12 Accepted

Ofqual incorrectly recognised lease commitment from April, not March 2024, violating IFRS 16

Recommendation
However, under the terms of lease, Ofqual took the option to access the property so as to conduct its fit out works from 1 March 2024. Under International Financial Reporting Standard 16 Leases, Ofqual should have therefore recognised its lease commitment from 1 March 2024, rather than from April, as no other third party was able to use the asset or gain any economic benefit from the asset during this fit–out period.
Government Response Summary
The government accepts the recommendation, stating it was implemented in March 2025. Ofqual's management has responded by ensuring it has the capacity, technical knowledge, and processes to appropriately consider complex accounting and budgetary reporting treatments for transactions.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented: March 2025 Ofqual’s Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee reviewed the context and detailed circumstances leading to the excess. Whilst the Committee was satisfied that this breach resulted from a technical point of interpretation rather than a failure of control or governance, it has nevertheless sought and received assurance that management has responded appropriately to the specific recommendation of the auditors in this respect, namely that management should ensure it has the capacity, technical knowledge and processes in place to appropriately consider the accounting and budgetary reporting treatment for transactions that may be complicated to account for. In addition to this specific recommendation, forecasts are scrutinized on a monthly basis, a dialogue is maintained with HM Treasury colleagues throughout the year and management is engaged with the external audit team well in advance of year-end to ensure that any such issues are surfaced and resolved in a timely manner.
Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age 1.4 yr
Report published 26 Feb 2025