Accruals accounting in the public sector: A road not always taken

The move from cash to accruals accounting by many governments is viewed as an aspect of an ongoing New Public Management agenda designed to achieve a more business-like and performance-focused public sector. Proponents argue that accruals accounting provides more appropriate information for decision makers and ultimately leads to a more efficient and effective public sector. The transition from cash to accruals accounting for UK central government departments was announced in the early 1990s and was embedded within approximately ten years. At that time there were clear indications that analogous changes, following a similar timeline, would occur in the Republic of Ireland (RoI). In reality, the changes were significantly less extensive. Utilising document analysis and interviews with key actors, this paper considers why a functioning accruals system was established in the UK whereas in the RoI the change to accruals accounting was a ‘road not taken’.

Research highlights▶ We examine the proposed move from cash to accruals accounting in the public sectors of the UK and the Republic of Ireland (RoI). ▶ While accruals accounting is well embedded in the UK, in the RoI a comprehensive system of accruals accounting does not operate (and looks unlikely in the near future). ▶ Reasons for the different outcomes are examined.