Operational heritage assets should be valued in the same way as other assets of that general type (buildings, for example).
  2. Non-operational heritage assets should be valued subject to the requirements set out in paragraphs 7.1.36 to 7.1.39 below.
  3. Where information is available on the cost or fair value of heritage assets:
  1. they should be presented in the Statement of Financial Position separately from other tangible assets;
  2. the Statement of Financial Position or the notes to the accounts should identify separately those classes of heritage assets being reported at cost and those at fair value; and
  3. changes in the valuation should be recognised in the Other Comprehensive Expenditure section of the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure, except impairment losses that should be recognised in accordance with section 7.2 of this Manual.
  1. The accounting convention in this manual is to recognise non-current assets at either current value in existing use or fair value but, where exceptionally, it is not practicable to obtain a fair value, the heritage assets may be reported at historical cost.
  2. Where assets have previously been capitalised or are recently purchased, information on their cost or fair value will be available. Where this information is not available, and cannot be obtained at a cost commensurate with the benefits to users of the financial statements, the assets will not be recognised in the Statement of Financial Position and the disclosure required by this manual should be made.
  3. Valuations may be made by any method that is appropriate and relevant. There is no requirement for valuations to be carried out or verified by external valuers, nor is there any prescribed minimum period between valuations. However, where heritage assets are reported at valuation, the carrying amount should be reviewed with sufficient frequency to ensure the valuations remain current.
Depreciation and impairment
  1. Depreciation is not required on heritage assets which have indefinite lives.
  2. The carrying amount of an asset should be reviewed where there is evidence of impairment, for example, where it has suffered physical deterioration or breakage or new doubts arise as to its authenticity. Any impairment recognised should be dealt with  in accordance with the recognition and measurement requirements of IAS 36 Impairment of Assetsin section 7.2.
Donations
  1. The receipt of donations of heritage assets should be recognised as income and taken through the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure where there are no conditions specifically relating to the operating activities of the entity or recognised as deferred income in the Statement of Financial Position. Where exceptionally, it is not practicable to obtain a valuation for a donated heritage asset, the reasons why should be stated. Disclosures should also be provided on the nature and extent of significant donations.
Disclosures
  1. The disclosures required for heritage assets are set out below and apply to all heritage assets:
  1. The States of Jersey's financial statements should contain an indication of the nature and scale of heritage assets held by the entity;
  2. The financial statements should set out the States' policy for the acquisition, preservation, management and disposal of heritage assets. This should include a description of the records maintained by the States of its collection of heritage assets and information on the extent to which access to the assets is permitted. The information required by this paragraph may alternatively be provided in a document that is cross- referenced from the financial statements;
  3. The accounting policies adopted for the States' holding of heritage assets should be stated, including details of the measurement bases used;
  4. For heritage assets that are not reported in the Statement of Financial Position, the reasons why should be explained and the notes to the financial statements should explain the significance and nature of those assets that are not reported in the Statement of Financial Position; and
  5. The disclosures relating to assets that are not reported in the Statement of Financial Position should aim to ensure that, when read in the context of information about capitalised assets, the financial statements provide useful and relevant information about the entity's overall holding of heritage assets.
  1. Where heritage assets are reported in the Statement of Financial Position, the following should be disclosed:
  1. the carrying amount of heritage assets at the beginning of the financial period and at the Statement of Financial Position date, including an analysis between those classes or groups of heritage assets that are reported at cost and those that are reported at valuation; and
  2. where assets are reported at valuation, sufficient information to assist in an understanding of the valuations being reported and their significance.

This should include:

  1. the date of the valuation;
  2. the methods used to produce the valuation;
  3. whether the valuation was carried out by external valuers and, where this is the case, the valuer's name and professional qualification, if any; and
  4. any significant limitations on the valuation.
  1. An example of a limitation to be disclosed under paragraph 7.1.44 (ii) d) would be where an asset has a particular provenance, the effect of which is not fully captured by valuation.
  2. Information that is available to the entity and is helpful in assessing the value of those heritage assets that are not reported in the entity's Statement of Financial Position should be disclosed.
  3. The financial statements should contain a summary of transactions relating to heritage assets disclosing, for the accounting period and each of the previous four accounting periods:
  1. the cost of acquisitions of heritage assets;
  2. the value of heritage assets acquired by donation;
  3. the carrying amount of heritage assets disposed of in the period and the proceeds received; and
  4. any impairment recognised in the period.

