The Common Chart of Accounts is a single set of codes to be used across central government for financial reporting. It is based on the codes already used in the HM Treasury budgeting system, OSCAR. It will mean greater consistency of reporting and easier communication of financial information between departments.
Latest Update
Implementation of the Common Chart of Accounts is progressing. Governance arrangements have been established. Some new Common Chart of Accounts have been approved and work is starting to de-activate codes that are no longer required.
Plans are in place to map Department Yellow to the Common Chart of Accounts and identify where there is a common requirement in Department Yellow but no code in the Common Chart of Accounts currently. The outcome of this work will be shared. Some departments have already implemented the Common Chart of Accounts for financial reporting.
As a reminder, the key principles are:
- the Common Chart of Accounts is based on OSCAR codes
- departments are required to implement the 8 digit code but can use the last two digits for further analysis as required. Reporting to Treasury should always use 00 as the last two digits
- departments were asked to implement the Common Chart of Accounts from April 2014 but in practice the implementation is staggered across 2014 to 2015 and 2015 to 2016 for most departments so that it coincides with other major changes such as the implementation of a new system or moving to shared services
Queries relating to the Common Chart of Accounts should be sent to ccoa@hmtreasury.gsi.gov.uk