UNCLASSIFIED
UNCLASSIFIED
ACCOUNTING OFFICER APPOINTMENT LETTER
FOR USE BY ACCOUNTING OFFICERS OF
NON-DEPARTMENT PUBLIC BODIES (NDPB)
AND EXECUTIVE AGENCIES
[Appointee]
[Department / Agency]
[Address]
[Town / City]
[Postcode]
(Interim) Accounting Officer for [Name of NDPB / Executive
Agency]
Your appointment as (Acting) Chief Executive (or other title) carries with it the
responsibility of (Interim) Accounting Officer for the [Name of NDPB / Executive
Agency]. I am therefore appointing you as (Interim) Accounting Officer, with effect
from [Day, Month, Year] for the [Name of NDPB / Executive Agency] accounts.
As Principal Accounting Officer, I am accountable in respect of the [Name of
Department] Account. This includes the monies paid from that resource in respect
of the [Name of NDPB / Executive Agency]. I must satisfy myself that the resources
authorised by Parliament are used for the purposes intended by Parliament and
that these funds, and any receipts, are properly accounted for. I rely on your
assurances for [Name of NDPB / Executive Agency] to carry out this role.
As Accounting Officer, you are responsible for the [Name of NDPB / Executive
Agency] use of resources in carrying out its functions as set out in the Framework
Document. Chapter 3 of Managing Public Money sets out the responsibilities of an
Accounting Officer.
As Accounting Officer, you are personally responsible for
safeguarding the public funds for which you have charge; for ensuring propriety
and regularity in the handling of public funds; and for the day-to-day operations
and management of the [Name of NDPB / Executive Agency]. In addition, you
should ensure that the [Name of NDPB / Executive Agency] as a whole is run in
accordance with the standards, in terms of governance, decision-making and
financial management that are set out in Box 3.1 of Managing Public Money
You will wish to note the circumstances set out in sections 3.8.5 – 3.8.6 in
Managing Public Money that in the event you were to be overruled by your Board
on a matter of propriety, regularity or value for money. You should inform me of
any issues in the first instance. However, in the event of a written direction from
the Board, you will of course need to inform the Comptroller & Auditor General.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/212123/Managing_Public_Money_AA_v2_-
_chapters_annex_web.pdf