This summary should show separately transactions in assets that are reported in the Statement of Financial Position and those that are not.

  1. The disclosures required by paragraphs 7.1.43 to 7.1.47 may be presented in aggregate for groups or classes of heritage assets provided this aggregation does not obscure significant information. Separate disclosures should be provided for those assets reported at cost and those reported at valuation. Amounts in respect of assets that are not reported in the Statement of Financial Position should not be aggregated with amounts for assets that are recognised at cost or valuation.

Accounting for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements, including Private Finance Initiative (PFI) contracts, under IFRS

  1. This section of the Manual deals with the accounting treatment of PPP arrangements, including PFI contracts, that meet the definition of service concession arrangements in IFRIC 12 Service Concession Arrangements. To be within the scope of IFRIC 12, the service concession arrangement must contractually oblige the private sector operator to provide the services related to the infrastructure to the public on behalf of the grantor (the public sector) (IFRIC 12.3). Contracts that do not involve the transfer or creation ofan infrastructure asset for the purpose of the contract fall outside the scope of IFRIC 12, as do arrangements that do not involve the delivery of services to the public. Examples of infrastructure for public services are: roads, bridges, tunnels, prisons, hospitals, airports, water distribution facilities, telecommunication networks, permanent installations for military etc. operations, and non- current assets used for administrative purposes in delivering services to the public.
  2. The private sector operator will apply IFRIC 12 to those arrangements where:
  1. the grantor controls or regulates what services the operator must provide with the infrastructure, to whom it must provide them and at what price; and
  2. the grantor controls through beneficial entitlement or otherwise any significant residual interest in the infrastructure at the end of the term of the arrangement.

Where the infrastructure asset is used for its entire useful life, and there is little or no residual interest, the arrangement would fall within the scope of IFRIC 12 where the grantor controls or regulates the services as described in the first condition (see also IFRIC 12.6). Significant residual interest will exist where the grantor is contractually required to purchase the infrastructure asset at the end of the term of the arrangement.

  1. IFRIC 12 (Application Guidance paragraph 3) notes that, in determining the applicability of the first condition, non-substantive features (such as price capping that would apply only in remote circumstances) should be ignored and the substance of the arrangement considered.
  2. IFRIC 12, including the Appendices, Information Notes, Illustrative Examples and Basis for Conclusions, provides guidance on how to apply IFRS to service concession arrangements. IFRIC 12 does not create exceptions from other IFRS for transactions that are within service concession arrangements, other than as specifically stated in IFRIC 12. Issues not addressed explicitly in this section of the Manual should be resolved by reference to other IFRS. IFRIC 12 applies to:

arrangements where the infrastructure is used for its entire useful life;

infrastructure that the operator constructs or acquires from a third party; and

infrastructure that the grantor provides to the operator for the purpose of the concession.

IFRIC 12 does not specify the accounting for infrastructure that was held and recognised as an asset by the operator prior to entering the arrangement (IFRIC 12.6-8). This is because the operator would de-recognise the asset under IAS 16. Paragraph 7.1.48 interprets IFRIC 12 for the public sector by including an asset previously owned by the operator within the criteria for recognising the arrangement as a service concession. The flowchart overleaf will assist in determining the appropriate accounting treatment of PPP arrangements, including PFI contracts by public sector grantors.

Flowchart of accounting for PPP arrangements

Does the grantor control or regulate

what services the operator must  No  Does the arrange- No  Grantor provide with the infrastructure,  ment contain a lease  recognises Yes

Yes

Does the grantor control through  No

ownership, beneficial entitlement or  Grantor recognises

otherwise, any significant residual  lease in accordance

Yes

Is the infrastructure constructed or  The infrastructure is acquired by the operator from a  No  the existing

third party for the purpose of the  infrastructure of the grantor to which the

operator is given Yes

Yes

Report property as asset and related liability. Separate the unitary payment stream between the property element, the interest charge and service element either


The grantor continues to recognise the infrastructure on balance sheet as property, plant and equipment (IAS 16) or as a leased asset (IAS 17).

