HEFCE’s Accounts Direction to higher education institutions for 2013-14 financial statements
HEFCE’s Accounts Direction to higher education institutions for 2013-14 financial statements
1. I am writing to inform you of HEFCE’s Accounts Direction to higher education institutions (HEIs) on preparing financial statements for 2013-14.
2. HEFCE’s direction is as follows.
Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting for Further and Higher Education
3. HEIs are required to follow the ‘Statement of Recommended Practice: Accounting for Further and Higher Education’ (SORP), or any successor to the SORP, in the preparation of their financial statements. The latest version of the SORP (2007) is available from the Universities UK web-site.
4. In the case of an HEI that is also a company limited by guarantee, this direction is subject to the requirements of the Companies Act.
5. The financial statements shall be signed by the accountable officer and by the chair of the governing body or one other member appointed by that body.
Corporate governance and internal control
6. The voluntary Governance Code of Practice contained in the Committee of University Chairs’ ‘Guide for Members of Higher Education Governing Bodies in the UK’ (HEFCE 2009/14) recommends that HEIs report in the corporate governance statement of their annual audited financial statements that they have had regard to the code, and that where an HEI’s practices are not consistent with particular provisions of the code an explanation should be published in that statement.
7. Adopting the Committee of University Chairs’ Governance Code of Practice, with the principles of the code adapted as appropriate to each HEI’s character, is an important factor in enabling HEFCE to rely on self-regulation within HEIs and hence minimise the accountability burden.
8. HEIs are required to maintain a sound system of internal control and to ensure that the following key principles of effective risk management have been applied. Effective risk management:
- covers all risks – including those of governance, management, quality, reputation and finance – but focuses on the most important risks
- produces a balanced portfolio of risk exposure
- is based on a clearly articulated policy and approach
- requires regular monitoring and review, giving rise to action where appropriate
- needs to be managed by an identified individual and involve the demonstrable commitment of governors, academics and officers
- is integrated into normal business processes and aligned to the strategic objectives of the organisation.
9. HEIs are required to review at least annually the effectiveness of their system of internal control.
10. HEIs are required to include in their annual financial statements a statement on internal control (corporate governance). In formulating their statements, HEIs should refer to best practice guidance, including guidance from the British Universities Finance Directors Group. As a minimum these disclosures should include an account of how the following broad principles of corporate governance have been applied.
- Identifying and managing risk should be an ongoing process linked to achieving of institutional objectives.
- The approach to internal control should be risk-based, including an evaluation of the likelihood and impact of risks becoming a reality.
- Review procedures must cover business, operational and compliance as well as financial risk.
- Risk assessment and internal control should be embedded in ongoing operations.
- The governing body or relevant committee should receive regular reports during the year on internal control and risk.
- The principal results of risk identification, risk evaluation and the management review of their effectiveness should be reported to, and reviewed by, the governing body.
- The governing body should acknowledge that it is responsible for ensuring that a sound system of control is maintained, and that it has reviewed the effectiveness of the above process.
- Where appropriate, details of actions taken or proposed to deal with significant internal control issues should be set out (see Annex C).
11. HEIs are required to make a statement on corporate governance covering the period 1 August 2013 to 31 July 2014 and up to the date of approval of the audited financial statements.
Date of submission to HEFCE of audited financial statements
12. The latest date for submission of HEIs’ 2013-14 audited financial statements is 1 December 2014. Earlier submission is very welcome. Read more...