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Review: States Annual Report and Accounts 2020

Committee/Panel: Public Accounts Committee
Launch Date: 20 May 2021 Close Date: To be advised
Submissions Deadline: To be advised Ministerial Response Date: To be advised
Review Status: Report published

The committee presented its final report on Monday 16th August 2021

About

The overarching objective of this review was to review the effectiveness of the Government of Jersey's reporting of the States Annual Report and Accounts 2020.

The PAC considers that the public should know how its money is spent by those who are entrusted to spend it, what is achieved through the annual expenditure and how that is controlled. The public deserves accurate, timely and high-quality annual reports and accounts which present clearly the States of Jersey's aims, activities, functions and performance.   

The Government (and its officers) should conform to the highest standards of practice and provide clear and concise explanations for how funding has been used to achieve objectives. 

The Review sought to address the following key issues:  

  1. The accuracy, transparency and timeliness of the States Annual Report and Accounts 2020, including whether the Performance Report contained therein presents clearly the Government's performance.  

  2. Whether the Government (and its officers) have conformed to the highest standards of practice and provided clear and concise explanations for how funding has been used to achieve objectives 

  3. How the States' Employment Board's assessment, monitoring and reporting of the former Chief Executive's termination of contract agreement demonstrates transparency and value for money.  

  4. Whether Government initiatives have led to improvements in Annual Accounts Reporting, in particular:  

Terms of reference

1. To examine the content, reported performance, transparency and timeliness of the States Annual Report and Accounts 2020

2. To consider whether the Performance Report contained within the Annual Report and Accounts 2020 present clearly the Government's aims, activities, functions and performance

3. To examine the contents of the Accountability Report contained within the Annual Report and Accounts 2020 including reported risks and mitigations as well as remuneration reporting (including termination payments).

4. To determine the clarity of the Government's (and its officers) explanations for how funding has been used to achieve objectives

5. To examine the adequacy of reporting of remuneration (including termination payments) and special payments (including special severance payments) in the Annual Report and Accounts.

6. To determine whether the Annual Reports and Accounts have implemented the recommendations of last year's PAC Report, to demonstrate:

  • Earlier confirmation of the structure and content of the primary statements and notes

  • Earlier confirmation of JFReM, accounting policies and critical judgements

  • Embedding process improvements

  • better engagement with the external auditor