Financial accountability: a missing link in university financial reporting systems

There has been a public outcry in recent years for better accountability of resources consumed for higher education. Legislators in various states have responded with performance criteria and mandates for accountability. It is hoped that through such measures, universities will become better custodians of public funds leading to better and more efficient utilization of limited resources. The criteria developed is diverse and touches upon a variety of issues. However, their effectiveness in providing change is not yet tested. Through an in‐depth review of the university accounting system, we propose here that the missing link is financial accountability in the traditional responsibility accounting/managerial accounting approach for assessing performance and seeking improvement.