MAF 2021 to 2022 Financial Management Methodology
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Methodology Overview
Sound financial management is fundamental to mature public service organizations. The extent to which government can accurately and transparently discharge its financial management responsibilities directly impacts Canadians’ trust in our public institutions and the ability to implement important programs and services.
The FM Management Accountability Framework (MAF) methodology is aligned with core comptrollership responsibilities and continues to support a strong financial management function that enables departmental strategic and stewardship objectives. In this vein, six questions will examine the effectiveness of internal control management.
Use of MAF Results
The 2021-22 MAF results will provide the following information to the three key stakeholder groups listed below:
Deputy Heads:
- Enable fulfillment of comptrollership responsibilities related to risk-based internal controls
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat:
- Measure the status of implementation of the renewed FM Policy Suite and the maturity of an organization's FM practices.
- Provide opportunities to engage with departments, facilitate the sharing of notable practices, and identify any systemic issues that will inform the development of guidance and tools.
- Leverage and encourage improvements in key areas.
Financial Management functional community:
- Encourage conversations within the FM community and with the Office of the Comptroller General (OCG) regarding the sharing of best practices and the identification of government-wide challenges.
Period of assessment
The period of assessment usually consists of the prior fiscal year. However, with these questions, we are looking for the most up-to-date information, and hence the timeframe falls within April 1st, 2020 up to the reporting deadline, which usually falls close to March 31, 2022.
Impact on Departments
Below is a summary of the impact on departments in terms of the number of questions, and submission of evidence. Although this illustrates an increase in the number of questions when compared to 2020-21, all questions are related to the previously examined Internal Controls over Financial Management (ICFM).
| Results Management | 2020-21 | 2021-22 |
|---|---|---|
| Total number of questions | 3 | 6 |
| Total number of questions which require the submission of evidence by Departments | 1 | 0 |
- 5 of 6 questions were previously core questions in the MAF 2019-20 methodology.
- All 6 questions require an answer from departments, which can include the ‘’Not Applicable’’ box checked.
A system of internal financial controls must be maintained in order to mitigate the risks to programs, operations, and resource management. For the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 MAF cycles we asked departments about the stage of maturity for key ICFM processes that we identified (budgeting and forecasting, costing, investment planning, payroll/salary, and CFO attestation). In 2020-2021 we shifted the focus to allow departments to identify their own key processes and let us know the stage of maturity for each. After working with departments through the 2020-2021 cycle, it was determined that the key ICFM processes that are applicable to all LDAs are a variation of six processes (the original five that we have been testing, and one additional process). As a result, going forward we will only focus on these six processes.
Historically the response options were: (not started, risk assessment, documentation, design effectiveness, operating effectiveness, and ongoing monitoring). This year we’ve added “not applicable” as an option since not all processes are applicable to all departments.
Overall outcomes
The methodology will generate insights into fundamental aspects of financial management and provide important insights into how departments are progressing towards reaching the ongoing monitoring for key ICFM processes.
MAF 2021-22 Financial Management Questionnaire
Question #1 preserved
Which stage is the department or agency at in assessing its internal controls pertaining to its budgeting and forecasting (planning) process? (Select one answer from the choices below)
- Not started
- Risk Assessment
- Documentation
- Design effectiveness
- Operating effectiveness
- Ongoing monitoring
- Not Applicable
Rationale
A system of internal financial controls must be maintained in order to mitigate the risks to programs, operations and resource management. Following consultation with the Internal Controls community, budgeting and forecasting (planning) was highlighted as a key FM process under ICFM. This assesses the level of maturity for internal controls over financial management which is broader than the already mature internal controls over financial reporting assessment currently undertaken by departments and agencies. The results will inform Deputy Heads in their oversight role in ensuring that a risk-based departmental system of internal control over financial management is established, monitored and maintained, and TBS’ policy and guidance role related to internal controls.
Category
- Policy compliance
- Performance
- Other
Target
N/A. However, the target to reach ongoing monitoring for key processes is March 31, 2024
Calculation method (where applicable)
N/A
Evidence source and document limit
TBS to answer
Department or agency to answer
This question applies to the following organizations:
- Large departments and Agencies
- Small departments and Agencies
- Other (see guidance)
Data source: N/A
Date of data extraction: N/A
Data collection method: MAF Portal
Evidence: N/A
Document limit: N/A
Period of assessment: Most recent information available
Other TBS use only new
Government Wide Average:
Will this indicator be used in the determination of the Government Wide Average?
Yes
Year over Year Analysis:
Can the indicator be used in a year over year analysis?
