On Board: a guide for members of management advisory boards

Annual Report and Accounts

The accounting guidance issued to those bodies that are subject to reporting requirements set by the Scottish Ministers will set out the applicable accounting policies and principles and disclosure requirements.

Where the Scottish Government makes funds available to a sponsored body the Scottish Government will account to the Parliament for the provision of those funds in the Scottish Government's annual accounts.

A body which is a separate accounting entity, such as a Non-Ministerial body, will account for the use of those funds (and of other funds in its stewardship) in its own annual accounts.

The Chief Executive of a Non-Ministerial body is responsible for approving the body's annual accounts and ensuring that the annual report and accounts are laid before the Scottish Parliament.

The Accountable Officer of the public body is responsible for signing the accounts and ultimately responsible to the Scottish Parliament for their actions.

The accounting requirements for a public body will normally be set out in its founding legislation and/or its Framework Document.

Performance Measurement and Reporting

Key targets for efficiency and effectiveness of operations and quality of service provided will be agreed as part of the planning process. The Board should assist the Chief Executive to ensure that robust systems are in place to monitor performance against these targets. A report on the extent to which performance targets have been achieved should be incorporated in the Annual Report, where appropriate giving a summary of trends over a five-year period.