The Ministry of Finance
The Ministry of Finance keeps the purse of the Imperial Province of Skyrim. It gathers the revenue — the taxes of the Holds, the tolls and excises, the tribute of the Mint and the fees of charter — and it renders that revenue out again to the offices that serve the province, upon a budget the Minister approves each month.
Two offices do the work. The Imperial Treasury keeps what has been gathered and pays it out. The Census & Excise Office finds what is owed and collects it. The Minister of State stands over both, and the Imperial Auditor examines what both have done.
Minister of State for the Finance
Head of the Ministry
- Answers to the Governor for the whole of the province’s money.
- Approves each month’s budget before a coin leaves the Treasury.
- Settles what share of the revenue each group draws.
- Hears what the Treasurer and the Inspector bring, and decides between them.
Imperial Treasury
Keeps the purse. Receives the revenue, sets the budget, pays the groups their draws, and renders the account.
Imperial Treasurer
Keeper of the provincial purse
- Keeps the Treasury and everything paid into or out of it.
- Prepares each month’s budget and sets the draws before it.
- Pays each group its draw and records the payment.
- Answers requests for money beyond the monthly draw.
Appointment: Appointed by the Minister
Imperial Auditor
Examines the accounts and closes them
- Examines every entry before the month is closed.
- Allows or refuses a warrant for payment upon the Treasury.
- Reports to the Minister where the accounts do not balance.
- May question any sum, however it was ordered.
The Auditor answers to the Minister, not to the Treasurer whose books they examine.
Treasury Secretary
To the Imperial Treasurer
- Draws up the month’s account and keeps the ledger true.
- Enters revenues as they are received.
- Prepares the payments the Treasurer orders.
- Keeps the rolls of who is paid what.
Treasury Clerk
The Treasury’s hand
- Enters receipts as they come in.
- Copies and files the Treasury’s papers.
- Keeps the group rosters current.
- Attends the Secretary in all ordinary business.
Census & Excise Office
Finds the revenue. Assesses the Holds and the trades, collects what is owed, and charters those who trade under the Empire’s leave.
Imperial Inspector of the Census and Excise Office
Head of the Census & Excise Office
- Settles what each Hold and each trade owes.
- Sends the Officers and Agents into the Holds to collect it.
- Grants and revokes charters and licences to trade.
- Reports the province’s wealth to the Minister.
Appointment: Appointed by the Minister
Census & Excise Officer
In a Hold or upon a trade
- Assesses what is owed within their charge.
- Receives what is rendered and gives a receipt for it.
- Keeps the roll of arrears and pursues it.
- Examines charters and the goods that pass under them.
Agent
In the field, for the Census & Excise Office
- Goes where the Officer sends them and counts what is there.
- Carries demands and receipts between the Office and the subject.
- Reports smuggling, false weight and unchartered trade.
- Has no power to seize; that belongs to the Legion upon a warrant.
An Agent may ask and may look. An Agent may not take.