Initial recognition and measurement of assets and liabilities in new arrangements and contracts
  1. Where there is infrastructure, whether previously owned by the contractor or the grantor, or constructed or acquired from a third party for the purpose of the service arrangement, and the grantor:
  1. Controls or regulates what services the operator must provide with the infrastructure, to whom it must provide them and at what price; and
  2. Controls through beneficial entitlement or otherwise, any significant residual interest in the infrastructure at the end of the term of the arrangement (or there is no residual interest),

then the PPP arrangement or PFI contract is a service concession within the meaning of IFRIC 12 from the grantor's viewpoint.

  1. The grantor should recognise the infrastructure as a non-current asset and value it in the same way as other non-current assets of that generic type. The asset will be recognised when:
  1. it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the asset will flow to the organisation; and
  2. the cost of the asset can be measured reliably.

The grantor should consider the asset recognition criteria, together with the specific terms and conditions of the binding arrangement, when determining whether to recognise the service concession asset during the period in which the asset is constructed or developed. If the asset recognition criteria have been met a work-in-progress service concession asset and associated liability should be recognised. If not and the grantor makes contributions to the operator in advance of the asset coming into use, the grantor should account for those payments as prepayments.

Subsequent measurement
  1. The asset will be measured in one of two ways:
  1. where the contract is separable between the service element, the interest charge and the infrastructure asset (see also paragraph 7.1.56), the asset will be initially measured following the guidance in IAS 17, with the service element and the interest charge recognised as incurred over the term of the concession arrangement (the subsequent measurement should be subject to the guidance of IAS 16); or
  2. where there is a unitary payment stream that includes infrastructure and service elements that cannot be separated, the various elements will be separated using estimation techniques as set out in paragraph 7.1.57.
  1. The grantor should separate out the service, interest and infrastructure elements. A contract may be separable in a variety of circumstances, including but not limited to the following:
  1. the contract identifies an element of a payment stream that varies according to the availability of the property itself and another element that varies according to usage or performance of certain services;
  2. different parts of the contract run for different periods or can be terminated separately. For example, an individual service element can be terminated without affecting the continuation of the rest of the contract; or
  3. different parts of the contract can be renegotiated separately. For example, a service element is market tested and some or all of the cost increases or reductions are passed on to the grantor in such a way that the part of the payment by the grantor that relates specifically to that service canbe identified.
  1. In situations where it is not possible to separate the contract due to commercial reality, the service element of the payments must be estimated, which could be achieved by obtaining information from the operator or by using the fair value approach. The fair value of the asset determines the amount tobe recorded as an asset with an offsetting liability. The total unitary payment is then divided into three: the service charge element, repayment of the capital element of the contract obligation and the interest expense onit (using the interest rate implicit in the contract).
  1. For both existing and new contracts, where it is not practicable to determine the interest rate implicit in the contract, the grantor shall use its cost of capital rate (including inflation). It is expected that this situation would be rare. The rate should not be changed unless the infrastructure element or the whole of the contract is renegotiated.
  2. Under either approach, the grantor will recognise a liability for the capital value of the contract. That liability does not include the interest charge and service elements, which are expensed annually to the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure.
  3. Entities should adopt an appropriate asset revaluation approach as set out earlier in this chapter. Liabilities will be measured using the appropriate discount rate, taking account of the reduction arising from the capital payments included in the unitary payment stream.
  4. Revenue received under any revenue sharing provision in the service concession arrangement should be recognised when all the conditions as laid down in IAS 18 have been satisfied.
  5. The grantor should recognise any guarantees to the operator that it will meet any shortfalls in revenue or repay the debt if the operator defaults in line with the requirements of IAS 32 and IAS 39.
  6. The grantor should derecognise a non-current asset provided to the operator (and not used in the arrangement) and recognise any consideration received at fair value. If the consideration received is in the form of a reduction in future payments, this should be recognised as an asset representing a reduction in the future liability (normally as a prepayment).
Disclosure
  1. The disclosure requirements in respect of PPP arrangements, including PFI contracts, are set out in chapter 5 of this manual.
  1. Impairments
  1. Where the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its recoverable amount departments will recognise an impairment loss. Departments need to establish whether any of the impairment loss is as a result of:

Consumption of economic benefit or reduction in service potential, or;

A change in market price.

