IPSASB finalises proposals on reporting service performance information

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01 Apr 2015

The International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) has published Recommended Practice Guideline 3 (RPG 3) that provides guidance on the reporting of service performance information. The RPG is designed to allow public sector entities to be held accountable through the provision of high quality service performance information, by providing guidance on how such information should be presented, and its recommended characteristics.

RPG 3 follows an exposure draft published in 2013 and an earlier consultation paper released in 2011. It responds to the perceived need for a principles-based and consistent framework for service performance information that focuses on user needs. The press release states:

Service provision is the primary function of the vast majority of public sector entities. Service performance information is essential for users to evaluate the services provided and public sector entities' efficient and effective use of resources to deliver those services. RPG 3 provides guidance to support the quality of service performance information already reported by entities and offers a useful framework for entities that have not yet started to report service performance information.

The guidance in RPG 3 Reporting Service Performance Information aligns with the IPSASB's view that public sector financial reporting has a greater scope than financial statements alone. Therefore, it:

  • provides principles applicable to the presentation of service performance information and definitions that establish a standardised service performance information terminology;
  • addresses the reporting entity and reporting period for service performance information;
  • provides guidance on the choice of performance indicators that show an entity's achievements with respect to its service performance objectives, disclosures about the basis of the reported information, and service performance-related narrative discussion and analysis; and
  • states that service performance information may be presented either in the same report as the financial statements or in a separate report, and identifies factors to consider when making that decision.

RPGs are considered 'good practice', are not mandatory, and do not need to be applied in order for a public sector entity to comply with International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS).

Please click for the following additional information on the IPSASB website:

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