CIPFA has relaunched the Better Reporting Group (BRG) with a focus on enhancing user experiences with accounts, rather than solely easing the burden on preparers or auditors.
Vision
Local authority accounts provide users with the information they require in a timely manner.
Mission
Recommend practical measures that improve the value of local authority accounts to users.
Latest news
Application guidance published, November 2025
CIPFA has published a new bulletin, developed in collaboration with the Better Reporting Group (BRG), that supports authorities transitioning to quinquennial revaluations with annual indexation in between.
The guidance offers advice on selecting indices, accounting treatments, disclosures, and audit expectations. It includes worked examples, outlines acceptable methods for depreciation, and clarifies when full revaluations or desktop valuations are required.
This will enable practitioners to make informed, proportionate decisions to meet the Code’s requirements while ensuring audit readiness.
Download CIPFA Bulletin 22: Indexation application guidance
Position statement published, October 2025
CIPFA's Better Reporting Group (BRG) has released a new position statement that identifies nine key user groups of local authority financial statements from elected members and residents to auditors and the media.
The BRG's research highlights that elected members and local residents are the primary users of local authority accounts. Their needs — for clear, transparent information about value for money, financial sustainability and governance — will guide the Group's future work to make accounts more meaningful, accessible, and user-focused.
This marks a key step toward better engagement, stronger accountability and improved decision-making across local government.
Download the position statement
Discussion paper published, October 2025
CIPFA's Better Reporting Group (BRG) has published a new discussion paper on materiality, exploring how the concept shapes what users see — and how auditors focus their work.
Materiality is at the heart of clear, meaningful financial reporting. It ensures that accounts highlight the information that matters most for decision-making and accountability, cutting through unnecessary detail.
The BRG is inviting views from across the sector to help drive greater consistency and clarity in how materiality is applied — supporting better reporting for practitioners, auditors, and users alike.
Download the discussion paper on materiality
Current projects
Statutory overrides
The BRG are considering the purpose of statutory overrides, if they are the best way to meet the intended purpose, how they are then presented in the accounts and ultimately understood by users of the accounts.
Pensions reporting
The BRG are reviewing pension reporting for the UK public sector. They are investigating the potential impact of technical changes and how these are presented in the accounts considering the relevant users of the accounts.
Potential BRG project outcomes
The outputs from individual projects will normally be one of the following:
- Standalone paper or article — this will be published under the Better Reporting Group banner
- Technical guidance — this could be published as a CIPFA bulletin, within Code guidance notes or as a standalone technical guidance document.
- Suggested Code changes — these will be recommendations made to CIPFA LASAAC for debate and potentially included in future Code consultations.
Interested in joining?
The core group comprises nine members, but additional participants will be invited for specific projects, such as statutory overrides. The BRG plans to convene at least five times annually (normally in January, March, July, September, November), with members conducting supplementary research and project work between meetings.
If you're interested in contributing to the BRG, either as a permanent member or for a specific project, please complete the new member form expressing your preferred involvement, and a brief professional background.
If you have any questions or suggestions for the group please email them to Policy.Technical@cipfa.org.
Governance arrangements
The Better Reporting Group sits as a permanent working group under CIPFA LASAAC.
Better Reporting Group Terms of Reference (August 2024).
BRG Chair: Rachael Sanders
Rachael is currently the Director Finance (S151 Officer) at Herefordshire Council. She is CCAB qualified accountant with over 20 years financial management and accountancy experience.
Rachael has previously led her council's Finance Team to win the CIPFA Public Finance Excellence in Governance, Reporting and Assurance Award 2024.
Rachael explained, ‘I’m excited to work as Chair of the Better Reporting Group to drive improvements in public sector financial reporting and enhance the experience for the elusive ‘user of the accounts.’
‘I am passionate about financial reporting and believe that meaningful reporting is key to ensuring engagement across the organisation; highlighting risk and aligning financial information to performance data and strategic priorities to add value and enable collaboration.’
BRG Vice chair: Mark Green
Mark is currently Director of Finance, Resources and Business Improvement (S151) at Maidstone Borough Council. Mark is an experienced local government finance leader and is also a member of the CIPFA LASAAC Code setting board.
Mark said, ‘I’m delighted to play a part in the Better Reporting Group, to help CIPFA develop plans for local authority accounts reform in readiness for the creation of a new Local Audit Office.’