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GTZ Report on Accrual Accounting Status Quo - LGCDP

GTZ Report on Accrual Accounting Status Quo - LGCDP

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How to implement <strong>Accrual</strong> <strong>Accounting</strong> 27<br />

User Friendly <strong>Accrual</strong> <strong>Accounting</strong> Informati<strong>on</strong> Technology<br />

• The is a need for a user friendly, network based, integrated and modular accrual accounting software that integrates other existing software and<br />

databases for accounting, tax management, fees etc. As a result receivables or payables would be much better documented and transacti<strong>on</strong>s<br />

could be tracked down to specific cost centres.<br />

• The software needs to be easily adjustable according to the status of the municipality (a basic, standard and sophisticated versi<strong>on</strong>s must be<br />

available). Please see again Table 1, p.18 for the different municipality types.<br />

• However it is in the interest of all to prevent the chaos of many different software types and software languages. Therefore the property rights of<br />

such software should be in public hands. This would also allow the cheap distributi<strong>on</strong> to small and remote municipalities. The private software<br />

company would earn its revenue through the software training, <strong>on</strong> demand services and technical back up.<br />

Available Technical and Financial Resources<br />

• As explained before <strong>on</strong> p. 6 accrual accounting implementati<strong>on</strong> involves high fixed costs at the beginning and during the implementati<strong>on</strong> phase<br />

(training costs, c<strong>on</strong>sultant costs, software costs etc.). The financial resources should be provided by d<strong>on</strong>ors, central government funds and<br />

municipalities together.<br />

• Another way to give m<strong>on</strong>etary incentives for accrual accounting implementati<strong>on</strong> is the menti<strong>on</strong>ed MC/PM system (see p.19). Besides simply<br />

supporting accrual accounting implementati<strong>on</strong> with this tool, <strong>on</strong>e could that way also promote specific aspects of accrual accounting. An example<br />

would be the usage of performance targets for a proper asset management or a low debt level.<br />

• One also has to revise funding possibilities directly through <strong>LGCDP</strong>.<br />

Political Commitment<br />

• <strong>Accrual</strong> accounting implementati<strong>on</strong> needs the acceptance and support of all relevant stakeholders since this will ease the process significantly.<br />

Therefore it is crucial to communicate the benefits of accrual accounting to local and central political parties, local and central government,<br />

political associati<strong>on</strong>s, civil servants, mayors and other relevant stakeholders (for advantages see p.5).<br />

Communicati<strong>on</strong><br />

• A significant emphasis should be placed in communicating necessary informati<strong>on</strong> about the purpose and objectives of the reform process. A<br />

wider group should be addressed by these informati<strong>on</strong>, including the general public (e.g. tax payers), journalists, the scientific public finance<br />

Who is supporting<br />

Joint software<br />

development<br />

programmed by a private<br />

software company<br />

Who supports<br />

Udle (MLD-<str<strong>on</strong>g>GTZ</str<strong>on</strong>g>), D<strong>on</strong>or<br />

community, MC/PM,<br />

<strong>LGCDP</strong>, municipalities<br />

Who is supporting<br />

Udle (MLD-<str<strong>on</strong>g>GTZ</str<strong>on</strong>g>),<br />

Municipalities and<br />

Mayors<br />

Who is supporting<br />

Udle (MLD-<str<strong>on</strong>g>GTZ</str<strong>on</strong>g>), MuAN,<br />

LBFC, Institute of

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