Executive agencies have had several years' experience of the introduct
ion and development of accruals based accounting systems. Senior agenc
y managers therefore provide an authoritative source of information on
the problems that could follow from introducing it more widely across
government. A survey of senior managers revealed that, despite major
improvements in accounting information systems, agencies still face di
fficulties in implementing accruals accounting. Government departments
also seem unlikely to accept easily the switch from cash accounting t
o accruals accounting without extensive training. The effort and resou
rces required for this should not be underestimated.