In 2004/05, Public Sector Consultants helped close the accounts in 29 local authorities. Using our unique blend of skills and management support, we were able to strengthen the finance functions of local authorities up and down the country either with a single consultant or a whole team of people where needed, to deliver accurate and unqualified Statements of Accounts, ahead of the Audit Commission’s revised deadline of 31 July 2005.
It was not only essential that we assisted authorities to meet the deadline but also that the local authorities received unqualified opinions from their auditors. The Commission’s Annual Report for 2005 states that 26% of local authorities had to resubmit their accounts due to material errors and misstatements.
At Chester-le-Street the loss of key members of staff, the implementation of a new financial system and the earlier deadline set for approving the accounts meant that they needed assistance with closedown.
“Given the tight timescales, we could not afford to risk using placement agencies so Public Sector Consultants, who we had successfully used before, including to cover the interim Section 151 post, were the Company for us; we knew they would hit the ground running and deliver the work” said Ian Herberson, Finance and Accountancy Manager at the Authority.
We have worked with a number of unitary authorities including Milton Keynes, where Mike Beech (pictured) and his team worked with HBS, (the outsourced service provider) to coordinate the closedown process and produce the Statement. Typical of our employees, Mike is a CIPFA qualified accountant who has a career in local government finance spanning over 30 years including being a statutory finance officer. Mike’s consultancy assignments have included South Somerset DC, where he was responsible for preparing the 5 year medium term financial plan, Hammersmith & Fulham LBC where he coordinated the closing of accounts, prepared the consolidation revenue account and revised the financial regulations and Islington LBC, coordinating the bank reconciliation process and reviewing the working practices of the revenue control section.
Of course LBCs always keep our staff busy with closedowns and for example, as well as the regular help that we provide in Newham, Jim Merriman and Barry Stratfull worked as part of the Technical Housing Finance Team to close down the Housing Revenue Account.
At our near neighbours, Rotherham, Patricia Duckworth supported the Chief Accountant in closing down the Accounts whilst Jim provided specific expertise on Capital and based on this work, he has been back to Rotherham to carry out a review of their housing subsidy, HRA and the budget process. Chris Boid, Head of Accountancy said “The support that Patricia and Jim provided enabled us to produce the Statement of Accounts by the required deadline. Their experience and knowledge was invaluable and they were much appreciated members of the team during their time with us”.
