Accountancy
The accountancy service provides a comprehensive financial service to the city council as a corporate body and also to the wide range of services delivered by individual directorates.
The Accountancy service is responsible for ensuring the sound financial management of the council’s affairs via the following functions:-
- Preparation of the accounts – the council is required to publish an Annual Statement of Accounts at the end of each financial year in accordance with appropriate accounting standards.
- Preparation of Revenue and Capital Budgets – The council has a gross revenue budget of £664m and capital programme of £115m in 2007/08. Budgets are prepared by the accountancy team in consultation with service managers within the resources available to the council from Revenue Support Grant, Business Rates and Council Tax. Further information on the can be seen on the Budget 2007-08 pages.
- Budget Consultation – Each year the council consults with residents on the council’s spending plans for the following year and the proposed level of Council Tax. The process in relation to the 2007/08 budget focused on consultation with the 'Big Listening' forum established by MORI on behalf of the council and its partners. In addition we consulted residents utilising the council's budget consultation database and also with secondary school pupils during National Youth Week. details are available.
- Monitoring of Expenditure and Income – During the year accountants are responsible for working closely with service managers to ensure that budgets are effectively managed and monthly management accounts are produced for each service, reported to Lead Members for each directorate and to Budget Scrutiny Committee.
- Financial Advice – Accountants provide financial advice to councillors and service managers in relation to the funding of regeneration, private finance initiative, information technology and other projects together with advice on the financial impact of changes in legislation affecting local authorities
- Treasury Management – A specialist team is responsible for the management of the council’s borrowings (which stood at £520m at 31st March 2007) and investments (which stood at £38m at 31st March 2007).
- Tax and VAT – A specialist service which is responsible for ensuring compliance with tax legislation, advising council officers in the interpretation of legislation and submitting VAT and other returns as required
The management of the council’s finance is subject to external inspection by the Audit Commission The Audit Commission report to councillors annually on the adequacy of the financial management arrangements and also report to the Accounts Committee on the audit of the Statement of Accounts. Financial management, financial reporting, financial standing, internal control and value for money arrangements are also subject to assessment as part of the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) judgement made by the Audit Commission each year.
Inspection of the Accounts
You have a right to inspect your council’s accounts. Electors in Salford may also ask questions about or challenge the accounts. When the accounts are completed for the previous financial year, usually by the end of July, the council advertises that they are available for inspection. You then have 20 working days to look through the accounts and supporting documents. You may not inspect documents that are not relevant to the accounts or are otherwise legally protected. You cannot inspect documents that contain personal information about a member of staff. You also have a right to ask the auditor questions about the accounts and a right to object to the accounts. Details of your rights are available on request.
The Accountancy Service – Salford has over 50 accountancy staff providing the above services, of whom 14 are professionally qualified with the majority CIPFA qualified.
The service is organised in a number of teams, with a central or corporate team responsible for the overall coordination of accounts, budgets and the provision of specialist services and service-based accountancy teams located in each of the council’s directorates, as follows:
- Corporate Accountancy Team
- Customer and Support Services
- Education and Leisure
- Community and Social Services
- Environmental Services
- Chief Executive’s Services (including Housing and Planning)
In addition there are a significant number of finance staff delivering a wide range of services including charging for services, student grants and loans, pensions and client affairs.
Who to contact
- Name
- Geoff Topping
- Address
- Financial Services
Corporate Services Directorate
Salford Civic Centre
Chorley Road
Swinton
SALFORD
M27 5AW - Telephone
- 0161 793 3240
- geoff.topping@salford.gov.uk
This page was last updated on 07 January 2008
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