  1. A fall in value relating to a consumption of economic benefit or reduction in service potential is always taken to the SoCNE. A fall in value relating to changes in market price should first be offset against a revaluation reserve for the asset in question if there is one, and once that element of the reserve is exhausted the fall in value should be taken to the SoCNE.
  2. Examples of impairments resulting from a consumption of economic benefit or reduction in service potential include losses as a result of loss or damage, abandonment of projects, gold plating and use of the asset for a lower specification purpose.
  1. In preparation for planned changes to the States of Jersey budgeting regime, entities are required to classify impairments on the following basis: certain impairments will score as Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) and others as Annually Managed Expenditure (AME). The budgeting treatment does not influence the accounting treatment, but entities might wish to consider whether information about the type and cause of impairment could usefully be included in the relevant notes to the accounts. Impairment categories are defined below.
  2. Where an asset has been impaired due to a clear consumption of economic benefit or reduction in service potential, any balance on any revaluation reserve (up to the level of the impairment) to which the impairment would have been charged under IAS 36 should be transferred to the general fund. This ensures that the outcome as reflected in the reserves figure on the Statement of Financial Position is consistent with the requirements of IAS 36 had the FReM adaptation of IAS 36 not been applied
  3. 7.3.6 The capitalised development expenditure that is directly linked to a tangible noncurrent asset should be impaired only where the tangible non-current asset becomes impaired. Where the intangible asset relates to a group of tangible non-current assets, any impairment will be charged only where the entire group is impaired and will be proportionate to the impairment ofthe group of tangible assets.
  1. Inventories
  1. In addition to the types of inventories identified inIAS2, the States has categories of inventories for which IAS 2 may not adequately cover the accounting treatment.
Stockpile goods
  1. Stockpile goods may be defined as strategic materials held for use in national defence and national emergencies. They can be further categorised as:
  1. non-current assets, which should be accounted for in the same way as other assets of the same type; or
  2. other non-deteriorable and deteriorable inventories. Other inventories should be accounted for under IAS 2.
Confiscated, seized and forfeited property
  1. Seized assets should be recognised at current value when legal ownership is transferred to the States of Jersey. Assets that are held before the point at which legal ownership has been transferred should be treated as third party assets.
  2. The proceeds of items sold to satisfy outstanding tax liabilities, net of sale expenses, should be treated in the same way as other taxation receipts.
Goods held under price support and stabilisation programmes (intervention stocks)
  1. Intervention buying is a method of supporting market prices for certain agricultural commodities. Purchased stocks are valued at cost, adjusted by any depreciation or revaluation to bring them into line with market values.
Unissued Currency
  1. Unissued Currency should be recognised at cost.
Inventories held for distribution at no/nominal charge and inventories held for consumption in the production process of goods to be distributed at no/nominal charge
  1. Inventories held for distribution at no/nominal charge and inventories held for consumption in the production process of goods to be distributed at no/nominal charge should be measured at the lower of cost and current replacement cost.
  2. A public sector entity may hold inventories whose future economic benefits or service potential are not directly related to their ability to generate net cash inflows. These types of inventories may arise when the public sector entity has determined to distribute certain goods at no charge or for a nominal amount. In these cases, the future economic benefits or service potential of the inventory for financial reporting purposes is reflected by the amount the entity would need to pay to acquire the economic benefits or service potential if this was necessary to achieve the objectives of the entity. Where the economic benefits or service potential cannot be acquired in the market, an estimate of replacement cost will need to be made.

8 Further guidance on accounting for income and

expenditure

  1. Income

Operating and non-operating income

  1. Operating income is any income generated by an entity in pursuit of its activities (generally referred to as fees and charges) or as part of managing its affairs (examples include rents, interest and dividends receivable). Proceeds arising from the sale of investments and non- current assets are accounted for as non-operating income.