Yes
Departmental Results Framework (DRF)
Is this indicator used in the TBS DRF?
Yes
Reference materials
Treasury Board policy reference or Government of Canada priority
Question #2 preserved
Which stage is the department or agency at in assessing its internal controls pertaining to its costing process? (Select one answer from the choices below)
- Not started
- Risk Assessment
- Documentation
- Design effectiveness
- Operating effectiveness
- Ongoing monitoring
- Not Applicable
Rationale
A system of internal financial controls must be maintained in order to mitigate the risks to programs, operations and resource management. Following consultation with the Internal Controls community, costing was highlighted as a key FM process under ICFM. This assesses the level of maturity for internal controls over financial management which is broader than the already mature internal controls over financial reporting assessment currently undertaken by departments and agencies. The results will inform Deputy Heads in their oversight role in ensuring that a risk-based departmental system of internal control over financial management is established, monitored and maintained, and TBS’ policy and guidance role related to internal controls.
Category
- Policy compliance
- Performance
- Other
Target
N/A. However, the target to reach ongoing monitoring for key processes is March 31, 2024
Calculation method (where applicable)
N/A
Evidence source and document limit
TBS to answer
Department or agency to answer
This question applies to the following organizations:
- Large departments and Agencies
- Small departments and Agencies
- Other (see guidance)
Data source: N/A
Date of data extraction: N/A
Data collection method: MAF Portal
Evidence: N/A
Document limit: N/A
Period of assessment: Most recent information available
Other TBS use only new
Government Wide Average:
Will this indicator be used in the determination of the Government Wide Average?
Yes
Year over Year Analysis:
Can the indicator be used in a year over year analysis?
Yes
Departmental Results Framework (DRF)
Is this indicator used in the TBS DRF?
Yes
Reference materials
Treasury Board policy reference or Government of Canada priority
Question #3 preserved
Which stage is the department or agency at in assessing its internal controls pertaining to its investment planning process? (Select one answer from the choices below)
Note: For certain departments the process of assessing internal controls pertaining to investment planning includes the subprocess of assessing internal controls pertaining to project management. If this is the case for your department, please respond with “Not Applicable” to question #6 and indicate your rationale in the comment section.
- Not started
- Risk Assessment
- Documentation
- Design effectiveness
- Operating effectiveness
- Ongoing monitoring
- Not Applicable
Rationale
A system of internal financial controls must be maintained in order to mitigate the risks to programs, operations and resource management. Following consultation with the Internal Controls community, investment planning was highlighted as a key FM process under ICFM. This assesses the level of maturity for internal controls over financial management which is broader than the already mature internal controls over financial reporting assessment currently undertaken by departments and agencies. The results will inform Deputy Heads in their oversight role in ensuring that a risk-based departmental system of internal control over financial management is established, monitored and maintained, and TBS’ policy and guidance role related to internal controls.
Category
- Policy compliance
- Performance
- Other
Target
N/A. However, the target to reach ongoing monitoring for key processes is March 31, 2024
Calculation method (where applicable)
N/A
Evidence source and document limit
TBS to answer
Department or agency to answer
This question applies to the following organizations:
- Large departments and Agencies
- Small departments and Agencies
- Other (see guidance)
Data source: N/A
Date of data extraction: N/A
Data collection method: MAF Portal
Evidence: N/A
Document limit: N/A
Period of assessment: Most recent information available
Other TBS use only new
Government Wide Average:
Will this indicator be used in the determination of the Government Wide Average?
Yes
Year over Year Analysis:
Can the indicator be used in a year over year analysis?
Yes
Departmental Results Framework (DRF)
Is this indicator used in the TBS DRF?
Yes
Reference materials
Treasury Board policy reference or Government of Canada priority
Question #4 preserved
Which stage is the department or agency at in assessing its internal controls pertaining to its payroll/salary process? (Select one answer from the choices below)
Note: For certain departments, the ICFM process for payroll/salary is now part of their ICFR. If this is the case for your department, please respond with “Not Applicable” and indicate your rationale in the comment section.
- Not started
- Risk Assessment
- Documentation
- Design effectiveness
- Operating effectiveness
- Ongoing monitoring
- Not Applicable
Rationale
A system of internal financial controls must be maintained in order to mitigate the risks to programs, operations and resource management. Following consultation with the Internal Controls community, payroll/salary was highlighted as a key FM process under ICFM. This assesses the level of maturity for internal controls over financial management which is broader than the already mature internal controls over financial reporting assessment currently undertaken by departments and agencies. The results will inform Deputy Heads in their oversight role in ensuring that a risk-based departmental system of internal control over financial management is established, monitored and maintained, and TBS’ policy and guidance role related to internal controls.
