Publication: Public Sector Accounting and Auditing in South Asia : A Comparison to International Standards
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2010-05-01
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2012-03-19
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This report aims to support regional collaboration and renewed collective efforts to strengthen financial management and oversight practices in South Asia. It compares the public sector accounting and auditing practices in eight South Asian countries to international standards. It is intended to inform public sector accounting and auditing authorities, primarily Ministries of Finance, accountants general, and auditors general, and support their efforts to provide senior policy makers and the general public in their countries with credible, relevant, and useful financial information about the collection, management, and use of public resources. This report is based on detailed 'gap analysis' assessments that were prepared in recent years in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, providing comparisons of public sector accounting and auditing practices in those countries to international standards. This report is a synthesis of the gap analysis reports.
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“World Bank. 2010. Public Sector Accounting and Auditing in South Asia : A Comparison to International Standards. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/2890 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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It is intended to provide greater stimulus for more cost-effective outcomes of government spending. The specific objectives are (a) to provide the country's accounting and audit authorities and other interested stakeholders with a common well-based knowledge as to where local practices stand in comparison with internationally developed standards of financial reporting and audit; (b) to assess the causes of the prevailing variances; (c) to chart paths to reduce the variances; and (d) to provide a continuing basis for measuring improvements. Annex A explains the methodology used for the study. Annex B provides a summary of international accounting and auditing standards referred to in this study. Annex C and D provide country accounting and auditing legislation, respectively. Lastly, Annex E includes a description of the benefits of accrual accounting. The World Bank is supporting initiatives to develop local systems so that donors can increase their use of country systems for their own grants and loans.Publication Maldives - Public Sector Accounting and Auditing : A Comparison to International Standards(Washington, DC, 2007-06)This assessment of public sector accounting and auditing standards purpose is to assist with the implementation of more effective public financial management (PFM) through better quality accounting and public audit processes in Maldives. The specific objectives are (a) to provide the country's accounting and audit authorities and other interested stakeholders with a common well-based knowledge as to where local practices stand in comparison with internationally developed standards of financial reporting and audit; (b) to assess the prevailing variances; (c) to chart paths to reduce the variances; and (d) to provide a continuing basis for measuring improvements. Annex A explains the methodology used for the study. Annex B provides a summary of international accounting and auditing standards referred to in this study. Annex C and D provide country accounting and auditing legislation, respectively. Lastly, Annex E includes a description of the benefits of accrual accounting.Publication Afghanistan - Public Sector Accounting and Auditing : A Comparison to International Standards(Washington, DC, 2007)This assessment of public sector accounting and auditing is generally meant to help implement more effective public financial management (PFM) through better quality accounting and public audit processes in Afghanistan and to provide greater stimulus for more cost-effective outcomes of government spending. More specific objectives are (a) to provide the country's accounting and audit authorities and other interested stakeholders with a common firmly based knowledge as to where local practices stand in accordance with international standards of financial reporting and auditing; (b) to assess the prevailing variances; (c) to chart paths for improving the accordance with international standards; and (d) to provide a continuing basis for measuring improvements. The study has taken the international standards as axiomatic with any acceptable options incorporated in the standards. The study has not assessed whether the country should adopt a limited version of the standards, as the processes of developing the standards have already considered any acceptable options that can be incorporated into the text of the standards, but they do not override authoritative national standards issued by governments, regulatory or professional accounting bodies.
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