Agencies have new choices in financial, performance reporting

The Office of Management and Budget is starting a pilot program through which agencies can choose to produce an alternative format to the consolidated Performance and Accountability Report (PAR). The program seeks to improve the presentation of financial and performance information and make it more meaningful and transparent to the public, flexible, yet comply with laws, OMB said in a memo posted May 18. Agencies must notify OMB by May 25 if they are participating, including what alternative they are using, how they will organize their reporting and what improvements they expect. OMB will analyze the results of the pilot to determine future guidance on financial and performance reporting. Agencies participating in the pilot will prepare a “highlight” document that sums up key financial and performance issues. The summary makes it easier to identify important indicators of how efficient and effective agencies are in achieving their financial and performance goals. “All agencies are strongly encouraged to prepare a ‘highlight, ' " said Clay Johnson, OMB’s deputy director for management, even if they stick to using the traditional PAR format. Several agencies already do so and find the highlights useful for increasing access and transparency to their financial and performance information, he said.