Category
- Policy compliance
- Performance
- Other
Target
N/A. However, the target to reach ongoing monitoring for key processes is March 31, 2024
Calculation method (where applicable)
N/A
Evidence source and document limit
TBS to answer
Department or agency to answer
This question applies to the following organizations:
- Large departments and Agencies
- Small departments and Agencies
- Other (see guidance)
Data source: N/A
Date of data extraction: N/A
Data collection method: MAF Portal
Evidence: N/A
Document limit: N/A
Period of assessment: Most recent information available
Other TBS use only new
Government Wide Average:
Will this indicator be used in the determination of the Government Wide Average?
Yes
Year over Year Analysis:
Can the indicator be used in a year over year analysis?
Yes
Departmental Results Framework (DRF)
Is this indicator used in the TBS DRF?
Yes
Reference materials
Treasury Board policy reference or Government of Canada priority
Question #5 preserved
Which stage is the department or agency at in assessing its internal controls pertaining to its CFO attestation process? (Select one answer from the choices below)
- Not started
- Risk Assessment
- Documentation
- Design effectiveness
- Operating effectiveness
- Ongoing monitoring
- Not Applicable
Rationale
A system of internal financial controls must be maintained in order to mitigate the risks to programs, operations and resource management. Following consultation with the Internal Controls community, CFO attestation was highlighted as a key FM process under ICFM. This assesses the level of maturity for internal controls over financial management which is broader than the already mature internal controls over financial reporting assessment currently undertaken by departments and agencies. The results will inform Deputy Heads in their oversight role in ensuring that a risk-based departmental system of internal control over financial management is established, monitored and maintained, and TBS’ policy and guidance role related to internal controls.
Category
- Policy compliance
- Performance
- Other
Target
N/A. However, the target to reach ongoing monitoring for key processes is March 31, 2024
Calculation method (where applicable)
N/A
Evidence source and document limit
TBS to answer
Department or agency to answer
This question applies to the following organizations:
- Large departments and Agencies
- Small departments and Agencies
- Other (see guidance)
Data source: N/A
Date of data extraction: N/A
Data collection method: MAF Portal
Evidence: N/A
Document limit: N/A
Period of assessment: Most recent information available
Other TBS use only new
Government Wide Average:
Will this indicator be used in the determination of the Government Wide Average?
Yes
Year over Year Analysis:
Can the indicator be used in a year over year analysis?
Yes
Departmental Results Framework (DRF)
Is this indicator used in the TBS DRF?
Yes
Reference materials
Treasury Board policy reference or Government of Canada priority
Question #6 new
Which stage is the department or agency at in assessing its internal controls pertaining to its project management process? The process of project management can be interchanged with the process of project accounting and/or project financial management) (Select one answer from the choices below)
Note: For certain departments, the process of assessing internal controls pertaining to project management is a separate process from assessing internal controls pertaining to investment planning (see question #3). If this is not the case for your department, please respond with “Not Applicable” and indicate your rationale in the comment section.
- Not started
- Risk Assessment
- Documentation
- Design effectiveness
- Operating effectiveness
- Ongoing monitoring
- Not Applicable
Rationale
A system of internal financial controls must be maintained in order to mitigate the risks to programs, operations and resource management. Following consultation with the Internal Controls community, project management was highlighted as a key FM process under ICFM. This assesses the level of maturity for internal controls over financial management which is broader than the already mature internal controls over financial reporting assessment currently undertaken by departments and agencies. The results will inform Deputy Heads in their oversight role in ensuring that a risk-based departmental system of internal control over financial management is established, monitored and maintained, and TBS’ policy and guidance role related to internal controls.
Category
- Policy compliance
- Performance
- Other
Target
N/A. However, the target to reach ongoing monitoring for key processes is March 31, 2024
Calculation method (where applicable)
N/A
Evidence source and document limit
TBS to answer
Department or agency to answer
This question applies to the following organizations:
- Large departments and Agencies
- Small departments and Agencies
- Other (see guidance)
Data source: N/A
Date of data extraction: N/A
Data collection method: MAF Portal
Evidence: N/A
Document limit: N/A
Period of assessment: Most recent information available
Other TBS use only new
Government Wide Average:
Will this indicator be used in the determination of the Government Wide Average?
Yes
Year over Year Analysis:
Can the indicator be used in a year over year analysis?
Yes
Departmental Results Framework (DRF)
Is this indicator used in the TBS DRF?
Yes
Reference materials
Treasury Board policy reference or Government of Canada priority
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