European seminar on accounting reforms Preparation of certification France s experience Mr David Litvan Deputy Director, State Accounting Public Finances General Directorate
Introduction The accounting reform launched in France in 2006 was accompanied by a certification process This certification process is a game for two players, the certified party and the certifying authority. In France, the certifying authority is the State Audit Office The purpose of this presentation is to explain, from the accountant's point of view, the conditions under which the government prepares the certification process 2
Supervision of accounting quality An ongoing dialogue between the certified party and the certifying authority
Improving accounting quality The objective is to achieve a "fair view" of the State's assets and liabilities and financial situation Ahead of the certification process the French government has introduced major upgrades since 2004: It has aligned the opening balance sheet to the new accounting standards It has strengthened the permanent internal control mechanisms It has transformed the financial statements ("State's General Account") This is a genuine "project", spread over several years 4
Supervision by means of action plans The project is supervised by means of multi-year action plans designed to improve the quality of the accounts The action plans reflect previously identified risks The action plans concern the entire government These action plans were initially implemented by the accountant (Public Finances General Directorate ) They were subsequently complemented by ministerial action plans for all ministries 5
Monitoring and updating action plans Action plans are monitored and updated: The first action plan, from 2006, was extensive (with more than 400 actions) Action plans are updated in accordance with the certifying authority's opinion. Actions focus on reservations: The general action plan covers key actions (80 actions in 2007, about 70 main actions in 2008) Detailed action plans, by ministry, are used for more specific operational management (with a total of more than 1,000 actions) 6
Supervising accounting quality A permanent dialogue between the certified party and the certifying authority
A permanent dialogue between the certified party and the certifying authority Certification requires a permanent dialogue: The aim is to anticipate and cover risk zones as far upstream as possible Discussion bodies have been set up: A Discussion and Monitoring Committee; Technical Committees These bodies meet frequently 8
A permanent dialogue between the certified party and the certifying authority The government has opted for thorough transparency and systematic consultation of the certifying authority: The action plans are submitted to the certifying authority The general action plan on key actions for reservations And the ministerial action plans, the subject of in-depth discussion between the government and the State Audit Office The operating procedures are sent to the certifying authority to discover its expectations A joint closing balance is produced in collaboration with the certifying authority 9
Conclusion: certification is a lever for accounting quality Certification is a lever to improve accounting quality: The government is resolved to tackle the accounting reform with determination and to take up the certification "challenge" It has launched an ongoing process to upgrade the quality of the accounts. The reservations of the State Audit Office (12 reservations with regard to the 2007 accounts) are therefore an incentive to continue the reform After the accounting "big bang", this effort needs to be continued and extended for several years in order to achieve the medium-term goal of unreserved certification 10