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Public Sector Accounting

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PUBLIC SECTOR ACCOUNTING
Assignment 5
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Melina Subastian / 296511

Number 3: Based on five public sector accounting techniques, which one do you prefer as the best to be applied? Explain your answer! First of all, I think it is necessary to observe the five techniques that can be applied in public sector accounting in order to decide which one is the best to be applied. 1. Budget Accounting. This technique presents the budgeted amount and the actual amount recorded in pairs (double entry). 2. Commitment Accounting. This accounting technique recognizes transactions and records them at the time the order was issued. This can be used in conjunction with cash accounting and accrual accounting. 3. Fund Accounting. The technique is performed with the concept of fund. It treats a working unit as an accounting entity and budget entity which stands alone. 4. Cash Accounting. In this technique, revenues are recorded when cash is received, and expenses are recorded when cash is removed. 5. Accrual Accounting. This technique differentiates between cash revenues and rights to earn cash, and cash expenditures and obligations to pay cash.
In my opinion, accrual accounting technique is the best technique to use for public sector organizations. In this technique, revenues and expenses are recognized when earned or incurred, regardless of whether cash is received or spent. The use of the accrual basis in the public sector is one of the characteristics of modern financial management practices that aim to provide more transparent information and improve the quality of decision making within government organizations.
It is considered as the best because in the accounting for the commercial companies, the use of accrual technique is able to produce more relevant financial statements. Therefore, using the full accrual basis

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