Retainable and non-retainable income

  1. All income should be recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure. Only income that can be retained and set against resource or capital budgets should be recorded in the Statement of Outturn against Approvals.

Taxes and duties

  1. Taxes and duties are economic benefits compulsorily paid or payable to public sector entities, in accordance with laws and regulations established to provide revenue to the government, excluding fines or other penalties imposed for breaches of laws or regulations.
  2. In preparing their financial statements, entities will not recognise or measure the "tax gap". The "tax gap" is defined as the difference between the hypothetical amounts of revenue due, based on data on economic activity, and revenue receivable. Revenues receivable include both the tax yield from compliant taxpayers and estimates of amounts expected to be paid from non- compliant, but known, taxpayers. Where taxes and duties are material, a statement should be included in the accounting policies note that the "tax gap" is not recognised in the financial statements.
  3. Where taxes and duties are recognised on an accrual basis, they will be measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, net of repayments. Revenue is recognised when a taxable event has occurred, the revenue can be measured reliably and it is probable that the economic benefits from the taxable event will flow to the collecting entity. All these elements are required to be satisfied. In the case of personal income tax, taxation income will be recognised on an accruals basis based on a reliable estimate. Companies tax will be recognised in the year company tax returns are due based on completed assessments, returns by companies where assessments are not complete or appropriate estimates of their liability in the absence of a return.

Fines and penalties

  1. Fines and penalties are economic benefits paid or payable to government for breaches of laws or regulations where there is a statutory obligation to pay.
  1. Fines and penalties are recognised at the time that the fine or penalty is imposed and becomes receivable by the entity. Where, on appeal, or for other legal reasons, the penalty is cancelled, the amount receivable is derecognised at the date of the successful appeal. Where a financial penalty is imposed, but with an alternative of a non-financial penalty, the financial penalty is recognised initially, but is derecognised when (and if) the option of the non-financial penalty is taken up.
  2. Where fines and penalties are uncollectible or, for policy reasons, (other than the imposition of an alternative penalty), the entity decides that it is inappropriate to pursue collection, the amounts not collected are recorded as an expense. The amounts not collectible are estimated from the most appropriate data available to the entity.

Non-exchange income

  1. IFRS 15 does not apply to non-exchange transactions such as taxation, fines and penalties. These transactions are covered in IFRS 15 paragraph 15. It states that when a contract with a customer  does  not  meet  the  criteria  in IFRS 15  paragraph  9  and  an  entity  receives consideration from the customer, the entity shall recognise the consideration received as revenue only when either of the following events has occurred:

the entity has no remaining obligations to transfer goods or services to the customer and all, or substantially all, of the consideration promised by the customer has been received by the entity and is non-refundable; or

the contract has been terminated and the consideration received from the customer is non-refundable

Non-exchange income will be accounted for on an accruals basis, provided that a reasonable estimate of that income can be determined.

  1. For the sake of clarity, the following types of income will be classified as non-exchange income, and accounted for in the following way:

 

Revenue type

Recognition point

Social Security Contributions, Long-term Care Contributions and Personal income tax

Accrued for in the year the assessable income is earned.

Corporation tax

Year after assessable income is earned based on company returns.

Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Stamp Duty

Accrued for in the year the taxable activity occurs.

Impôts Duties

When the goods are landed in Jersey.

Island rates

Accrued in the year the Island Rates are charged for on a calendar year basis. Income is recognised in the period for which the rates are charged.

Fines and penalties

Accrued for when the fines and penalties are imposed.

Earned through operations

  1. Revenue from sale of goods and services is measured based on the fair value of the consideration specified in a contract with a customer and excludes amounts collected on behalf of third parties. The States recognises revenue when it transfers control over a product or service to a customer. Grants and similar financing for capital items, to the extent that they have not been eliminated on consolidation, are recognised immediately in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Net Expenditure unless it is likely that the grant will need to be repaid, in which case the grant is deferred in the Statement of Financial Position.

