Financial Management and Public Sector Accounting in an Age of Reforms: Developments and Changes in Public Sector Financial Management

The chapter discusses the recent multifaceted developments in public sector financial management and in particular the contribution of the permanent study group (PSG) XII in the debate regarding the reforms and the innovations occurring at all governmental levels and different public sector organizations. Guiding the reader through the journey of the PSG, the chapter outlines the key challenges that future studies dealing with public sector financial management will be called to envisage. In parallel, it focuses on the harmonization of governmental accounting systems towards IPSAS or EPSAS and national accounts in Europe by shedding light on the existing situation and the imminent trends.