Belize: Technical Assistance Report-Transition to Accrual Accounting

IMF Staff Country Reports, June 8, 2023

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Canonical URL: Belize: Technical Assistance Report-Transition to Accrual Accounting

Focus: transition to accrual accounting in Belize.
Timing: Belize is planning to transition to accrual accounting over the medium term.
Characterization: the reform is considered an advanced practice on the public financial management (PFM) spectrum and has been attempted by few regional comparators.
Nature of reform: complex, resource-intensive and advanced; requires various preconditions to be met.
Organizational readiness: current organization and responsibilities of Treasury staff do not support the transition to accruals.
Change management: accounting reforms will take time to implement and require change management processes; the Treasury does not currently have a change management culture to manage reforms and track performance.

The transition to accruals is complex, resource-intensive and advanced.
Few regional comparators have attempted this reform, indicating limited domestic/regional precedent.
Current Treasury organization and staff responsibilities are not aligned with accrual accounting requirements.
The Treasury lacks a change management culture necessary for sustained reform implementation and performance tracking.

Establish a new unit to oversee:
- change management,
- strategic planning,
- performance management,
- risk management,
- monitoring and evaluation.
Create a PFM coordinating committee, chaired by the Financial Secretary, to strengthen planning and internal collaboration.

Accounting reforms will take time to implement.
Preconditions must be met before full transition to accrual accounting can be achieved.
Change management processes and cultural shifts within the Treasury are essential for success.