Presentation

  1. Where revenue from taxes, duties fines and penalties is material to the entity, it shall prepare a trust statement containing details of the material income, expenditure, assets, liabilities and cash flows detailed in a Statement of Revenue, Other Income and Expenditure, a Statement of Financial Position and a Statement of Cash Flows, together with supporting notes to those primary statements, to give a true and fair view of the statement of affairs relating to the collection and allocation of taxes, duties fines and penalties and any other revenues and related expenditure.
  2. Where revenue from taxes, duties, fines and penalties is not material to the entity, it need not prepare the trust statement set out in the preceding paragraph, but may do so if it provides a clearer interpretation of the state of affairs. Where the entity does not produce the statements in the preceding paragraph, it shall set out in a note to the accounts details of the amounts collected and surrendered or otherwise expended (but shall not include them in its statement of income and expenditure) and of the amounts receivable and payable at the end of the reporting period.

Disclosures

  1. An entity shall disclose:

in the notes to the trust statement, the main accounting policies, estimates and judgements used to assess tax income, expenditure, assets and liabilities, including any provision created in respect of tax, fines or penalties deemed uncollectible;

in the notes to the trust statement, a statement of those taxes reported on an accruals basis and those on a cash basis; and

any additional supporting information which might aid the understanding of users of the accounts. This will include the following where material:

  • Details of fraud, evasion and error;
  • Accounting estimates of accrued tax revenue; and
  • Credit risk disclosures relating to debt write-offs, remissions and overdue debt.
  1. Expenditure

Grant expenditure

  1. Expenditure in respect of grants or subsidy claims should be recognised in financial statements at the time of the underlying event or activity that gives rise to a liability.

Insurance claims

  1. Expenditure that is subject to an insurance claim should be recorded gross in the accounts. Any receipt from insurers should be shown as income.

Appendix 1-Choosing what to publish and how to publish it

1 Choosing what to publish and how to publish it

  1. Figures 1 and 2 give a two-part decision tree to support those considering whether to publish additional information in the annual report and accounts. The set of questions in Figure 1 help determine whether information should be published, and those in Figure 2 help determine whether a given report is the right place for that publication.
  2. When deciding whether to include information in the Performance Report and Accountability Report, the States of Jersey must consider whether the information is material to the primary users of the annual report and accounts and determine the appropriate level of information to disclose in relation to the given matter. As noted in section 2.2.3 of the JFReM, the primary users of government annual reports and accounts are the States Assembly.
  3. Information is material if its omission or misrepresentation could reasonably be expected to influence the decisions primary users take on the basis of the annual report as a whole. As a general principle the States of Jersey should disclose material financial and non-financial information in the annual report and accounts that is necessary for the understanding of the performance and accountability of the entity irrespective of whether there is an explicit disclosure requirement in statute or in this Manual.

Figure 1: Disclosure decision tree part 1.

  1. Due to the nature of the information contained in the Performance Report and Accountability Report, qualitative factors will often have a greater influence on what is material in the context of these reports, particularly in relation to nonfinancial information.
  2. The States of Jersey may consider the following questions when deciding whether information is material:

What types of information are likely to influence the decisions of the primary users of the annual report and accounts?

For any given matter, what is the appropriate context for assessing materiality?

When do non-financial issues become qualitatively material?

  1. The use of terms such as to the extent necessary for an understanding of' or principal' mean materiality judgements can be made to disclosure requirements.
  2. For example, para 5.3.24 of this Manual sets out the minimum disclosure requirements for the Staff Report to be included in the States of Jersey annual report. Materiality cannot be applied to these requirements and must be included. The States of Jersey can apply materiality judgements to determine what risks are material to understanding the performance of the Group.
  3. As per Figure 1 above, there are exceptional cases where information is not accurate or reliable and should not be reported. Where relevant, the governance statement should acknowledge this and identify the steps that are being taken to improve data collection and disclosure, as well when reliable data will be made available.

