Sample of an Appointment Letter to an Accountable Officer

							SCOTTISH EXECUTIVE
Health Department
Kevin Woods, Head of Department and Chief Executive, NHS Scotland
St Andrew's Regent Road Edinburgh EH 1 3DG Telephone: 0131-244 Fax: 0131-244 2162 2410 House

ps/hd@scotland.gsi.gov.uk http://www.scotland.gov.uk

31 .August 2006

Dear NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE ACCOUNT ABLE OFFICER

j. As you may be aware section 15 of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000 provides for the designation by the Scottish Executive's Principal Accountable Officer (PAO) of members of the staff of any body or officeholder whose accounts are audited under the control of the Auditor General for Scotland (AGS) as its Accountable Officer. Accountable Officers will be personal1y answerable to the Parliament for regularity, propriety and value for money in the management of their organisations.

2. Under Section 15 of the Public Finance and Accountability (Scotland) Act 2000, the Principal Accountable Officer has designated you as Accountable Officer with immediate effect. The detailed responsibilities of a NHS Accountable Officer are set out in the attached Memorandum to National Health Service Accountable Officers. 3. You are responsible for the propriety and regularity of financial transactions under your control and for the economical, efficient and effective use of resources placed at your disposal. You are also responsible for signing the accounts of your organisation which have to be laid in the Scottish Parliament and for ensuring that they are prepared under the Plinciples and in the fonnat directed by Scottish Ministers. 4. Finally, you should note that your designation may be withdrawn if the PAO concludes that you are no longer a fit person to calTY out the responsibilities of an Accountable Officer or that it is otherwise in the public interest that your designation be withdrawn. Such a decision would not be taken without full and careful examination of the facts and you would have a suitable OPPoliunity to contribute and put your view point. Nor would the PAO take such a decision without giving your Chairman a full account of the reasons why he was minded to take it and considering any comments or representations he or she may make. 5. Should you have any questions on the Memorandum or 011your duties as an Accountable Officer please do not hesitate to get in touch with the Department's Director of Fina11ce.

6. I am sending copies of this letter to your Chaimlan, Mr Ronnie Cleland, the Auditor General for Scotland, the Clerk to the Audit Committee of the Scottish Parliament and the Director of Finance for the Scottish Executive. Yours sincerely

Dr KEVIN '''OODS Departmental Accountable Officer