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Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Accounting Policies & Procedures Mannual (APPM) Chap 10


 

10  Project Accounting



Table of Contents

10.1             Introduction                                                                                                                                                          10.3

10.2             General Policies                                                                                                                                                  10.4

10.2.1           Definition                                                                                                                                                          10.4

10.2.2           Responsibilities                                                                                                                                                10.4

10.2.3           Classification of development projects                                                                                                        10.4

10.3             Accounting Policies                                                                                                                                            10.6

10.3.1           Mode of payment                                                                                                                                            10.6

10.3.2           Basis of accounting                                                                                                                                         10.6

10.3.3           Recognition of project expenditure                                                                                                               10.6

10.3.4           Commitment accounting                                                                                                                                 10.7

10.3.5           Recognition of revenue                                                                                                                                  10.7

10.4             Accounting for Project Expenditures                                                                                                              10.8

10.4.1           Accounting records                                                                                                                                        10.8

10.4.2           Commitment accounting records                                                                                                                   10.8

10.4.3           Accounting entries                                                                                                                                          10.8

10.4.4           Reporting and consolidation of project expenditure                                                                                  10.8

10.4.5           Reconciliation of project expenditure                                                                                                           10.9

10.4.6           Reporting of project expenditures                                                                                                                 10.9

Introduction


10.1.1.1   This chapter covers the accounting policies and procedures applicable to the management of development projects.  It is of key importance to the Government, donor agencies and other users, that the cost of all development projects undertaken by the Government be accurately measured and progressively reported.


10.1.1.2   Unless otherwise specified in this chapter, the general policies and procedures relating to development projects are the same as those set out in chapter 4 of this Manual, ‘Expenditures’.


10.1.1.3   This chapter does not address the detailed procedures required for the preparation, appraisal and approval of development projects.  Such procedures are set out in the ‘Manual for Development Projects’ and other directions issued by Ministry of Finance (Planning Commission).


10.1.1.4   General policies and procedures for the preparation of development project budgets are included in chapter 3 of this Manual, ‘Budgetary Control Procedures’.  Project managers are also required to comply with detailed guidelines for project budgeting issued by individual ministries and departments.


10.1.1.5   Policies and procedures for the use of assignment and personal ledger accounts, which may apply to development projects in certain instances, is provided in Chapter 17.


 

10.2     General Policies


10.2.1  Definition


10.2.1.1   A development project is defined as a scheme or activity provided within a development expenditure grant included in the Schedule of Authorised Expenditure.  Development projects typically exhibit the following characteristics:


·        a finite project life

·        a nominated project manager

·        a specified source of funding

·        an approved project plan and budget

·        specified deliverables

10.2.2  Responsibilities


10.2.2.1   A project manager shall be appointed for each development project.  This officer is responsible for both the operational and administrative components of the project.  The financial powers delegated to a project manager are laid down in the ‘Delegation of Financial Powers’ issued by MoF.


10.2.2.2   The Project Managers are primarily responsible for the recording and accounting of the project expenditure on a daily basis.  On a periodic basis the Project Manager report to the AGPR/AG in the form as prescribed in the FRM.  The AGPR/AG include these project expenditure in the monthly consolidation.


10.2.2.3   The Finance Division, through the Planning Commission, is responsible for administering the project submission and approval process, through the various project approval bodies.


10.2.2.4   Ministry of Finance, through Economic Affairs Division, is responsible for the management of external and other borrowings obtained to fund development projects.


10.2.3  Classification of development projects


10.2.3.1   All development project expenditure shall be recorded in the Consolidated Fund of the respective Federal and Provincial Governments.


10.2.3.2   Each development project shall be classified according to the elements contained in the Chart of Accounts.  Specifically, the following classification requirements shall be followed:


·        development expenditure out of revenue account is distinguished from development expenditure out of capital account

·        development expenditure of each ministry or department is classified  by grant number (as given in the ‘fund’ code in the Chart of Accounts)

·        each grant is further classified into the particular development projects under the administrative control of the ministry or department. Each development project is represented by a project  number as provided in the Chart of Accounts.

