[CCWG-ACCT] Regarding available financial information

Sun Jul 12 04:00:15 UTC 2015

Open data
Sébastien Bachollet
+33 6 07 66 89 33
Blog: http://sebastien.bachollet.fr/
Mail: Sébastien Bachollet <sebastien at bachollet.com>

De :  <accountability-cross-community-bounces at icann.org> on behalf of Jordan
Carter <jordan at internetnz.net.nz>
Date :  samedi 11 juillet 2015 21:27
À :  Dr Eberhard W Lisse <el at lisse.na>
Cc :  Lisse Eberhard <directors at omadhina.net>, CCWG Accountability
<accountability-cross-community at icann.org>
Objet :  Re: [CCWG-ACCT] Regarding available financial information

> I echo Eberhard's question. Kieran's tale seems to show one (significant)
> example of all the tools we seem to have at our disposal failing to deliver
> change.
> 
> What do others think?
> 
> Jordan
> 
> 
> On 11 July 2015 at 18:16, Dr Eberhard W Lisse <el at lisse.na> wrote:
>> These are not "poor financial systems" issues but accountability (and
>> transparency) ones.
>> 
>> What can we do in CCWG, concretely?
>> 
>> el
>> 
>> -- 
>> Sent from Dr Lisse's iPhone 6
>> 
>> 
>> On Jul 10, 2015, at 19:08, Kieren McCarthy <kieren at kierenmccarthy.com> wrote:
>> 
>>>> > I know that the financial system is being evolved over time - its current
>>>> implementation wasn't really set up for full project level reporting...
>>> 
>>> Oh come on, Bruce, this has been the same excuse for nearly a decade now.
>>> 
>>> Back in 2008 when I was on staff I asked for budget codes for translation in
>>> different languages so we could keep a proper track of expenditure. After a
>>> month of chasing, I was told that it was not possible to do that as the
>>> system ICANN ran wasn't able to do full project reporting.
>>> 
>>> But ICANN's CFO Kevin Wilson said that there were introducing a new system
>>> that would make it possible next year.
>>> 
>>> Four years later, at I believe Toronto in October 2012, I asked the new CFO
>>> at an open finance session a series of simple questions about ICANN's
>>> finances and was told that it wasn't possible to provide that sort of
>>> information because ICANN's finance systems were outdated and not able to
>>> provide project-based information.
>>> 
>>> But Xavier Calvez assured the room ICANN was introducing a new system and in
>>> the next year it would be possible to provide that sort of information.
>>> 
>>> It is now three years later and ICANN - and you - are still trotting out the
>>> same line. How long does it take to introduce a decent finance system?
>>> 
>>> And why as a Board member are you prepared for ICANN to continue to run poor
>>> financial systems year after year?  And not only that but actually defend
>>> the lackadaisical attitude to proper financial reporting.
>>> 
>>> You have been a Board member, Bruce, for eight years now. If you think that
>>> it is fine that ICANN can't or won't introduce a half-decent financial
>>> reporting system and if you believe that the current level of financial
>>> reporting is sufficient then perhaps you are exactly why the ICANN community
>>> needs to ability to get rid of underperforming directors.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Kieren
>>> 
>>> On Thu, Jul 9, 2015 at 5:09 PM, Bruce Tonkin
>>> <Bruce.Tonkin at melbourneit.com.au> wrote:
>>>> Hello Phil,
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>>> >>  Can I suggest to the CCWG that a subgroup be formed to look at the
>>>>>> perceived  lack of accountability mechanisms within ICANN¹s current
>>>>>> financial operations and reporting. It is absolutely critical that these
>>>>>> are enhanced within a new membership model, especially  with the  huge
>>>>>> increase in revenues from TLD Registries & Registrars.
>>>> 
>>>> This is an area where ICANN is certainly working to improve and achieve
>>>> international best practice.
>>>> 
>>>> We are now following the practices of publicly listed companies in the USA.
>>>> The annual tax filing is just one of the reports made public
>>>> (https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/fy-2014-form-990-31mar15-en.pd
>>>> f).
>>>> 
>>>> There is a quarterly financial report, and also a public quarterly call.
>>>> You would be welcome to join such calls and ask any questions about the
>>>> finances.
>>>> 
>>>> There are annual audited accounts that are public  (e.g
>>>> https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/financial-report-fye-30jun14-en
>>>> .pdf), and there are also annual reports that include financials
>>>> (https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/governance/annual-report-en ).
>>>> 
>>>> See:  https://www.icann.org/resources/pages/governance/current-en for the
>>>> financial reports.
>>>> 
>>>> The budget also sets out in detail the budget allocated to each project in
>>>> the plan.
>>>> 
>>>> See:  
>>>> https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/adopted-opplan-budget-fy15-01de
>>>> c14-en.pdf
>>>> 
>>>> The status of all current projects is available at:
>>>> https://features.icann.org/plan/projects
>>>> 
>>>> The staff remuneration policy is set out at:
>>>> https://www.icann.org/en/system/files/files/remuneration-practices-fy15-01n
>>>> ov14-en.pdf
>>>> 
>>>> The Board approves via public resolutions the salaries for officers of the
>>>> company.   See: https://features.icann.org/appointment-officer for an
>>>> example.
>>>> 
>>>> The status of all current projects is available at:
>>>> https://features.icann.org/plan/projects
>>>> 
>>>> Happy to hear from you on what additional levels of information and
>>>> transparency that you are seeking.   Perhaps you could provide links to
>>>> organizations of a similar size to ICANN that have more detailed public
>>>> reporting.   Examples are always helpful.
>>>> 
>>>> I know that the financial system is being evolved over time - its current
>>>> implementation wasn't really set up for full project level reporting - ie
>>>> where staff use timesheets, and assign all expenses down to the project
>>>> level - but that is certainly an option going forward.
>>>> 
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Bruce Tonkin
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> 
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>>> 
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> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Jordan Carter
> 
> Chief Executive 
> InternetNZ
> 
> 04 495 2118 (office) | +64 21 442 649 (mob)
> jordan at internetnz.net.nz
> Skype: jordancarter
> 
> A better world through a better Internet
> 
> _______________________________________________ Accountability-Cross-Community
> mailing list Accountability-Cross-Community at icann.org
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