This relates to my previous comment in response to Geoff. It's
all about how to smooth cash flow, given that both income and
outgoings are bumpy.
If, in practice, some help from the IASA account is needed to smooth
ISOC's cash flow temporarily, that is fine by me but I'd like it
to be transparent and explicit. It should show up in IASA's accounts
and in ISOC's IETF pillar as a debt from ISOC to IASA (or the
opposite, if it's IASA that has a cash flow issue) but it would
be a wash externally. However, it should be constrained in such a way
that it is only for smoothing, and cannot be used to cover a real
cash shortfall. I agree that some accounting type person should
review the text.
Brian
This sounds to me like people would like this to be based on a seperate
account and pre-arranged quarterly transfers (pre-arranged meaning whatever
was agreed by the budget process as subsequently modified by any
supplementary agreements during the course of the year). In addition
there is a requirement that tagged donations are promptly accounted
for and one that (to the extent reasonable) a full allocation be made
on other isoc expenditures that also benefit the IETF.
The cash issue, however, is kind of a red herring. Assuming solvency,
this is a wash to the outside world. My point is that cash is only
one of many accounts, and there are other asset accounts such as
operating funds and other iasa accounts. You're getting into specific
bookkeeping directions here.
It doesn't seem reasonable to create the chart of accounts or develop
the cash management policies in this forum. Instead, more general
policies that establish principles are a better level to be at.
Things like "periodic transfers of isoc donations during the course of
the year according to the pre-arranged timetable established during
the budget process", "full allocation of expenses", and "ISOC shall
establish and maintain prudent cash management policies to insure
the continued viability of the IASA" are the level I think we should
be talking.
The basic point seems pretty simple: the ietf seems to want a
seperate set of accounts so that iasa will have an accurate
financial picture and a degree of financial control in regards
to ietf-specific activites.
Regards,
Carl
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