The role of the accountant/auditor in municipal finance

Learn how the accountant/auditor contributes to the financial stability of Massachusetts communities.

The accountant or auditor is responsible for properly recording all municipal financial transactions in the community. This official prepares financial reports and ensures compliance with state and local reporting requirements. All bills for payment are approved by the accountant/auditor, who then monitors spending to assure that sufficient funds exist for purchases, and that goods have been received and services rendered before payment is made. Learn more about the role of the accountant/auditor by reviewing the resources below.

Overview of responsibilities

• Role of the Accountant Webinar (Video)
  Role of the Accountant Webinar Slides (PDF)
• Statutory Responsibilities of the Accountant/Auditor (PDF)

General accounting guidance (include special funds, overlay)

• Year-End instructions from DLS to Accountants and Auditors (PDF)
• Uniform Mass Accounting System (UMAS) manual (PDF)
• Emergency Expenditure Timeline (for emergencies not related to COVID-19)
• How to submit an emergency spending request online (PDF)
• Guidelines: Appropriation Transfers (IGR2017-13) (PDF)
• Overview of Statutory Treatment of Municipal Funds (PDF)
• Reconciling Cash and Receivables (PDF)
• Revenue and Appropriation Deficits (PDF)
• Revenue Deficits: An Overview (PDF)

Special Funds

• BUL 2017-01B Authorization of Departmental Revolving Funds and Model By-law/Ordinance
• IGR 2019-14 Community Preservation Fund
• 2024 Community Preservation Act Webinar (Video)
  2024 Community Preservation Act presentation slides (PDF)
• Insurance and Restitution Proceeds (LFO2018-2) (PDF)
• IGR 2019-10 Other Post Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund
• Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Liability Trust Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) (PDF)
• IGR 2017-15 Proceeds from Rental of Municipal Real Estate
• Revolving Funds Chart: Non-School Department Revenue (PDF)
• Revolving Fund Chart: School Department Revenue (PDF)
• IGR 2017-14 Special Revolving Funds for Outside Consultant Fees
• IGR 2017-16 Special Revolving Funds for Performance Surety Deposits
• IGR 2024-12 Stabilization Funds
• LFO 2022-3 Transportation Network Company Per-ride Assessment Distribution

Overlay

• Guidelines Related to Overlay and Overlay Surplus (IGR2017-23) (PDF)
• The Overlay Reserve Account: Allowances for Abatements and Exemptions (Video)

Free cash certification

• Free Cash Upload & Certification Process Webinar Recording (Video)
• Free Cash Upload & Certification Process Webinar Slides (PDF)
• An Introduction to Free Cash (Video)
• The Importance of Free Cash (PDF)
• Property Tax Takings Webinar: Process Overview, Best Practices & Effects on Free Cash (Video)

Tax rate recap

• Completing the Tax Rate Recap Forms Webinar (Video)
• Completing the Tax Rate Recap Forms Presentation (PDF) 
• A Detailed Look at Setting the Tax Rate Module (Video 101)
• A Detailed Look at Setting the Tax Rate Handbook (PDF)
• Calculating Tax Rates by Completing the Tax Rate Recapitulation (Recap) Form (Video)
• Setting the Tax Rate: Overview (Video)
• Webinar: Yarmouth Tax Rate Recap Process Webinar Recording (Video)
• Webinar: Yarmouth Tax Rate Recap Process Webinar Slides (PDF)

Schedule A

• Schedule A upload instructions
• Schedule A upload template

Excess & deficiency certification

• Excess and Deficiency Upload Process Webinar Recording (Video)
• Excess and Deficiency Upload Process Webinar Slides (PDF)
• Year-End Letter to School Business Officials (PDF)

Annual audits

• How to submit municipal audits online (PDF)
• The Importance of Annual Municipal Audits (PDF)
• Overview of Municipal Audits Webinar Recording (Video)
• Overview of Municipal Audits Webinar Slides (PDF)
• Municipal Audits: FAQs (PDF)

Tools and templates

• Accounts Payable Workflow (XLS)
• Budget and Tax Rate Planning Tool (XLS)
• Indirect Cost Template (XLS)
• Revenue Turnover Workflow  (XLS)

Debt

• A Deeper Dive Into Municipal Debt - Accounting for debt and surplus proceeds/abandoned projects (Video)
• A Deeper Dive Into Municipal Debt - Emergency spending (Video)
• Premiums and Surplus Proceeds for Proposition 2½ Excluded Debt (IGR 2022-1) (PDF)

Local options

• Adoption Timetable: Local options meals, rooms, cannabis and community impact fee (PDF)
• FAQs: Short-term Rentals and Room Occupancy (PDF)
• Guidance: Municipal Finance Law and Accounting Treatment of Retail Sales of Marijuana for Adult Use (LFO2018-3) (PDF)
• Local Option Excise on Retail Marijuana Sales (BUL2018-3) (PDF)
• Local Option Excise on Room Occupancy and Meals Excise (Bul2009-15B) (PDF)