·        the expenditure incurred on each development project is further classified by detailed function and object

10.2.3.3   An example of this hierarchy is as follows:


§ Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock

§  Grant 152: Development Expenditure on Food and Agriculture (out of revenue account)

§  Project  143: Pakistan Cotton Research & Development Project

§  Detailed function-object

10.3     Accounting Policies


10.3.1  Mode of payment


10.3.1.1   The mode of payment for development expenditures shall be in accordance with the directions laid down in Chapter 4 of this Manual, ‘Expenditures’ (refer to Section 4.3).  These directions require that all claims for payment be duly prepared, approved by a delegated authority, certified and authorised, before payment can be issued.  For further clarification refer to Chapter 17, where payment is made through Assignment Account and Personal Ledger Accounts.


10.3.2  Basis of accounting


10.3.2.1   Expenditure on development projects shall be accounted for on a cash or as committed basis, in accordance with the Manual of Accounting Principles.


10.3.3  Recognition of project expenditure


10.3.3.1   Expenditure on development projects will be recognised in accordance with the Directions laid down in Chapter 4 of this Manual, ‘Expenditures’ (refer Section 4.3).  Payments made by cheque will be recognised and recorded in the accounts of the Government on the date the cheque is issued.


10.3.3.2   All expenditures incurred under development projects included under the Schedule of Authorised Expenditure must be recorded in the Government accounting system, regardless of the source of funding.  Direct funding arrangements between donors and project managers must still be recorded and reported by the Government, if the expenditure is included in the Schedule of Authorised Expenditure.


10.3.3.3   The expenditure of a development project must include all direct costs of undertaking the project.  The following items are to be included in development project expenditures:


·        the cost of establishment, that is, salaries and allowances of permanent and temporary staff, including that of the project manager.  Where a staff member is only engaged on the project on a part-time basis, a suitable proportion of his/her time should be charged to the project

·        direct purchases of materials and items of plant and equipment acquired exclusively for the project

·        direct services purchased exclusively for the project such as training, casual labour and other contract work

·        any direct costs incurred and passed on from other departments or governments that relate to the project, as agreed between the Principal Accounting Officers of the concerned ministries and departments

·        any other costs set out in the development project budget, included as part of the Schedule of Authorised Expenditure that have been incurred

10.3.3.4   Development project expenditures should not include any indirect costs, such as interest, depreciation, or administrative overheads unless specifically provided for in the project budget.


10.3.4  Commitment accounting


10.3.4.1   Commitments shall be recorded for development projects, in accordance with the accounting policy laid down in chapter 4 of this Manual (refer Section 4.3).


10.3.5  Recognition of revenue


10.3.5.1   Amounts recovered or income generated by the Government from a development project, either during or after completion of the project, will be placed into the Federal or Provincial Consolidated Fund (as the case may be) and recorded as miscellaneous revenue.  Such monies shall not be used to meet project expenditures, unless appropriated through Parliament.


 

10.4     Accounting for Project Expenditures


10.4.1  Accounting records


10.4.1.1   The books of account required to be kept by DAO/AG/AGPR offices, as specified in chapter 4 of this Manual ‘Expenditures’, namely the Appropriation Register, Sub-Ledger and General Ledger shall include all transaction details associated with development projects (refer Section 4.4).


10.4.1.2   The transactions recorded for development projects at DAO/AG/AGPR level shall be coded according to the Chart of Accounts, and provide sufficient detail to allow objectwise reporting for each development project .


10.4.1.3   Within the ministry or department from which the development project is  managed, detailed accounting records shall be maintained of each project, as determined by the ministry or department, to meet its own internal and external reporting obligations.