2 How you present what you publish

  1. Transparency, and therefore accountability, depends not just on how much data is published but on how it is turned into information that readers can understand. Making reports longer can make them unreadable and obscure information which is material to the primary users of the accounts. Too much information can be difficult to absorb, and as unhelpful or misleading as too little information would be.
  2. Though an annual report contains information which has differing objectives, the entity should aim to present the annual report as a cohesive document and link related information together. Where information relevant in one part of the annual report and accounts is included elsewhere in the annual report and accounts, the entity should use cross-refencing and avoid duplicating information. Where cross referencing is used, the entity may wish to explain the nature of the relationship or interdependency, rather than just highlighting the existence of the relationship or interdependency.
  3. The annual report should highlight and explain linkages between pieces of information presented within the annual report and accounts. While each component of the annual report is independently useful, more valuable insight can be provided where linkages between information in the annual report and accounts is explained.

Figure 2: Disclosure decision tree part 2

  1. Government annual reports should be trustworthy and transparent. The Principal Accountable Officer and Treasurer are responsible for ensuring that, taken as a whole, they are fair, balanced, and understandable. A financial report that only tells only the good news may undermine readers' trust, even if what is reported is accurate.
  2. Two useful questions to help those preparing annual reports to assess them for balance are:

Is this report complete? That is, does it refer to everything that is relevant?

Does this report put the information it contains into full context?

  1. Appendix 5 of this Manual provides more guidance on best practice in narrative reporting

3 Balancing cost and usefulness in reporting

  1. Every disclosure in a set of annual reports and accounts comes with a cost. Relevant authorities consider the cost of reporting when interpreting or adapting reporting standards and developing guidance. All government bodies have a duty to use public resources well, and Accounting Officers should therefore also consider value for money when making the judgements about financial reporting that fall into their remit.
  2. However, the reporting entity is not permitted to disregard mandatory reporting requirements due to value for money concerns. Instead, any such concerns should be raised with the appropriate relevant authority.
  3. In rare circumstances, if cost is the reason given for not following best practice in a comply or explain scenario, the explanation should include enough details to allow a user to understand why best practice, in that instance, would not give value for money.

Appendix 2 – Best practice in narrative reporting

1 Introduction

  1. This chapter gives best practice guidance for developing narrative in States of Jersey financial reporting.
  2. Most financial reports include narrative. In the annual report and accounts, for example, the performance report and accountability report are mostly narrative, and there are extensive notes giving context to the financial statements.
  3. This chapter discusses:

The role of narrative reporting

Balance in narrative reporting

Context and trends

Design choices and graphics

Usability

Using clear English

Handling standardised content with care

2 The role of narrative reporting

  1. Appendix 4 discusses the difference between data, information, and reports. Financial information is used to tell a story, and in a report the role of the narrative is to make that story clear to readers.
  2. The narrative elements of States of Jersey financial reports are crucial for meeting the needs of users, as they provide context and describe the financial information presented. Narrative that is confusing, repetitive, or misleading can undermine the whole purpose of a report.
  3. There is no single right way to prepare the narrative elements of a financial report. Some specific pieces of narrative may be required in a certain format. In most cases, though, mandatory guidance only states what should be included in the narrative, not how to say it. This is because every organisation, situation, and audience is different.

3 Balance in narrative reporting

  1. The narrative is the part of a States of Jersey financial report that shapes its message. Preparers must choose how best to tell the story to achieve a fair, balanced, and understandable report. That can be in words, through images, or through design choices in style and structure.
  2. As the States Assembly is the primary user of a department's annual report and accounts, preparers should consider whether the narrative meets the needs of State Members who might read it. Meeting the requirement for an annual report and accounts is fair, balanced, and understandable is essential to meeting the needs of the States Assembly.
  3. Preparers should also consider each part of the narrative in the context of the report as a whole. When a report is wide-ranging, different authors may draft different sections. The final product should stand as a whole, with the narrative in every section working together to create a single joined-up story.

