Public Sector Accounting

Recommended Prerequisites

General knowledge on Financial Accounting is recommended.   

Teaching Methods

The course works in theoretical-practical classes, combining an expositive approach of more theoretical matters (complemented when appropriate, by illustrative examples), with discussion and resolution of case studies and exercises in more practical classes. The research essay is developed along the semester, under supervision of the professor, being presented and discussed in a date to be settled before the final test.

All supporting materials (with the exception of books and legal regulations) are made available in the respective page in NÓNIO platform.   

Learning Outcomes

One intend to complement the students’ competencies, introducing basic concepts and principles associated to the financial area of public sector entities, particularly about the Budget and Public Sector Accounting.

Framing the nature of the discipline within the Administrative Public Sector, one address, in general, the new Portuguese system of Public Sector Accounting – System of Accounting Standards for Public Administrations (SNC-AP), given special focus to the individual annual accounts (accounting and budgetary and financial reporting).

This new system is considered in a context of international and European harmonization, seeking to making understandable how the successive reforms stages since the 90s led to the SNC-AP, and which transformations this will bring, namely in what regards offering more and better information to support decision-making and accountability in public sector entities, therefore improving reliability and transparency of governmental accounts.    

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1 Public sector and business accounting-public sector framework in Portugal
2 Reform of Public Sector Accounting in Portugal in the international context
2.1 From the Bases Law to the POCP
2.2 International and European harmonization:approaching to IPSAS and the new SNC-AP
3 Public finances and budgetary accounting
3.1 Public revenue and expenditure, classifications, Budget and LEO
3.2 Execution of public revenue and expenditure and LCPA
3.3 Budgetary accounting and reporting in the SNC-AP
4 Financial accounting in the SNC-AP
4.1 Conceptual framework
4.2 Multidimensional Accounts Plan
4.3 Most important operations, distinctive in Public Sector Accounting
4.3.1 Revenue from exchange and non-exchange transactions
4.3.2 Tangible and intangible assets, investment property; impairment
4.3.3 Leases and concessions (grantor)
4.3.4 Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets
4.4 Public sector entities’ annual individual accounts-structure and content of the financial statements

Head Lecturer(s)

Susana Margarida Faustino Jorge

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Periodic or by final exam as given in the course information: 100.0%

Bibliography

BRUSCA, I.; CAPERCHIONE, E.; COHEN, S.; MANES-ROSSI, F. (eds.), Public Sector Accounting and Auditing in Europe – the Challenge of Harmonization; Palgrave-MacMillan, 2015.

CATARINO, J. R., Finanças Públicas e Direito Financeiro, Coimbra, Almedina, 2012.

DECRETO-LEI, Sistema de Normalização Contabilística para as Administrações Públicas.

DECRETO-LEI Nº26/2002, de 14 de Fevereiro – Regime jurídico dos códigos de classificação económica das receitas e das despesas públicas e estrutura das classificações orgânicas aplicáveis aos organismos da Administração Central.

IPSASB, Handbook of International Public Sector Accounting Pronouncements, Vols. I and II, IFAC, New York, 2014.

IPSASB, The Conceptual Framework for General Purpose Financial Reporting by Public Sector Entities, IFAC, New York, 2014.

LEI, nova Lei de Enquadramento Orçamental.

PINTO, A. C.; MELO, T.; SANTOS, P., Gestão Orçamental e Contabilidade Pública, Lisboa: ATF Edições Técnicas, 2013.