Note 1: Statement of accounting policies

Reporting entity

The Controller and Auditor-General is a corporation sole established by section 10(1) of the Public Audit Act 2001, is an Officer of Parliament for the purposes of the Public Finance Act 1989, and is domiciled and operates in New Zealand. The relevant legislation governing the Office's operations is the Public Audit Act 2001. The Office's ultimate parent is the New Zealand Crown.

Our primary objective is to provide independent assurance to Parliament and the public about how public organisations are performing, through auditing public organisations, carrying out performance audits, providing reports and advice to Parliament, and carrying out inquiries and other special studies.

We have designated the Office as a public benefit entity (PBE) for financial reporting purposes.

Our financial statements are for the year ended 30 June 2024 and were authorised for issue by the Controller and Auditor-General on 30 September 2024.

Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, and the accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the year.

Statement of compliance

The financial statements of the Office have been prepared in keeping with the requirements of the Public Finance Act 1989, which include the requirement to comply with New Zealand generally accepted accounting practice (NZ GAAP) and Treasury Instructions.

The financial statements have been prepared in keeping with Tier 1 PBE Standards.

These financial statements comply with PBE Financial Reporting Standards (FRS).

Presentation currency and rounding

The financial statements are presented in New Zealand dollars, and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand dollars ($000).

Standards issued and not yet effective and not early adopted

There were no Standards and amendments issued but not yet effective which have not been early adopted and which are relevant to the Office.

Budget and forecast figures

The forecast financial statements (Main Estimates 2024/25) have been prepared as required by the Public Finance Act 1989 to communicate forecast financial information for accountability purposes. The budget and forecast figures (all Estimates information) are unaudited and have been prepared using the accounting policies adopted in preparing these financial statements.

2023/24 Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates

The 2023/24 Main Estimate forecast financial statements are consistent with the forecasts published in Budget 2023 and in the Office's 2022/23 annual report.

The 2023/24 Supplementary Estimates forecast financial statements are based on the updated forecasts published in Budget 2024.

2024/25 Main Estimates

The 2024/25 Main Estimate forecast financial statements are consistent with the forecasts published in Budget 2024. They have been prepared in keeping with PBE FRS 42: Prospective Financial Statements and comply with that standard.

The 2024/25 forecast financial statements were approved for issue by the Auditor-General on 10 April 2024. The Auditor-General is responsible for the forecast financial statements, including the appropriateness of the assumptions underlying them and all other required disclosures.

Although we regularly update our forecasts, updated forecast financial statements for the year ending 30 June 2025 will not be published.

Significant assumptions used in preparing the forecast financial statements

The forecast figures contained in these financial statements reflect the Office's purpose and activities and are based on a number of assumptions about what might occur during 2024/25. The forecast figures have been compiled on the basis of existing government policies and after the Auditor-General consulted with the Speaker and the Officers of Parliament Committee.

The main assumptions, which were adopted as at 10 April 2024, were as follows:

The Auditor-General's portfolio of organisations will remain substantially the same as for the previous year and reflect the same allocation approach across the audit service providers as was in place at 10 April 2024.
The Office will continue to deliver the range of products currently provided and will also be in a position to create new products, or existing products in new ways, to cope with changing demands.
The balance of activity associated with inquiries and with advice to Parliament and others will continue to vary because of increases in demand.
The Auditor-General will continue to use audit expertise from Audit New Zealand and contracted audit service providers.
Forecast personnel costs are based on expected staff numbers necessary to deliver the work of the Office, incorporating remuneration rates that are based on current costs adjusted for anticipated market changes.
Operating costs are based on estimates of costs that will be incurred under the Office's current operating model, with small allowances for price increases.

Forecast capital expenditure and depreciation are based on planned replacement of motor vehicles and IT equipment, plus continued investment in developing the Office's software programs.

The actual financial results achieved for 2024/25 are likely to vary from the forecast information presented, and the variations might be material.

Summary of significant accounting policies

Significant accounting policies are included in the Notes to which they relate.

Significant accounting policies that do not relate to a specific Note are outlined below.

Goods and Services Tax

All items in the financial statements are presented exclusive of Goods and Services Tax (GST), except for receivables and payables, which are presented on a GST-inclusive basis. Where GST is not recoverable as input tax, it is recognised as part of the related asset or expense.

The net amount of GST recoverable from, or payable to, the Inland Revenue Department (Inland Revenue) is included as part of receivables or payables in the Statement of financial position.

The net GST paid to or received from Inland Revenue, including the GST relating to investing and financing activities, is classified as a net operating cash flow in the Statement of cash flows.

Commitments and contingencies are disclosed exclusive of GST.

Income tax

We are exempted from paying income tax by section 43 of the Public Audit Act 2001. Accordingly, no charge for income tax has been provided for.

Output cost allocation

We have determined the cost of outputs using allocations as outlined below.

Direct costs are those costs directly attributable to a single output. Direct costs that can readily be identified with a single output are assigned directly to the relevant output class. For example, the cost of audits carried out by contracted audit service providers is charged directly to output class Audit and Assurance Services RDA.

Indirect costs are those costs that cannot be identified in an economically feasible manner with a specific output. These costs include corporate services costs, variable costs such as travel, and operating overheads such as property costs, depreciation, and capital charges. Indirect costs are allocated according to the time charged to a particular activity.

There have been no other changes in cost allocation policies since the date of the last audited financial statements.

Critical accounting estimates and assumptions

In preparing these financial statements, estimates and assumptions have been made about the future. These estimates and assumptions might differ from the subsequent actual results. Estimates and assumptions are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the next financial year are:

Audit fee revenue, work in progress, and income in advance – see Notes 3, 9, and 12.
Depreciation and amortisation – see Notes 10 and 11.
Retirement leave – see Note 14.

Commitments

Expenses yet to be incurred on non-cancellable contracts that have been entered into on or before balance date are disclosed as commitments to the extent that there are equally unperformed obligations.

Cancellable commitments that have penalty or exit costs explicit in the agreement on exercising that option to cancel are included in the Statement of commitments at the value of that penalty or exit cost.