Reporting Service Performance Information

Staff

Stephenie Fox

Task Force

Lisa Parker, of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) of the USA, is the lead staff member on this project.

The Task-Based Group consists of Sheila Fraser (Canada), Bharti Prasad (India) and Ken Warren (New Zealand).

Objective(s) of project

To use a principles-based approach to develop a consistent framework for reporting service performance information of public sector programs and services that focuses on meeting the needs of users.

Scope

The IPSASB has reviewed and compared existing national standards, guidance, and regulatory requirements for performance reporting (or its equivalent) in the public and private sectors from 26 selected jurisdictions, the United Nations, and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The Consultation Paper will highlight and analyze existing approaches identified during the research that are used by public sector entities around the world, where the reporting of service performance information is a feature of public sector financial management.

Background

The reporting of service performance information is an area which has become increasingly topical and relevant to the enhancement of public sector accountability. This project was identified in the IPSASB Strategy and Operational Plan 2007-2009, as being a priority in 2008. It was deferred until responses to the Conceptual Framework Phase 1 Consultation Paper, which includes the scope of general purpose financial reporting (GPFR), the objectives, qualitative characteristics and the reporting entity) have been analyzed. It is consistent with IPSASBs strategic priority of developing requirements and guidance on public sector specific issues. In 2010-2012 the strategic areas of focus include the need to address public sector critical projects, of which this is an important project.

Issues

Issues the project needs to take into consideration include (but are not necessarily limited to):

• What are the objectives of reporting service performance information?
• Can a standardized terminology be developed that can be applied internationally?
• Who are the identified users of service performance information, what are their needs, and what type of service performance information is needed to meet these needs?
• Are there content elements of service performance information that should be considered for inlcusion in general purpose financial reports?
• What are the alternatives for reporting service performance information?

Task Force progress / Board discussions to date

September 2011: The IPSASB approved a Consultation Paper, Reporting of Service Performance Information.  The CP sets out the IPSASB’s preliminary views on a number of key areas, including standardized terminology, and proposed components of service performance information. The CP has a response date of March 15, 2012.

June 2011: The IPSASB deliberated the second draft of the Consultation Paper, Service Performance Information.  Members provided the staff with specific feedback on the content and provided the project staff with direction for the preparation of the final Consultation Paper to be presented to theIPSASB for possible issuance at the September 2011 meeting.

March 2011: The IPSASB deliberated the first draft of the Consultation Paper, Service Performance Information. Members provided the project staff with feedback on the content and format of the Consultation Paper and provided the project staff with direction for the preparation of the second draft of the Consultation Paper to be presented to the IPSASB at the June 2011 meeting.

November 2010: The IPSASB considered a number of issues on service performance reporting including:

• Whether a standardized service performance information terminology exists;
• Whether the qualitative characteristics of information included in general purpose financial reports (GPFRs) tentatively agreed upon by the IPSASB are applicable to service performance information; and
• Whether there are content elements of service performance information that should be considered for GPFRs.

The IPSASB agreed that a Consultation Paper should be developed for discussion at the March meeting.

June 2010: The IPSASB considered a number of issues on service performance reporting including:

• What are the objectives of reporting service performance information;
• Who the identified users of service performance information are;
• What the needs of these identified users are; and
• What type of service performance information is needed to meet those needs.

The IPSASB agreed that the project should be further developed with an emphasis on mapping the preliminary decisions reached on objectives, users and users needs in Phase 1 of the Conceptual Framework project to this project.

October 2008: The IPSASB approved a Project Brief on Performance Reporting. The IPSASB agreed that the project should be initiated only once responses to the Phase 1 Consultation Paper on its Conceptual Framework (which includes the scope of general purpose financial reporting (GPFR), the objectives, qualitative characteristics and the reporting entity) have been considered.