Government accounting can help improve budget planning. The Czech SAO launches a new website on public sector accounting
PRESS RELEASE – 10 November 2026
How can accounting information help in planning public budgets? And why should the government use accounting not only to record what it has already spent, but also as an important basis for future decision-making? The answers can be found on a new website dedicated to government accounting, which is launched by the Supreme Audit Office (SAO) on the occasion of the International Accounting Day on 10 November.
The main topic of the website is the importance of accrual accounting for public financial management. In contrast to the purely cash approach, which mainly captures income and expenditure when cash is received or paid, accrual accounting provides a broader picture of the government's finances. It can offer more comprehensive information not only for assessing past performance, but also for budget planning and decision-making on public funds.
The website is based on a joint report by the SAO and the Prague University of Economics and Business entitled The Use of Government Accounting Information, which deals with the Czech accounting reform and how the government uses accounting information. The project builds on the professional cooperation of both institutions and brings its conclusions to the wider public. Its aim is to open a professional debate on how accounting information can be used more effectively in government management and on the potential of accrual accounting for modern public sector financial management.
The international significance of the report is also highlighted by a statement from Thomas Müller-Marqués Berger, Chair of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (IPSASB) of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC):
“Against that background, I commend the Czech Supreme Audit Office for having conducted a comprehensive post-implementation review after the IPSAS-inspired Czech accounting reform, which started in 2010.”
The publication of the English versions of both the website and the report will make it possible to share the Czech experience with the international professional community. The Czech accounting reform, its results and previous experience with the use of accounting information can thus contribute to the international discussion on the role of accrual accounting in public financial management.
The new website is available at: ucetnictvistatu.nku.gov.cz.
Communication Department
Supreme Audit Office