Guidance

Guidance for the Management of Foreign Exchange Exposure

Guidance on the process for the review, development, and approval of FX strategy.

Documents

Guidance for the Management of Foreign Exchange Exposure

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Details

This guidance is designed to support UK government bodies making decisions on managing their foreign exchange (FX) exposures. It introduces a new Approval Framework and FX Advisory Board to improve the management of FX exposure. It sets out the requirements of how it should be managed and for Treasury approvals.

The Treasury has among its core objectives the scrutiny of public finances and holding government departments to account for their decisions on spending. As part of a department’s service delivery, they may need to make payments or receive income in a foreign currency.

Departments should read this guidance if they have FX transactions, assets and liabilities impacted by exchange rates or foreign currency balances. It will help them when they need to develop an FX strategy, who to contact, and an overview of the approval process. This will ensure good practice is applied consistently across government.

All departmental bodies subject to Managing Public Money must comply with this guidance and key requirements including the FX Approval Framework from 1st April 2023.

Accounting Officers need to ensure they protect both taxpayer’s money and provide value for money while they also ensure the regularity of spending. This guidance supports Accounting Officers to strengthen the management of foreign exchange exposure across government.

Published 31 March 2023