10.4.2  Commitment accounting records


10.4.2.1   A section to record commitments will be maintained within the Appropriation register as specified in Chapter 4 of this Manual ‘Expenditures’ (refer Section 4.4).  Commitments will be recorded when the DAO/AG/AGPR receives a commitment advice note from the concerned DDO within the ministry or department.


10.4.2.2   Commitments will be reversed by the authorising officer once the claim voucher, relating to a previously entered commitment (as referenced on the claim) is authorised for payment.


10.4.3  Accounting entries


10.4.3.1   The accounting entries indicated in Section 4.4.4 relating to expenditure transactions recorded in the Sub-ledger by DAO/AG/AGPR offices are applicable to development project expenditures. In accordance with the Manual of Accounting Principles and Chapter 4 of this Manual, all outstanding commitments are to be duly scrutinised by the AG/MoF and provision made in next years appropriation to allow for the reinstatement of valid commitments in the next financial year.


10.4.4  Reporting and consolidation of project expenditure


10.4.4.1   Development project expenditure shall be posted the General Ledger to provide date-wise totals against each detailed account head.


10.4.4.2   In the manual accounting system the amounts posted to each development project account shall be consolidated on a monthly basis to provide summarised object-wise balances for each development grant.


10.4.4.3   The consolidated project expenditure for each month shall be incorporated into the monthly accounts prepared by the AG/AGPR.  This requires the project expenditures recorded by DAOs to be reported to the AG office in a set format.


10.4.4.4   In the computerised accounting system, the summarised project expenditure information will be generated by system based reports, rather than a manual abstraction process.


10.4.5  Reconciliation of project expenditure


10.4.5.1   Expenditure against each project shall be reconciled on a monthly basis, between the project managers records and the project expenditures recorded by AG/AGPR.


10.4.5.2   Where assignment or personal ledger accounts are in operation, subsequent releases of funds will not be made until all expenditures relating to previous releases have been accounted for and reconciled with the AG/AGPR.


10.4.6  Reporting of project expenditures


10.4.6.1   The progress of each development project should be regularly monitored against budget by the project manager.  The project manager is responsible for advising the Government and the sponsoring agency on the overall progress of the project and any significant deviations from the original budget and project plan.


10.4.6.2   At the end of each month, the AG/AGPR shall prepare, by the [10th] of the following month, project reports for administrative ministries and departments on each development grant and the projects under these grants.  These reports shall provide monthly expenditure, year to date expenditure, project-to-date expenditure and comparison with budget under each of these headings.


10.4.6.3   The project manager shall sign off these monthly reports, as part of the monthly reconciliation of project expenditure with the AG/AGPR.  The project manager will report any discrepancies in these reports to the AG/AGPR for follow up action.


10.4.6.4   The monthly project expenditures shall be consolidated to form part of the monthly accounts prepared by the AG/AGPR.


10.4.6.5   The project manager shall provide expenditure statements and other reports, as required by donor agencies for progress monitoring and for reimbursement and advance of funds.


10.4.6.6   Quarterly reports are required by the Planning Commission within 3 weeks from the close of each quarter, in the prescribed format (PC-III).  This report shall also be submitted to sponsoring agencies and in the case of foreign funded projects, to EAD.


10.4.6.7   The status of continuing and new projects approved is maintained in the ‘Public Sector Development Program’, specifying estimates for the total project cost, expenditure to date and budgetary allocations for the current financial year.  Each Provincial Government also produces an equivalent document.


10.4.6.8   Development project expenditures will be subject to the same budgetary review and re-appropriation process as other forms of expenditure.  Project Managers, through their Principal Accounting Officers and Financial Advisors, will submit statements of excesses and surrenders in relation to their current projects.  Development project expenditures, and the respective excess and surrendered amounts must also be included in the Annual Appropriation Accounts prepared by the AG/AGPR offices.


10.4.6.9   Upon completion of each development project, the project manager is required to submit a project completion report to the Planning Commission in a prescribed format, as well as to the sponsoring entity.


 

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