4 Context and trends

  1. Context is key to understanding what any information in a financial report means. Sharing trend data can help build trust in the information presented. It provides context and can give users confidence that the numbers have not been cherry picked to the benefit of the entity preparing the report.
  1. Showing one prior year comparison helps, but it is best practice to present several years of data. Five years of comparison is a good target for narrative reporting that will make the trend clear. Information may be added year-on-year as it becomes available.
  2. Preparers of annual reports and accounts have a comply or explain requirement to report on trend data in the performance analysis section as set out in section 5.2.8-9 of this Manual. Data trends can also be shared in graphs or tables, or in a footnote, or with a link to another part of a report.
  3. Clear and full explanations can help the user to make connections and understand conclusions. Adding context with both narrative and numbers gives a user the best possible support to understand the story set out in a report.
  4. Information should be specific to the entity- the inclusion of boilerplate information on its own is of limited use to users of the annual report and accounts.

5 Design choices and graphics

  1. The layout and design choices influence how a reader understands a financial report. For example, it is likely that the reader will assume the first item in a list is the most important.
  2. Preparers can use design choices to direct a reader's attention, to put information in context, or to make things easier to grasp. For example, headings and subsections can break up a report and show how one point relates to another.
  3. Graphics are powerful tools for sharing concepts at a glance. They work best when they:
  1. serve a clear purpose
  2. show relationships that are more difficult to describe in words
  3. are properly labelled
  4. are supported by sufficient narrative
  1. Graphics are also more accessible when they rely on shape and layout to tell a story.
  2. Accounts preparers may find the following guide to data visualisations to be useful: https://gss.civilservice.gov.uk/policy-store/introduction-to-data-visualisation/#section-1
  3. Graphics, and other design choices, can sometimes be misleading. Preparers should consider possible alternative presentation and be careful that the narrative in their annual reports and accounts conveys the intended message.
  4. Contrasting colours may appear differently to different readers, or on different screens.
  5. When deciding on graphics and other design choices, entities may also wish to consider whether they make the annual report and accounts accessible. For example, would a certain design choice make the annual report and accounts less accessible to individuals with visual impairments?

6 Usability

  1. Many users of States of Jersey financial reports will first access them online. This means that the landing page can be integral in influencing the user's experience of the report.
  2. The format of the report also has implications for users. Search engines will pick up key words from web pages but will only read the title of a pdf report. Spreadsheet formats are easier for users who want to use tables of data, but do not include much narrative.
  3. Many users may be looking for specific information. The easier it is to navigate across a report, the less time they will have to spend searching. Ways to improve reader navigation include:
  4. Preparers can take practical steps to help users find the information they are looking for by:
  1. informative chapter or section headings
  2. a clear integrated structure and contents list
  3. concise summaries of key points
  4. the use of internal links throughout a report
  1. adding text to the landing page to help search engines find the report
  1. sharing transparency data in spreadsheet format such as Excel or the more flexible .CSV format
  2. when one report relates to another, giving a link between landing pages
  3. designing the structure and internal links in a report.

7 Using clear English

  1. Clear and simple language makes reports easier for a wide range of people to read. Even when the subject of a report is complicated, using clear English makes the narrative easier to read. Some useful goals are:
  1. keep sentences short, with an average length of 15 to 20 words.
  2. avoid acronyms.
  3. where possible, use active verbs.
  4. excessive use of jargon should be avoided.
  5. where industry-specific terms are necessary for clear communication, they should be clearly defined and used consistently.
  1. These are guidelines rather than rules. Preparers should use their judgement, informed on an ongoing basis by feedback from those who use their reports.

8 Handling standardised content with care

  1. Many people drafting narrative for financial reports start with relevant examples, such as last year's report. This can be helpful but can also lead to problems.
  2. Text copied from one place to another can grow less readable with each transfer to a new context. Over time, large sections of repeated text can be off-putting to users, making reports unwieldy so caution must be taken. At the same time, it should be recognised that there are benefits in maintaining a degree of consistency year-to-year for comparability and familiarity for the users of the accounts. There is therefore a need to strike a balance in the way that information is reported in annual reports and accounts.
  3. To avoid repeating unnecessary text, preparers of narrative reporting should reconsider every piece of text before reusing it:

Does it meet the needs of the report's primary users?

Does it fit with the rest of the report?

Does it still reflect best practice, or could it be revised for clarity in its new context?

  1. Some standardised definitions and descriptions are mandated by guidance to ensure that reports are consistent across the States. Relevant authorities should keep standardised wording to a minimum and review it on an ongoing basis.