By P. Vangerline Kpotoe
MONROVIA, Aug. 9 (LINA) – Controllers and accountants across government ministries and agencies have been urged to be more robust in the discharge of their duties in the new special fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
Comptroller and Accountant General, Janga A Kowo, made the statement over the weekend at the second phase of a three-day technical working section for comptrollers and accountants held in Kakata, Margibi Country from August 5-7, 2021.
According to him, financial reporting constitutes an integrated function of the Comptroller & Accountant General’s Department, and also as part of its ongoing effort to build the capacity of controllers and accountant within the public sector across the government.
“The second phase of the three-day technical section is meant to show efficiency among comptrollers and accountants for sound financial reporting through the Integrated Financial Management System (IFMIS) free balance platform across ministries and agencies,” Kowo explained.
Attorney-at-law Kowo stated that financial reporting on time is one of the critical requirements that need attention.
“There is a need for us to assemble continuously with speed to share ideas on how we can make financial management process transparent, more accountable and auditable,” he added.
The technical working section was organized by the comptroller and accountant general department and is held under the theme: “Using the IFMIS free balance Platform to Generate Reports and Prepare Financial Statements.”
He noted that “going forward”; comptrollers and accountants cross spending entities should be robust in their budget execution and processes that will give results on a timely basis in their financial reporting system.
“We will follow up on agencies, please be very prompt with submission of your financial instrument, payroll and others; get in contact with the reconciliation unit, when you have issues that could delay your financial report,” he stressed.
He informed participants that the Internal Audit Agency (IAA) auditors are assigned to various ministries and agencies to provide comptrollers and accountants with the needed assistance, adding: “Please work with the auditors from the IAA to help reduce errors in your financial reports during your financial transaction and processes.”
However, he said that comptrollers and accountants should follow the Public Financial Management (PFM) Act and Public Procurement Concession Commission (PPCC) Act, because they are “key” instruments that are guided by government actions.
He said a hotline will be established at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, to enable comptrollers and accountants to get firsthand information that will help speed up their financial reporting process.
“We look forward to collaborating with all comptrollers and accountants across government. Let us work closely because we are moving to a robust fiscal and transparent financial execution regime. We will publish funds that every agency receive and spend, whether five dollars or above will be captured and published for transparency and accountability purpose,” Kowo revealed.
